Chapter 3: Forked Paths

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Two.

Late June, result come out.

I score 306.

I remember the moment I check am online—NECO portal dey drag like snail, my hand dey shake. When I see 306, my mama shout, neighbors hear am join.

Hmm... I fit go University of Ibadan or Ahmadu Bello.

The decision dey heavy. People for house dey talk say UI na first choice, but my mind dey wander go North.

As I dey reason which one to choose, my mama receive call from Ahmadu Bello admission office by 3am.

She wake everybody, dey dance for parlor. I dey laugh, but for my mind, na relief.

So she sharply choose Ahmadu Bello for me...

No time for long story. My mama na sharp woman. 'Opportunity no dey wait person!' She use her own hand fill the online form before I even fit talk.

University of Ibadan, bye bye.

I fit remember the song she sing that day. But as the admission don land, UI chapter don close for me.

Of course, I happy say I enter the school wey I dey dream since.

My younger ones dey hail me, 'Baba ABU!' I dey flex small, my papa go just nod, 'Make you no go carry last.'

But as I remember the Ibadan senior wey help me, my mind dey heavy.

I dey look her chat, dey wonder how I go yarn am. The guilt dey do me like pepper for eye.

She always want make I go University of Ibadan, but I choose Ahmadu Bello. E be like say I betray her.

I dey replay our old chat for my head, dey reason whether she go vex well. My chest dey pound.

As I dey think how to reply her, she message me first.

Her timing surprise me. My heart race. Wetin I go talk?

'You don see your score, abi? How e go?'

She still gentle. My guilt come heavy.

Her calmness dey shame me. I no sabi lie, but I no wan hurt am.

I brace myself, grit teeth, reply:

'I no do well. I no fit enter University of Ibadan.'

I wan cry as I type am. But na wetin my heart fit talk.

'...'

Her dots long. She no type for some minutes. I dey imagine wetin dey her mind.

She quiet.

The silence dey stretch. I dey tap foot, my phone heavy for my hand.

Before she fit talk again, I send another message:

I no wan make e hard reach that side, so I just type:

'Senior, sorry. Goodbye.'

My thumb hover on the block button. If I press am, no going back. My chest dey tight. Still, I click. Then, I block her and go offline.

My eye dey red. I for like explain, but I no get the words. Na block sure pass.