Upon receiving letters of admission to the university, many students always have sleepless nights as they eagerly await the reporting date. I received a call from Kimutai, my good friend, early in the morning very delighted that he has received a letter of admission to the University of Eldoret.
He was eager to witness all stories he had been told by his friends in the campus. What made him yearn more for the campus life is the much-publicised fresher's night. He had heard every peer talking about it. His friends who were in campus always bragged about celebrities who had rubbed shoulders together at the event whenever they went home during the holiday.
Kimutai awaited for this golden chance with vigor and eagerness. He wanted to see the big artists he had inkily watched on television. Two weeks after joining campus, the entertainment director announced on the university Facebook group about the upcoming fresher's night. Kimutai was overwhelmed. He shared the advert all over his social media accounts, tagging everyone. I was among the tagged persons.
His WhatsApp status was full of photos of Posters and flyers which advertise the event. Kimutai was unable to concentrate on his studies that week. He was always fantasizing about how he will share the podium with his favorite artists who were to perform.
It was finally Friday. Kimutai could not believe what he had always heard will be time to tell others. He walked to the main hall in the afternoon to confirm that he was not hallucinating. He found preparations on the last touches. His joy was palpable. By 5 pm he had already taken his supper. He scrolled down his contact list to book a partner for the night. Luckily, he convinced a fellow first year, a lady whom he had met during admission.
The party kicked off as early as 7 pm. Kimutai was amongst the first group of students to enter into the hall. He was accompanied by his new catch. They took seats as others took to podium to dance. He could see nearly all comrades taking a sip of their favorite alcoholic drink. Confused whether to try this drinks or not, Lily, his girlfriend asked him to do so.
They hurriedly left to the nearby liquor bank. He ordered a bottle of Legend Braddy. Since he did not want to show that he was naive, he hurriedly siped the drinks. Within some minutes it was finished. Lily asked him to buy more bottles. She was already established, year-round addict. By the time they finished the 6th bottle, they were speaking in their native languages.
They then went directly to the stage to dance to the tune of his favorite artist who by then performing. Lily was good at twerking. She was singling her shapely butts across his body when his mind was let loose. He went blank and couldn't remember what transpired next.
He was woken up the next morning by cleaners cleaning the hall. He could not believe his eyes. He was only on a boxer and a vest which was torn. His shoes and newly bought Samsung phone was nowhere to be seen. Tears rolled down his cheeks, he was embarrassed.
Kimutai lives to testify his experiences of that fateful night.