Chapter Seventeen

The results of the UTME were released one week later. Bianca grabbed her phone and quickly looked at the outcome. She experienced several quick palpitations while the booting process took its time. The outcome was revealed at last. Out of 400, she scored 298. She felt conflicted about the outcome. She was aware that she had achieved the accounting cutoff score, but she wasn't particularly pleased with her performance.

"I heard that the UTME result is out." Mary said, rushing into Bianca's room.

Bianca nodded.

"Have you checked yours?" asked Mary, taking a seat beside her.

She nodded again.

"You look dull. Hope it wasn't a poor result," said Mary, noticing Bianca's dull mood.

Without making an audible statement to Mary, Bianca reached out her hand alongside the phone. Mary picked up the phone and took a quick look at the display. Amazingly, Mary responded, "A high score. You are brilliant."

Bianca grinned while feeling disappointed in herself because she knew she had fallen short of her goal, despite the fact that Mary thought it was the best outcome.

"Why are you this moody?" Mary noticed.

"The score wasn't good at all." Bianca finally said.

"Who told you 298 is not a good result?" said Mary.

"For me it is not a good result. I was expecting 350. That was my aim."

"Some people were praying to get your score yet they didn't have it, but they appreciated God for the low score they had. Don't be ungrateful. Give God glory for making you get this score."

Bianca recognized that she had done wrong and really felt ashamed as tears came out of her eyes. "I am sorry for my sins. God please forgive me," she said.

"Clean your tears. Okay?" she said, "let's get prepared. Dad says he will come visit today."

"Wow." she said, cleaning up the tears.

"Your result will serve as a spice when he comes. I know he will look at me with a warning eye because he knew that your score was really higher than mine."

Bianca smiled, standing up from the bed and dusting the bed cover. "Cook the food while I prepare the house to be neat and sparkling."

"No" Mary objected fiercely, "You would cook. Let him have a taste of your sweet dishes."

"Alright," she said.

Both of them were happy and upbeat as they began their respective jobs. Bianca felt at ease staying at the residence. She felt much more relaxed and happier being with a best friend she considered being her blood sister. Her father coming sent a signal to her that she was much loved by her newly adopted family. All of the negative experiences she had throughout her life up until she met Mary vanished into thin air.

Mary's biological father came with his car into the open compound of Mary and Bianca's residence. Everywhere was well set up. The dishes were fully prepared and readied with a jug of water. Bianca entered her room when she became aware of his presence—possibly because she was shy or something. Mary went to open the door after hearing a knock. As soon as he arrived, he hugged her and asked, "My daughter, how are you doing?"

"Fine," responded Mary.

"Where is Bianca?" he asked, looking around. Maybe he might have thought that she was hiding around the nook and cranny of the sitting room.

"I think she is in her room. Maybe she is dressing up." Mary said, running towards Bianca's room.

Before Mary could get there. Bianca opened the door and sighted Mary, who nearly barged into her if not for a sudden stop. "Dad is waiting for you," said Mary.

After fully exiting the room, Bianca entered the living room and greeted her adoptive father. He called her closer so he could give her a hug. She approached him and took his outstretched arms. She recalled those times when her biological father was still alive as she felt like a baby in his arms.

After giving her a lengthy hug, he let her go, and they all sat down on the chair. He sat down next to them on the long sofa where Bianca and Mary were seated.

"I visited to see how both of you were faring," he said, opening up the conversation. "And to talk of Bianca furthering education to a higher level. You know that to be an all-round father I should be able to show a high sense of impartiality and non-favouritism between the two of you."

"True," Mary said as she nodded her head. "But Dad, before we continue, can I tell you her UTME score?"

"Oh, is the result out?" he asked, unaware of it.

"Yes, today they released the first batch. And guess what, Dad?"

"A good score, I think." he said, trying to relieve the suspense in his mind.

"Not a good score. But a very good score."

"What was it, my dear?"

"298."

"Awesome. That's my daughter," he said, feeling impressed.

"In fact, you have an alternative. Just choose which one is okay with you." He continued, "would you like to study at a private or public university?"

"Dad. Just give her time to think over the two alternatives" said Mary.

"Alright" he replied.

Bianca was instructed to bring the food over to the living room by Mary, who gave the order visually. After quickly interpreting it and obtaining permission, Bianca went to the kitchen.

Bianca ultimately made the decision to enrol in a public school. After all, Mary had given her some sound advice. She insisted on going despite Mary's warnings that the public university's education was in danger due to the ongoing strike. Perhaps Bianca would have thought about how enrolling Mary and herself at the same time in a private university would burden her father in the long run.

A month and a half, after the closure of the UTME exams, the screening form for University of Ibadan was announced in the news. Bianca had to complete all requirements and purchase the screening form from the university. After all, she patiently awaited being admitted. Mary informed her of the drawbacks of attending a public university.

