Awaiting The Results

I start tapping the back of my phone and take a deep breath, still awaiting a response from the IMSU official, but he's taking too long.

"Maybe he's busy."

I drop my phone on the bedside table and stand up, but as I'm about to take a step, my phone's message notification rings, and I pause in my tracks.

I instantly turn around with a racing heart and pick up the phone.

I switch it on, and my trembling fingers start typing my PIN.

As soon as the phone unlocks, my eyes widen as I read the new message from the IMSU official.

It reads, "Not yet, but I'll let you know in the group."

What group? Oh!

He must be referring to the group those people were talking about when I went to take my post-UTME examination. But I haven't been added to the group yet!

I click on the message and type quickly, "But you haven't added me to the group yet, please do so."

I quickly click on the send button and then sink my butt onto the bed as I wait for his reply.

"I'll add you then." He sends, making my heart leap with joy.

A smile spreads across my lips, and I type, "Thanks a lot, sir."

With that, I exit our chat and switch off my phone, then place it on the bedside table and fall back onto the bed, feeling its softness.

I gaze up at the ceiling with a wide smile still on my face.

Thank goodness the results aren't out.

A message notification rings, causing my smile to fade into a frown.

I sit up and stretch to reach my phone. But as I hold it, it somehow loses its grip from my hand and falls to the ground with a loud clatter, making my eyes widen in fear.

I quickly arch my back to assess the damage. Fortunately, the phone isn't broken, but the pouch has separated, and the screen is facing the floor.

I scoop up both and examine them.

The phone's screen is now severely cracked, but the pouch and phone cover are still in good condition.

I switch it on, relieved that it's still working, and the display remains clear and unaffected.

I put the phone back in its pouch, then scroll up on the screen, feeling the screen's smoothness as I type in my PIN.

The phone unlocks, and the first message I see is from an unknown contact, "IMSU Aspirants 2024/2025," with the school badge as the profile picture.

My eyes widen in realization, and I tap my forehead with my palm.

It's the group the IMSU man said he'd add me to - that was fast!

Incoming messages from the group catch my attention, with "Blessing is typing..." appearing on the screen.

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I click on the message.

My brow raises in surprise at the sheer number of people chatting in the group.

I've just been added, and I'm already receiving a flood of messages!

My thumb scrolls down the screen, and my eyes scan the messages:

"Abeg, when will the results be out?"

"Me, I'm tired of waiting."

"Be patient, I'm eagerly waiting to check mine too."

"Any public administration students here?"

"Yes, we're here!"

"Nursing students, are you here too?"

"English students, represent!"

"Should we create separate groups for different courses?"

"I agree."

"Me too."

"Sociology, are you here?"

"Of course!"

More messages keep coming in.

I tap on the group profile and scroll up to see the number of members.

My eyes widen at the staggering figure: 200! Woah!

As I'm about to return to the messages, a sudden scream pierces my ears, making me jump.

My shoulder instinctively rises, and my eyes widen, reminded of the gunmen in the village.

But the scream is short-lived, and an eerie silence follows.

I drop my phone on the bed and quickly rise to my feet.

My bare feet pound against the cold tile as I rush out of my room to investigate.

As I approach the living room, I hear murmurs of apologies coming from the entrance hall.

I quicken my pace, running on my toes until I swipe open the curtain and enter the hall.

"It's okay," my mom says in a soothing voice.

"I'm so sorry, Avin," Nonso adds.

My brows furrow in confusion. What's wrong with Avin?

I tilt my head, trying to see, but my mom's arm blocks my view.

I take a step forward, then move faster, my curiosity and concern growing.

Before I can get near them, my mom already turns her head in my direction, her expression slightly worried.

"What happened?" I ask her as I take the last step towards her.

My eyes follow her as she moves aside to reveal something, and then my eyes meet him - he's cradled in Peter's arms, staring innocently at the ground.

"Is he the one who screamed?" I ask, taking a step closer.

"Yes," my mom responds from beside me, her answer making me shoot her a confused glance.

"But why?"

"He fell from my hands," Nonso's soft response sends my eyes flying wide open.

"How?!"

He doesn't respond, keeping his gaze downcast and his mouth forming a straight line.

"It's not just his fault," Peter's words make me shift my gaze to him with a raised brow.

"What exactly happened then?"

He sighs, then shakes his head.

"Well, I wanted to hand Avin to Nonso, but Avin fell to the ground instead."

I frown, and my gaze immediately shifts back to the innocent Avin, then I reach out to pat his head.

"Is he injured?"

"He isn't injured," my mom says from behind me.

I breathe a sigh of relief, then take Avin in my hands.

I raise him up to my face, meeting his black teddy bear eyes that stare at me with such cute innocence.

A smile instantly forms on my lips, and I rest his forehead against mine, feeling the warmth and softness of his fur.

"You're okay, right?" I ask.

"It's his first day in this house, and he's already experienced such pain." I think to myself, my heart aching for the little one.

"Poor Avin, he doesn't deserve this."

Avin's gaze remains fixed on mine, his eyes filled with curiosity.

I can feel his soft breath on my skin, and his tiny paw pressed gently against my cheek.

I smile wider, my heart melting at the tender moment. "You're such a sweetie, Avin."

Just then, Nonso clears his throat, breaking the spell. "Sorry about that, I wasn't expecting him to slip from my hands."

I glance at him, my smile still present. "It's okay, accidents happen."

"Yeah, and Avin's okay, that's what matters," Peter chimes in.

I nod, "hmm," and then begin lifting Avin up and down in the air, his tail wagging excitedly.

"It seems like you're going to be his favorite," my mom says from behind, making me chuckle.

"I guess so," I reply with a smile.

"No way!" Nonso jumps into the conversation, "I'll be the one to be his favorite!" which erupts into laughter from Peter and my mom.

Moments later, I retreat to the comfort of my room and dive into my bed, feeling its warmth envelop me like a cozy cocoon.

It's already quite late, the sky is painted with hues of pink, purple, and blue, probably around 6 pm, I think.

I search for my phone around the bed with my hand, and lo and behold, it was right under my butt.

It's as if fate wants me to change my phone at all costs! I've been getting cracks on the screen all day.

I turn on the phone, checking the time - 18:35 pm.

Just then, my phone notification rings.

I scroll up, enter my PIN, and it unlocks. I was still in the group chat profile, having been interrupted by Avin's scream earlier...

I press the back button, and my eyebrows shoot up as messages flood the screen out of nowhere in the group.

The messages on my screen made me sit up in bed with a racing heart.

I lean back against the sturdy wooden headboard, feeling the solid surface against my back, cross my legs, and begin scrolling with wide, anxious eyes.

"I heard the results are coming out soon."

"Omo, my body is shaking."

"Who's offering maths?"

"Me oo!!"

"Me too!"

"Someone said a lot of people failed, oh no!"

"I swear!"

"Jesus Christ!"

"Is it a lie or the truth?"

"What's going on?"

"Bro, it's true, I heard most people failed."

"The results will be out soon!"

"How do you know?"

"My uncle is a lecturer there!"

"You're not serious!"

"For real."

The results are going to be out soon! Oh mercy!