“…The #2,700 I paid for the lesson at Bishop Alex JAMB Lesson Center wasted just like that. Not even upto 2 weeks.
As expected, I quit from there and started going to the Library instead.
My choice of Library was obviously the St. Theresa’s Cathedral Library Nsukka, where I wouldn’t pay. If not, how would I have asked my father for another money without explaining what chased me away from Bishop Alex JAMB Lesson Center.
It was a peaceful Monday like today and I have settled to start reading. It wasn’t that interesting to me but I had to manage.
Then, I looked at the shelf below and saw a magazine with Abacha’s Image, dated 1994. It caught my attention as I loved history.
After picking up the magazine and was trying to stand erect, I hit someone entering and her books fell down.
On raising up my head, guess who I saw?
Your guess is right. That’s Damzy standing right there. There was loud silence between us.
I wondered in my mind, has the lion come to finish up the meat it killed or is it being chased by the same thing that is chasing me.
Thank God for the Seminarian that entered. The silence was broken and I went back to my seat.
For the next two hours, I read about 15 minutes and stared at Damzy for 1 hour, 45 minutes. Occasionally, our eyes would meet and there would be a rush of adrenaline hitting my diaphragm.
I was surprised that I didn’t blame her for the shame and trauma I passed through.
Rather, I was actually glad we were there together, and looking at her at intervals gladdened my soul.
How did God create such beauty bikonu?
Of course I didn’t decide to stop reading. How could I? I dey mad?
After 2 hours, she packed up her books and I followed her, wondering what to tell her.
It was when we got to Sacred Heart Bookshop that she turned around and said “Duke, did you mean all those things you wrote”?
My heart jumped out of my skin when she mentioned my name. I was too busy trying to get it back and compose myself such that I didn’t hear the next thing she said.
“What?”I asked.
“All those things in that poem, were you serious about them?”
“Yes” I answered.
She looked at me with such tenderness and almost affection. Then she said, “I am sorry for what happened”
In my mind, I have already forgiven her. I promised to write another one for her and send to her on 2go where it will not leak again.
She held my hand as we walked to the cathedral gate. It was as if God has answered all my prayers and like Simeon, I could sing the Nunc Dimittis, because if I died at that point, I died a fulfilled man.
When we were about to go our separate ways, she spread her arms inviting me for an embrace. Am I dreaming? Whaaaaaattt?
After a very warm hug, the first I have ever received from a non-relative female. I never wished for the Nunc Dimittis again. I wanted to live forever and get this hug daily. Meeeehn, Life is beautiful.
My body was sweeting me althrough the day and night. I didn’t want to touch any other person again.
If this was a dream, I prayed never to wake up.
Did Damzy later accept for me to be he her boyfriend or did she insist that I remain her friend that is a boy?
Let’s find out in the next episode.
DUKE THE NIGERIAN
(PASSING JAMB, Season 1; Episode 6) was brought to you by Ugwuagbo Emmanuel Chizoba Daniel (Zoba De Great)