2:00am

It was mid-way into the semester and Book of Life was released just the day before. It took everything in me not to crumble into tears. The result was a graphical image of wasted efforts. 

While I have always struggled academically, I knew I could do better than this result. It had to be my lowest in the entire three semesters I have spent at the University of Ibadan. 

I tried logging in to my result portal at midnight. At least, let me know my strengths and weaknesses. I spent hours re-loading the site but to no avail. 

At 1:20 am, I was already frustrated with all I’ve tried to do. 

A tear rolled down my eyes as I stared at my blank laptop screen. 

A million things were running around my mind all are the same time. What next? I did my hardest this last semester yet, this was the result it yielded. 

The only glaring thing was that I was a failure.

The abrupt mental acceptance of that thought made me cry harder. While trying to keep my muffled tears silent, I stepped out of my room to not wake my roommates. How do I explain the reason for my tears? How do I talk about how academic success was the only fulfilment I could give my dad who is currently struggling hard to keep me in school? 

I walked along the corridors and ended up sitting out in the cold night at AWO’s Pavilion. I saw a short man lurking in the corridors of block G. I looked away thinking it was one of the securities. My already distracted mind did not realise that I did not recognize that ‘security man’. 

A few minutes later, he walked towards me. I got up hurriedly while trying to wipe my tears and greeted him. 

He asked if I was alright and why I was out that late into the night. 

I told him I needed fresh air and would return to my room in no time.

‘Come with me’, he said.

A reasonable person would probably disagree and try to walk away but I was in my feels and he sounded compelling. It wouldn’t hurt to see what he wanted. I convinced myself.  

We walked into the SBJ cafeteria. I wondered why it was still open at this time of the night but pushed the thoughts behind me when I saw Aunty Nike, the waiter, cleaning tables. 

The man uttered something to her silently and she went behind the counters to grab a packaged nylon. 

He took it and removed a slice of cake wrapped in foil from the bag. 

Eat it, it will make you feel better. 

Usually, I would not accept things from strangers but then again, it felt like my body was acting against my will. 

I thanked him and bit into the cake. It tasted metallic. 

I raised my gaze to meet his, only to realize he had transformed. 

I looked back to see if Aunty Nike could see what just happened but there was no one there. 

I screamed back into reality and woke up sweaty on my bed. 

Did I step out? Did I sleep off crying?

I looked to my side and saw my face through my roommate’s mirror. There was bloodstain on my nightwear and at the corner of my mouth. I looked at my hands and saw the half-bitten slice of cake. 

I looked up towards the door and saw my wall clock read 2:00 am. 

40 minutes and my life took an extremely different turn.