ALMOST NEVER WITH FLORA (CHAPTER 5)

David Michael Chidiebere
@michaelchidieberedavid863694
13 days ago

CHAPTER 5

CRAZY WEEKEND
It is 8:52 am Saturday morning, someone banged aggressively at the door continuously. Nonso was deep asleep though hearing the noise from his dream created an imaginary trance of him knocking at Flora's Lodge. The noise was becoming real and disturbing, Nonso struggled to roll up his eyes and heard Josh yelling ironically behind the door as he bangs "guy are you dead?"
Nonso fought his body mechanisms then managed to get up, he realized he barely could walk, his head hurt severely added to the continuous banging at the door.
It caught his attention that Josh didn't spend the night in the house, Josh yelled "open up". Then Nonso dragged his way to the door,
JOSH: don't tell me you got drunk last night eh
NONSO: so you didn't sleep here last night? Nonso made his way to the bed again to get his full doze of rest
NONSO: those drinks have their way of knocking a man off, he dozed off again.
Towards the mid hours of the second half of the day, Nonso was awake and noticed he missed breakfast and lunch already. He muttered, this has been a long break from reality, he stretched and yawned for long
He could remember vividly everything that happened last night at the lounge but immediately he slept it seems like the whole world was placed inside his head, he thought.
The next day after the scheduled church service, Nonso called Flora but it wasn't reachable, he tried just one more, but the same response. He suggested Monday he would see her, as he goes to take a nap feeling a bit sick from the whole shenanigans that occurred the previous day. Maybe it is because his body system does not accept those kinds of drinks, he thought.

THE SOCIAL WEEK
It's Monday. Right about now, it is the social week when everything goes down, everyday having its own tag. But Flora and Ozioma had not been in school, the number wasn't reachable. Nonso thought something could be wrong. The next day the same thing, he concluded to visit Flora's lodge but on reaching there, unfortunately no one was home. He became worried. On the fourth day Nonso spotted Ozioma at the school courtyard, he rushed to her
NONSO: hey Ozi, you have been away for days. Flora too. He spoke in between his breath
OZIOMA: hi Nonso, yeah I travelled home to pick up some stuff. Also Flora who flew home to respond to her dad
NONSO: thanks Grace. You guys are safe. So when is she coming back
OZIOMA: soon maybe, but she's fine. I think she switched her number.
NONSO: okay thanks. Let me know when you speak to her over the phone
OZIOMA: sure I will... bye

FINAL EXAMINATION
The final year exam is here and Flora is back too. She called Nonso during the weekends after the social week which was before the first exam day. They spoke at length and Flora said her dad requested for her immediate presence.
During the examination period, they often met and it is always not too long but they knew the sign out would be one the whole graduating students will never forget.
Everyone seems to be very sensitive at this crucial time, because any mistake would bring the student back for another year. Those three weeks of exams were as the holy week of the Catholics, lecturers were seen on high esteem. Although rumors of cult clashes had rained in the first week of the exams.
Shortly before the last few papers, Flora called Nonso, though they always spoke on the phone after every exam day, explaining and encouraging each other for the papers left.
That very evening Flora called in a cold voice and said "we have to see immediately after the last paper". This swept a disturbing sensation through Nonso.
Most times they had their exams on different days or sometimes different hours of the same day but the conclusion paper was on the same day and time.

SIGNING OUT
It was the last day of their exams, every final year student is dressed on white T Shirt. The joy of this day consumed so much in everyone, many had made special preparation for that day. Others got gifts for their friends, a few were ready to make that day remarkable to their college found lover by enacting a marriage proposal, a lot of events were expected to happen that day.
Everyone was anticipating and optimistic, many came with their cameras and photographers. There was joy in the air after five years of tears and sorrows as many would describe it.
But with all the excitement and relief of mental torture which was about to cease for all graduating students, yet Nonso wasn't too sure of what to expect, having mixed feelings from last night's conversation with Flora as she requested to see him after the last exams.
After the first two hours that the last paper kicked off. Nonso could already see a few students outside jubilating, signing on their white shirt. This made him wonder, how could they write so fast and be outside this early? Seeing before him the questions need thorough understanding.
After about three and a half hours every student was out of the hall and the exams were concluded. All the final year students were carrying a writing marker pen and dozens of writeups on their shirt, a happy and cheerful moment.
In search of Flora, Nonso bumped into Ozioma. Without permission he designed her shirt with his cursive writing in the little space he could find on her collar. In the action of this, someone else was behind him writing earnestly on his shirt too.
He looked behind, it was Flora they laughed and hugged, saying repeatedly "we made it out". Memories were created and carted away with on that very day as photos were taken.

📸 F. Udofia

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