A rare obsession

Jessica was a eighteen years old girl who came from a very poor family. Life begin to hit hard on her after she lost her parents in a ghastly accident that took the lives of many including her parents and left some with life-battling injuries.

Mama Sophia, who was her Grandma was the one that accommodated her since the departure of her parents. Amidst poverty, hustling, and struggling she managed to finish her high academy, preparing for higher college.

She didn't have any savings at hand neither did her grandma has any cash at hand, not even tokens to send her to the university to continue her study but she was so fortunate to be granted the federal government scholarship fund after she emerged as the best-graduating student of the academy.

Today was the day, the day she was to resume the school, she didn't have anything, not even provisions in her bag to survive in school because she was out of cash and had no help from anybody including her relatives. The only thing she had were two pairs of worn-out shoes, a skirt, and four outdated top wears.

" Jessica, my daughter, remember the daughter of whom you are, I put my hope in you because I am sure you will wash away poverty from me as soon as you finish in the university" Mama Sophia stood in front of Jessica and said to her face.

" I promise to be a good girl, Grandma" Jessica replied with a fake smile to restore Grandma's joy but one could tell how emotional she was right now with her shaking voice.

She turned around and picked up her nylon bag where her wears were kept and started moving out of the house.

" Jessica, I love you!" Little Caesar, her younger brother said as tears flushed his face. He was crying because he knew how Jessica used to struggle to make sure a day didn't pass without him eating, he wondered who would be the next Jessica.

" I love you too, Caesar, I will be back soon," Jessica said and moved out as her tears finally let down her sunken cheeks.

She stopped a taxi and boarded it to the City where the university was ensconced. She came out and handed over some dollars to the taxi man.

The university was so big and resplendent. She had never seen a beautiful place as this place in her whole eighteen years. She took time to survey its environment as she slower her steps to the main gate of the university.

Meanwhile, her parent's departure rang in her head again as she saw parents who followed their children to the university gifting affectionate hugs to each other. She smiled and felt bad, how she wished these were her parents.

" Hey, welcome to the Progressive campus, can I see your portal's evidence?" A Hispanic girl asked in a funny tone and stretched forth her hand to Jessica at the gate.

Jessica brought out the evidence of her portal and she was allowed to go in after she had passed all the tests and requirements.

She walked to the billboard as she was instructed by the Hispanic girl to check her room number. She also saw some of her colleagues checking their room numbers through the billboard she was aiming at.

" Hey, who is this stinking girl?" Ray asked as Jessica was paving her way among many to the billboard.

Jessica heard it but she turned deaf ears to it. She was more than used to bullying, she knew this would happen even before she arrived at the school. This school was meant for rich kids, not like poor beggars like her it was scholarship that brought her here. so she was not pained as Ray taught. Moreover, mockery and laughter by the people around her grew some knots in her belly.

She got to the billboard and skimmed through the room numbers from number 1 until she saw her name at number 8.

She turned around and was going to her room when Ray stopped her. Two guys named, Nasani and Eric also joined.

"Hey, pretty girl, permit me to say I have never seen a poor person like you before in my whole life" Ray spoke audibly, making the aura to be resounded with chortles and laughter.

" She couldn't even get a traveling box, my grandma uses this nylon in her hand to wrap her old clothes in the mid-70s" Eric kicked her nylon with his legs as the mockery laughter increased, causing it to puncture.

" Wait, guys! Her shoe looks like a cursed airplane looking for a place to explode" Nasani said and mockery laughter grew into uncontrollable noise in the billboard room.

The billboard was so exciting that it took the attention of other staff in the inner rooms.

Miss Ayra Anderson walked up to the room and spoke with her hands in the air, "What's happening here? Why the Laughter?

Everyone kept quiet as Miss Ayra stood in front of them while some were still laughing beneath.

" You guys are now in the university not in your colleges anymore, there are some things we won't tolerate in our school, we don't tolerate noise and nonchalant attitudes here, alright?" Miss Ayra asked.

" Alright, madam" they echoed.

Madam Ayra dismissed the affront and those that had checked their room number were told to leave the place while others arrayed to check their room number unlike before when the room was clumsy.

Jessica pulled her nylon bag to her body and moved for other registrations required as a new student before she headed to her room.

She pushed the door, and it opened. She froze in place as she saw two girls in the room smoking, drinking, and blasting music. One was seated on the bed on a top bunk with a cigarette between her fingers while the other girl was half naked, battling with tequila bottles.