After lunch, the dining hall emptied with a roar. Seniors barked orders.
"Juniors, run to hostel! Afternoon sleep now!"
Kalu Egbe dashed toward Dorm C, stomach full, legs aching. Alongside him, dozens of juniors sprinted, dodging seniors who swiped at them with belts and spoons.
Nedu panted beside him. "This one na forced sleep."
Fireboy laughed between breaths. "For Old FGC, na sleep with fear."
Inside the dorm, boys dropped onto bunks, trying to rest. The air was hot and stale. Fans turned lazily, barely pushing air. Still, no one dared complain.
As Kalu lay back, trying to calm his heartbeat, a whisper passed through the room. "Seniors dey come."
The door slammed open.
A group of seniors marched in, belts in hand, eyes sharp.
"If you know you are sleeping, raise your hand!" one shouted.
Silence. No hand moved. Some boys kept eyes shut. Others peeked nervously.
"Una dey form deaf abi?"
Belt cracked. Seniors struck the nearest juniors without mercy.
"You dey form smart abi? Raise hand now!"
They beat boys at random, some on legs, others on backs. Laughter followed as they left, satisfied.
Kalu lay frozen, heart racing. "Nna m ichi oke..."
Minutes later, before peace could return, another set of seniors entered.
"If you know you are sleeping, raise your hand!"
Some juniors, fearing another flogging, raised hands immediately.
Slaps echoed.
"Idiot! You dey sleep, but you hear me?"
Flog. Flog. Flog.
Boys yelped, some falling from bunks. The seniors left, leaving bruises behind.
Later in class, Kalu, Nedu, and Fireboy sat dazed, heads resting on desks.
"If you raise hand, problem," Fireboy said.
"If you no raise hand, problem," Nedu added.
Kalu shook his head. "Old FGC na trap."
Nedu sighed. "Sleep na crime, but we dey serve sentence."
They laughed quietly, but the pain lingered. In Old FGC, even rest came at a price.
To be continued...