Last updated on December 24th, 2023 at 09:27 am
“Time up!” The examiner shouted. I rolled my eyes. It’s not that deep. This exam was a general course and it was one of the toughest. I had to write everything I knew including things that had no relevance to the question in order to stand a chance. I sluggishly got up and went to submit my paper. This was the last paper and I felt very relieved and exhausted.
I raised my head after signing out and saw Tochi submitting his paper. He looked so good and I was so burnt out from all the sleepless nights that I could cry. I wanted to call him, to hug him and ask how his exams were but I held back, went to get my bag, and made to leave the hall. I saw some of my coursemates in groups outside the hall but I just left.
My phone started ringing. Zabby. She always called at the right time.
“How was it?”
“That lecturer ehnnnn.”
“Don’t mind them. Was your answer sheet full?”
“Trust me na.” I replied as we both started laughing.
“Soooo, I can ask about Tochi now abi?” I kept quiet.
“You guys have still not spoken?”
“No, we have not.”
“You guys are really funny. Please are you going back to the hostel already?”
“Yes. How are we funny?”
“Your birthday is in two days, the semester is closing soon, and you are going on IT next semester… when do you guys want to talk about what’s between you two? You obviously like each other.”
“He has not called me since that day I told you, what do you want me to do na?”
“I sense you sounding defensive. What’s this hide and seek? Why can’t you be the one to call him?” I was quiet, and then Elizabeth repeated her question.
“Angela, Why can’t you be the one to call him? What’s the big deal?” I had to offer a response this time.
“Well,”
“You can talk to me, you know?”
“If I call him, then he thinks I like him.”
“And so? He has told you he likes you, what’s the big deal if you tell him? You are not even telling him, you are simply calling him. It’s what normal friends do.”
“I have heard you.” I had just gotten to my hostel. We still had a few assignments to turn in and one test to write but having completed these exams, I felt a sense of ease; tonight would be for resting, and tomorrow I’d consider submitting one of the assignments. “Zabby, let me call you later. I just got to the hostel and I am famished. Bye, hun.” Then I hung up before she could reply to me. I was definitely avoiding this conversation.
I opened the door to my room, very glad that my roommate was not around, it gave me the space to think. Tochi was already assumed that I liked him and I did not want him to be totally sure about it. Calling him meant I was confessing to having feelings for him. It was not so bad but I couldn’t shake off the way I felt during that period that he ghosted me and never offered an explanation. He didn’t get to always have his way. For some reason too, he didn’t always pick up my calls when I called him. He either said he’d call back or that he was busy. Even with his seeming genuineness it still felt like he was trying to be the one to call the shots, to decide when we talked or not. I had intentionally missed his calls a few times too because all of us could be busy.
I was out of provisions. I hissed and sat on my bed. I definitely had to get a little stuff to keep me till I was ready to go home. Speaking of going home, it wasn’t totally appealing to me and I wouldn’t be leaving school until the very last day. As if on cue, my phone rang, it was my dad or my mum seeing as she now called with my dad’s phone.
“Hello, baby girl.” It was my mum. I said it.
“Hi, mum. What about your own phone?”
“Ah, it is well o. Is it wrong to call with your father’s phone?” I was sure she noticed my tone. I decided to sound neutral.
“Good evening, ma. My exam was fine.”
“Ah, good news. When are you coming home?”
“I am not sure yet. Ehnehn, your apartment is still available right?”
“No o, I allowed Aunty Amara to stay there for a while since the house was just sitting there and my rent was wasting.”
“Oh…Okay.”
“Why did you ask?”
“Nothing. Mummy, let me try to get something to eat. Later.” I ended the call. My heart sank and I suddenly felt a sense of loneliness. I wish he would call me.
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