Part Fifty-Two

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Nnenna's POV

“Nne, I hope you've prepared everything you will be needing for the exams tomorrow. Achorokwam inu ‘mummy I forgot this’,” my mother began her usual advice that's almost like she's scolding you.

“Yes ma,”

“Okay oo, make sure you revise through your notes early this morning as you know we leave for the center by 11pm.” she continued.

There was no need to reply to that, I already told myself that I would wake up on time to read again. I had to take JAMB examination tomorrow at Franklin's Computer Institute Ijegbu by 1:30pm. I had packed all the materials I would be needing for the examination, in the small backbag I'd be going with. Even my outfit was laid out.

I was set for tomorrow.

I wondered if I was going to meet any of my classmates. I wasn't aware of anyone having to write in same center and date with me. Well, Jade and Timothy, from what I heard – will write in this same center at consecutive days. So, probably I may not see them.

I'll wait until tomorrow to confirm that though.

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Mom ended up leaving me on my own, two hours after we arrived at the center. She got an important call which made her choose to go earlier. The call must have been really that important, because if I knew mom like I claimed, then it was safe to say that she won't have left me on my own.
The day I found out about my date, time and center, I checked the center out the next day with Mom.
Of course, that too was her idea.

It didn't matter that we'd already mapped out the place, she wasn't one to leave me alone based on such things, she was that protective. Thankfully, I met other teenagers who either came alone, with a friend or sister. I wasn't the social type but I could get into one or two useful conversation.

I surveyed the environment I found myself in. It was a spacious land with three blocks built metres away from the another. In one of the blocks labelled 'ICT unit', was the hall I supposed we would be taking the exam when the time arrived.

Of all the faces I could see, I could hardly picture any to be familiar. There's actually one that I think I recognized as my classmate in primary school, but I couldn't be sure since it's been long I kept in touch with any such people from my almamater. He was quite tall, broad shoulders and head that could pass up for a watermelon.

“Hey, is someone sitting down here?” a girl said to me. Her high-pitched voice indicated that she was overly excited for some reason. She was wearing a maroon polo inside black dungaree and had her hair in two small buns – like that of Mickey.

“None that I know of,” I replied.

She nodded like she approved of my answer. “I'm Brianna and I attend Lytton's college, you?”

“I'm Nnenna, from Great Citizens' Hall.”

“wow, our schools are not strange to one another naa...” she stated.

“Yes,” I agreed with her. It was a fact that the other school in close competition with GCH was Lytton's college. In sports and quiz, they either came out as first and second, and vice versa.

“So, did you read that literature?” she said, effectively changing the topic. Which brought me to the realization that I've been carried away with what my eyes were seeing that I haven't even looked at the small book positioned on my laps.

‘Flawed souls by Halima A.’, was the book assigned to us to read this year, for JAMB examination. Though I've read the book twice, I'm going over it for the third time because I didn't want to miss out on main plots and characters in the story.

“Yeah, but there are still some complex events to understand in the story,” I said to Brianna.

“As in ehh, da bread no be agege. I'm just understanding only the part of Muhammed and Amirah's relationship. That other guy she cheated with...” she muttered off.

“AbdulRahman ” I helped her out.

“yes him, and then the part of Amirah's relationship with her mother and brother. But as for all the names of everyone in her household, I don't even keep count of them. Infact, I skip those chapters of the story.” Brianna accounted.

I chuckled, “my dear, they might pick out a statement from the book and ask ‘who made this statement and to whom was this statement made. Then they'll also ask 'what brought about this statement?” I advised, telling her what I've read from the previous years JAMB questions.

David's help was really beneficial in making me prepare for this examination. Though I wouldn't admit that to him. I was so mad at him that I didn't see the need to have those past questions. I sent that junior student back, to return the questions to him, when he met me at the school chapel with Dinma, Deborah and Peace. Thankfully, Debbie told me that what I would gain from studying the questions would outweigh my decision to stay away from David, and I can now see that she was right.

“Is like you've prepare for this exam finish, how I wish I would sit close to you. What's your seat number sef?” Brianna asked.