"Your admission is not based on your test score. Admission is based on background, connections, and intense prayer." Mary told Bianca.

The more Mary persisted in trying to persuade her and undermine her good intentions for attending a public university. The more Bianca believed she would be accepted, and the more confident she became. Mary later discovered all her advice was like pouring water into a basket. She didn't hold any grip of it.

It was December 26. A Boxing day. There was a thick layer of fog in the air, and cold weather was also present. There were sounds of fireworks in the air. The vegetation was wet from the dewdrops, and there were water droplets on the surface of every plant's leaf, giving the environment a wet appearance.

Even after the dawn had broken and the sun was shining brightly everywhere, Mary and Bianca were still sound asleep. Mary first became aware of her surroundings when the sun's radiance glistened in her eyes and she felt her body begin to warm up. The ray of sunlight caused her to slowly open her eyes after stretching her body to its maximum length.

"Oh God," She mumbled, as she fully opened her eyes and gasped at how bright everything appeared. The wall clock next to her bed caught her attention.

It was 12:00p.m., as it continued ticking.

With shock, she jumped out of bed and sprinted to Bianca's room. She knocked. Nobody responded. She tried knocking again, but no one answered. Fortunately, the door opened when she turned the knob. The pane was covered by a curtain, which blocked the light from entering, causing some of the room to be dark. She approached Bianca, who was still asleep and making noises with her nostrils as they inhaled and exhaled air. She gave her a light tap. When Bianca saw Mary enter the room, she opened her eyes and smiled.

"It is 12," said Mary.

Bianca was shocked. "Are you serious?"

"Of course."

Bianca stood up immediately from the bed as if the word was like an energy boost that strengthened her limbs. She tried to ponder what made her sleep for that long hour that she didn't know when to wake up. After a fast thought she attributed the causes to what had happened yesterday.

"I, too, have just woken up now. Let me not look as if I wasn't at fault, either." responded Mary as she yawned with her hands on her mouth.

They both laughed heartily.

"Today is the day admission will commence," said Bianca unobtrusively.

"Do you not think it is too early for checking?"

"Maybe."

After leaving the room, they both sat down on a chair in the living room and began to talk about how interesting Christmas day had been. Bianca admitted that this was the best Christmas she had ever had since her childhood. They had a brief conversation. After getting out of the chair, Bianca returned to her room. She quickly grabbed her phone, turned on the data connection, and began to type on the face of the screen

"Ooh," she exclaimed loudly.

She quickly came out of the room with her phone and went straight to Mary, who had just been looking at her surprisingly. When Bianca got to her, she took a bend in order to allow Mary to have a good view at the phone.

Mary read the expression and read it out: "Admission in progress."

"What does that mean?" inquired Bianca curiously.

"Congrats," she said, stretching a hand for a handshake, "You are admitted."

"Seriously? But it says admission is in progress." Bianca got confused.

"You will receive an admission letter very soon. Don't worry about that."

Bianca smiled. At last, her aspirations were coming alive gradually. She could sense it and have a feel of it. She imagined what spending life would look like there. Attending lectures and having experience of what university entails. And finally, her being called an accountant was a joy she couldn't have imagined.

"Finally, you will be called an undergraduate, not an ex-student, again." Mary said.

Bianca laughed. She couldn't express the type of joy that had clouded her mind. She had the urge to complete all of the household tasks without taking breaks to eat.

"How do you feel?" Mary said belatedly.

"So, elated" Bianca responded, flashing a glimpse of her dimple.

"Boxing day has given you a gift."

Bianca smiled the more.

"But I am angry with you." Mary said.

"What happened?" asked Bianca anxiously.

"I am angry that you didn't heed to my advice. It's unfair. The two of us should be going to the same school. So, at least if I got bored and had no one to run to, I would seek you."

"You manage throughout the four years you've been there, right?"

"Maybe so, but at least there is nothing like a sister's relationship."

"I understand," said Bianca, "but who would play the role of elder and younger? You or me?"

"The both of us."

"Is that possible? Seeing that you are in your fourth year, I am starting newly. People will get to ask questions."

"That isn't their business."

"What if the question comes? How will you answer?"

Mary smiled, "Your question put me on my toes. Alright, is that your main reason for you declining the other alternative?" Mary asked, throwing back a sensitive question.

"No, a lot was being considered. Stop prevaricating my question."

"It is not that, but I am not in the mood to answer it."

Mary had probably given the question a lot of thought. With two months separating them, they were both the same age. They were also nearly the same height, with Mary being slightly taller than the other.

Mary couldn't answer the question, and Bianca knew in her heart that there was no point in pressing or bugging her any further. She considered changing the subject.

"Can you tell me what school life is? I just want to know a tip about it before I get there," Bianca said, changing the topic.

"I can't really say, because private university is different from public university."

"How?"

"The name itself― private and public-has so many connotations in it."

"Hmm" Bianca nodded, "I understand."