Last updated on January 14th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
It was the second semester already. I just saw my first semester results and was elated. I worked hard last semester and within some months again, I would have to put in my all for my final exams. Everything had been going on smoothly than I could have ever imagined. My parents were doing fine, Tochi and I were fine, Zabby was doing perfectly well and my studies had been making me happy.
I saw Joe occasionally and we just waved at each other. It still hurt but I was learning to handle it since I asked for it. I still did not know what I had with Tochi but we seemed to be dating. His coursemates and friends knew me as his girlfriend and it was the same with mine as well. Tochi and I never spoke about it, so I assumed we were dating. I had also appeared on his Instagram feed more than once with a heart emoji in the caption.
Zabby spoke to him once and I knew she didn’t particularly dislike him, but she avoided talking to him since then. Now and then, she would remind me to ask him to define our relationship. We even agreed, but after a while, I told her it was also in my hands to define the relationship and it was sexist to expect that only the guy defined the relationship. This was partly true, but it was honestly me just deflecting.
Recently, she brought it up again. “You know you are going for service soon ehn?” she said.
“Ahnahn, I have not even begun my exams.”
“Okay o.” She replied, swiftly changing the topic.
***
I had been on my project for some days now and was already feeling exhausted. My routine was the same daily: wake up, read for an hour, eat, take my bath, and get on my project. Our exams were fast-approaching and I had to prepare for my exams even as I continued with my project which, thankfully, I started earlier than some of my coursemates. My goal was to conclude this project as early as I could and start preparing for my defense. If possible I wanted to begin my clearance before the rush began as well.
Tochi and I had managed to talk daily even as I got busy. I worried about when he would also get busy because he was not good at multitasking. Sometimes during exams, he’d read so much that he’d forget to chat or even call. Many times, I’d have to go to his hostel to see him. I should have been mad, but I understood that it was his nature, men were not good at multitasking.
Elizabeth and I skirted around the issue of my relationship. Many times, we had so many things to discuss and catch up on, but I knew that she was not one to briefly ask how my relationship was going. It hurt a bit, but it was what I had to deal with, Tochi and I were not the easiest couple out there. Many times when we had issues or when he did not call for days because he was busy, I would also refuse to call him and usually, it went on for about three days. There was a time it extended to a week.
I wanted to tell Zabby, but I knew what she would say. After the last phase we had of not talking to each other for a week, I went to his hostel and made a scene in his room. His roommates excused us as soon as they saw my countenance, they had hardly left when I started shouting at him. He kept on apologising even as I stormed out of his room. I blocked his number for three days and did not unblock it until he came to my hostel. Since there were no perfect relationships and I knew how much Tochi loved me, I was reassured.
Truly, the games were exhausting but I also did not want to appear like a doormat. I needed him to know that two could play the game. I honestly just tried to focus on the good part of what we had. One of these days though I had to ask him what we were. If it was the last straw that broke the Camel’s back then I wouldn’t mind. I sighed as I put away my laptop, having been at it for a while now, I deserved some rest.
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