Entrenched in suffering, I felt like there was no way out. I wasn't blindfolded; neither was I tired. I felt like I had achieved enough. I began to doubt if I could lead myself to victory.
I had deep down in me more potential than this. For a while, I quenched the potential of success in me.
Confusion is temporary, but deep down in me, I did realise such. Many times, people might see patent impossibility, but deeply entrenched in me is a volcano waiting to erupt.
The question is: how do I unleash this volcano, willing and wishing to erupt? That is through consistency.
I was in my finals, reading every single day. On one end, I had problems with my finances, and on the other end, I had to read so as not to fail.
There were actually sponsors, but the problem is that the economic situation was really affecting them. I soon began to shift from focusing on my education, and my focus began to tilt towards surviving.
Soon, I lost confidence and became weak.
I had little brain power and I collapsed. At my house, I saw my lecturer, my friends, and colleagues telling me to take life easy.
Taiwo, my girlfriend, told me that in life, I should always ask for help when I needed it. The academic journey is difficult when you decide to fight it alone.
One of my colleagues, Felix, said to me, "Take life easy, bro. You can't affect your health just because you want to fight your way through."
Bisola shouted, "Phamzy, don't injure yourself just because you want an A. As if having As is what would make you rich."
However, I wasn't discouraged. Mum and Dad told me back home to be the best, and I committed to doing just that. Mama also reminded me to remember the son of whom I was, which I also took to heart.
An anger was growing in me. I said to myself, "I am not going to allow the naysayers to guide me astray."
Gradually, I was getting better and better every day. Taiwo, my girlfriend, soon began to drift farther and farther away until she became invisible.
As time went on, I became the top in my class. I had new friends and forgot about Taiwo.
On one occasion, in a night class that I organised, a student, Bisola, asked, "Sir, static friction should be greater than kinetic friction in all cases — due to what?"
I had a shutdown for a while.
Unbeknownst to me, someone answered.
"It would definitely be greater due to microscopic locking. Moreover, Newton's law is another valid reason for an object to remain stationary."
I was in shock — it was Taiwo.
Taiwo, the girl I had neglected…
"Yes… you are right."
Throughout that lecture, I was not myself. In fact, my gaze was fixed on Taiwo.
Taiwo…
Immediately after the tutorial class, I followed her right away.
"Taiwo, how have you been?"
For a while, Taiwo didn't even say a word. As if I didn't exist.
"Taiwo… okay, I am sorry."
"Just like that? And you expected me to accept? No, it is never that simple, my dear. You started this. I thought that I wasn't—"
M
"How did I become visible to you again? I do not want to be visible. Please."
I felt pain. She immediately said to me, "Mr Promise-and-Fail. Promise breaker. You said during the start of this relationship that you wouldn't trade me for anything. Here you are, always doing the opposite."
"You… Phamzy, you. I decided to free you."
She was deeply hurt, and I could see it clearly.
Immediately, I knelt down like a gentleman — what am I saying — I was in tears, apologising.
"Okay, I have heard you," she said. "Achalugo… I know you haven't. What can I do to spoil you, even if I don't have much?"
"Achalugo."
"He he he… nothing much, my dear. Just a dinner at any five-star hotel."
"Achalugo, you know I don't have the money for a five-star hotel. Please help me manage one star or two star."
"He he he… one star or two star? Bi ti bawo? That's below my standard — after all, you were the one who committed the offence."
"Achalugo, no vex, my love. Na Niger condition. Please, no vex."
She rolled her eyes in a way that showed she had accepted.
Immediately, I took her for a meal at a restaurant near the school for a nice evening dinner.
At the end, we were glad that the promise was not broken, and we equally achieved academic excellence.
From the story, do you think that adulthood is easy? Let me know in the comment section below.
Thanks for reading. Much love. Bye.
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