“140. Yours?”

“Oh! I'm 098 sha, we won't be sitting close after all” she mused. “but we can still be friends, here type in your number.” she passed a small button phone to me.

Initially, I thought of telling her the truth – that I don't have my own number yet, but I decided against it. She's a potential friend and I won't push her away without giving the relationship a chance.

I took the phone and typed in my mom's phone number, thank goodness I had it by heart. Then I informed her of what I had done.

“It's no problem, I'll call one of these days.” she said to me. She was about saying something else, when a woman called out for our attention.

“Please, get yourselves in two straight lines. We're about to begin the exam for the second session.” she shouted from where she stood at the front of the ICT block.

Was I really into the conversation with Brianna, to have not realized when the candidates for the morning session were done with the exams.

Brianna and I moved closer to the block and tried to get ourselves in a line. Everybody on the line was just rowdy and pushing each other in a bid to get in the first few lines.

“Hey! Abi una no dey see space for back make all of una wan jam-pack for here! Any pesin wey push this line again, I go just push all of una front.” Brianna shouted at the guys causing the commotion. I was shocked to hear her speaking in correct pidgin English.

“Where are you from?” I couldn't stop myself from asking.

“Hia! I be correct Warri babe, come grow for Lagos top am.” she replied.

Finally after all hurdles and tussles, we were all accommodated in the hall. We were first thoroughly searched for an incriminating material, before we were allowed in. I didn't realize that the hall was that large in the interior. There were rolls and columns of seats and desks – each desk having it's own desktop and numbers indicating which candidate was meant to occupy each position.

I found my seat number at the middle of the hall, sat down and put my head down to pray. When I was done, I glanced at my surroundings, taking a thorough look at the computer system, it has been start-up already. Once the instructions and information were read out, we were told to click on the start button if we wish to be done on time. I prayed again in my mind before I started.

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“Nne, did you finish?” Brianna asked me once she saw me. She was just heading out of the hall, while I've been standing outside for five minutes now.

“Yes dear, you?” I had submitted seven minutes before my time ran out.

“I think I did, I skipped some questions but I can't remember if I answered everything. I had only a minute left so I had to submit. Didn't want to hear story” she remarked.

“Anyway, thanks to the Father in Heaven for success,” I said.

“Are you waiting for somebody?” she said.

I was about to tell her no, that I wanted to go when a larger number of people had started going. I didn't want to move alone in a road I was an absolute stranger to.

“Hi, Nnenna” another voice said behind me. I turned back, and to my surprise, I saw David.

‘What was he doing here? Did he write in this center too?’ 

“Hi,” I tried to be civil.

“Hi Brianna,” he said to the girl.
So he knew her, but I wasn't surprised. He could know all the girls in Lagos for all I cared.

“Dave, did you also write here?” Brianna said.

“Uh no, I came from my aunt's place. I'll be writing in two week's time”

“okay oo. Bye then, Nne bye bye. I will call you someday and we can chat.” Brianna waved before walking off.

The sun chose at that very time to come high up in the sky. Pouring down its rays directly on the center of the Earth. I regretted not having a face cap on. As I made to walk past him, he held my wrist, halting me.

“David what is it naa?”

“Listen, I swear I didn't come here intentionally. I didn't even know you were writing here, I was on my way back from my aunt's house when I sighted you. Please talk to me,”

“David, there's nothing for us to talk about. I thought I made that clear, I've forgiven you but I want nothing to do with you anymore” I tried wriggling my wrist out of his hold.

“No, you've not forgiven me. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. Tell me how you want me to make it up to you and I'll do just that?”

“I don't want you to make it up to me David, I just want you to leave me alone.” I told him in all seriousness. I was already trying to talk to him without saying something that'll hurt his feelings, but he's been making it difficult.

And looking at his face was not helping my resolve. I needed to get away, to go far from him so I can think clearly.

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My baby David is here now, what do you think will happen next?

Have you read Flawed souls here on Wattpad, written by  LeemaLiyu. I really love that story.

Thank you all for reading, voting and commenting, it means so much. Remain Blessed ♥️♥️.