Chapter 1, Episode 5

Last updated on December 1st, 2023 at 03:54 pm

I heard my phone beep. I thought it must be Tochi and quickly picked up my phone. I was reading a novel and had left my phone to charge. I was actually bored but there was nothing to do. The semester was ending soon and I wrote my last paper yesterday. I just wanted to turn a few assignments in and pack my bags to go home. I checked my WhatsApp and it was not Tochi. I felt my heart drop. It was Zabby.

Angie, my name is on the convocation list! Your babe is graduating!

Her message lifted my mood immediately, we had been worried about two courses considering that the exams were really tough.

Yass! Yass! The next graduate in town! The next Corper! I am loyal o! I replied to her message. I was waiting for her message when my phone started ringing. Zabby!

“Yes baby, my Zab Zab!”

“Eww, only you in the whole world calls me Zabby… I’ve told you that Beth is tush, local girl.”

“Madam, give me the gist. You mean I have a convocation to plan?”

“Yes, you do. Your baby is graduating with a 2:1!”

“What?! Elizabeth! I am so happy for you.” I started screaming and dancing.

“Madam, you are dancing abi?”

“You know it.”

“I love you, sweet cousin. I knew you’d be happy for me. Thanks for your support in these past four years.”

“Now I want to cry. You inspire me a lot, Elizabeth.” I said as my eyes glistened. I went to my mirror and smiled.

“Okay, enough of the sappiness. Has your boyfriend called you?”

“Zabby, he is not my boyfriend.”

“But you like him.”

“As a friend.”

“Really? Tell me you weren’t expecting his message instead of mine.”

“You cannot compare Tochi with you. Never, please.”

“But you hoped it was him abi?”

“No…The thing is…I just hope he is fine.”

Tochi had not called or chatted with me in like two weeks. Even before then, he had been acting off. We had gone from chatting all day and talking for over twenty minutes daily to barely talking. The few times I saw him because I strolled to his department or hostel, he was very aloof. Like he was depressed. I asked if I annoyed him, I had checked our chat and replayed the last conversation we had repeatedly in my head, and I could not come up with anything.

“And you say you don’t like him more than a friend?”

“You know I am taller than him, right? And he has this annoying attitude and jokes about everything.”

“Angie, you are taller than many people, please. But he said he likes you abi?”

“No!” He had actually told me many times that he liked me, but he joked a lot, too much actually, I don’t think it meant anything.

“Wait, my coursemate is calling my other phone. I will call you later, Mrs Tochi.” I rolled my eyes as I ended the call.

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