Chapter 6: WAEC and Beyond

As I dey fix my weak points, the loop dey reduce.

I dey count each day like prisoner wey dey near release. The more I fit answer question for myself, the less the loop dey hold me.

After 2,324 days, I finally reach WAEC.

My beard don dey grow small-small. My voice don change. For my mind, I be old man wey dey wear school uniform.

That time, I begin understand why the loop dey hard for each monthly test.

E no be punishment—na to make me learn, to force me find strength wey I no know say I get.

For exam hall, as I look the questions wey dey give me wahala before, one strange feeling enter me—relaxation, even boredom.

I dey look paper like say na old friend. My heart calm. I dey write without fear, without rush.

All the things wey I don learn, study, cram, e don turn part of me. To answer the questions, I no even need think—na just to dey write like machine.

If you see as I dey shade answer sheet, e be like person wey dey draw map wey e don walk for years.

I even feel say, this time, loop no go catch me again.

For my spirit, I just dey hope say this na the last bus-stop.

And na true. After WAEC, I no waka go one week before again.

As I finish exam, I sit for my bed, dey count my blessings. Time no reset. My heart dey dance.

Na only this exam I pass with my real power, no time travel.

For once, na my own ability—no shortcut, no magic.

When dem release result, I no even rush check am like others. I already know wetin I go see.

My padi dey call me, dey shout for phone. Me, I just dey calm, dey smile. Nothing fit surprise me again.

As I expect, dem put my score for secret file—this kind result no dey online.

Principal call my papa—say "una pikin too much." Na coded thing. E no want make people suspect.

My papa and mama happy die, dey show off my "genius" to everybody. I follow them play along, act surprise small.

Dem even kill two chickens for compound, neighbours dey come chop rice. I dey wash plate, dey smile, dey wave people.

After all these years of looping, I don sabi how to act. People for outside no fit help me; if anybody notice anything strange, wahala go start. I just hide my tiredness, dey act like normal student.

I dey do as if all these things dey shock me. I dey laugh, dey follow play. My face dey bright, but inside, I dey empty.

But as everybody dey celebrate, my mind just dey blank. All the loops don kill my ginger and joy.

Sometimes, as music dey play, I go just dey look space. Even when dem carry gift come, my heart dey far.

Reporters dey come, UNN and Covenant University dey fight for me, all those relatives wey I never see before dey rush come... All these things no move me.

Cousin wey I never see for ten years dey come dey hug me, dey call me "genius of the family." But na all acting I dey do.

Everybody dey happy for my future, dey talk say I be champion. But na only me know say na all the repetition cause am.

If dem fit see inside my mind, maybe dem go pity me.

Wetin really dey worry me na the next step.

I dey ask God, I dey pray for dream—make the loop no start again.

The time loop never end.

E be like say this thing dey follow me like stubborn spirit. As I dey celebrate, my mind dey restless.

As I open computer to fill my university course, fear begin enter my body. My fear show face sharp-sharp—any time I pick wrong course, the loop go carry me back to when I open the application page.

My hand dey shake as I dey click. Na so sweat dey pour for my face, even though AC dey blow. My heart dey drum for chest.

First time, I choose Computer Science. Before "Submission Successful" even finish show, everywhere spin.

E be like say thunder strike me. I just dey float, dey hear people voice from far.

When I open eye, I dey back to when I open the webpage.

Na so I shock. I begin dey fear—e be like say the loop no want make I choose Computer Science.

Any other course I try—Finance, Law, Philosophy, Medicine—na the same wahala.

Even when I choose Theatre Arts, the thing no gree. I try every department, but loop dey catch me like thief for market.

E clear say the loop get him own mind. E dey push me go one direction.

I dey ask myself—abeg, which way be this? Wetin e want make I do? I dey pray, dey beg God, but no answer.

Wetin e really want?

Na the question wey dey burn my chest. Maybe my destiny dey somewhere I never know.

I try, I fail, I test every option. Each time I click, I dey hope—only for the loop to drag me back again.

My body begin weak. My eye red, fingers dey pain me. No matter how I try, I no fit break the rule.

That period, na so I dey spend my days between application and loop, until I tire finish.

My mama dey knock my door, dey shout, "Ifedike, come chop!" But hunger no dey my body, na only wahala full my head.

Finally, as I click Aeronautical Engineering, the screen show big "Application Successful."

The way the page shine, e be like say angel blow trumpet for my head. My heart freeze, then start dey beat fast.

No wahala at all.

I blink, I check again. The page no reload, the loop no catch me. Na so I know say something don change.

This time, loop no do anything.

I wan cry, I wan laugh, but I just dey watch the screen. E be like say God finally pity me small.

I shock.

I no fit move. For like two minutes, I dey stare at computer, mouth open. My mind dey race—wetin be the meaning of this one?

Why the loop want make I choose this course?

Na big question. Aeronautical Engineering no be my first choice. But e be like say destiny dey call me.

E mean say my work na to carry human beings go Mars?

Or na just random play?

Maybe e get bigger plan. Maybe na only time go tell. But as I dey look my screen, I feel small hope for the first time in years. Because even if life wan carry me fly, e mean say the story never finish—and na only God fit write the next chapter.

But for this life, who sabi if tomorrow go even reach?