I'm no stranger to getting things that I feel like I don't deserve (probably because of the size of the thing or because of the timing). Over the years, I have gotten so many such things that I have actually lost count and forgotten some of them. In fact, a few actually happened yesterday (Friday) at my university and I think I will start with one of them.
I went to one of the restaurants at my university to have my breakfast as it's my usual routine and I ran into one of my coursemates. Thanks to the current money scarcity in my country, I didn't have much cash on me but I was too hungry to even worry about that. When I saw my coursemate, I jokingly told him that he will pay for my food and he said "as long as you buy what makes sense".
I just laughed and brushed it off because he is a very jovial person and I wasn't counting on him to pay for my food. But after my food has been packed, I decided to try my luck again and reminded him that he should take care of my bill. He just asked "how much is it" and after I told him the price, he said "no problem". I just stood there looking at him and he said "go na, I have heard". I happily left with my food after that.
This was someone I wasn't exactly close to and we have never had any major interaction. I have never done anything for him in the past but he just paid for my food as if we have been close friends for years, it was very unexpected. Something similar to this happened about two years ago and that one was even on a larger scale.
During one of my 400-level first semester exams, I sat next to a 500-level student who was writing that particular course for the second time because she failed it the first time. She pleaded with me to help her during the exam and I obliged. I don't know her before but I usually help out people who need it during exams and I don't expect anything back from them
I helped her to the best of my abilities and after the exam, she thanked me and offered to buy me lunch. we later exchanged phone numbers and became good friends after that day. When the semester result was released, she passed very well and she called to tell me the good news. Later on, she also sent me some money to show her appreciation and it was very surprising because I have always helped people during exams but none have shown their appreciation the way she did.
That wasn't even the best part. In second semester, I was done with my industrial training but I used up all my savings during that period and I was broke. My foodstuffs were almost depleted and I was thinking hard about how I was going to refill my stock. One day, I suddenly got a call from the girl and she asked if I was available and I told her yes, then she said I should meet up with her because she has something for me.
I didn't know what it was but I went to the location she mentioned. I got there first and after a while, she arrived in a taxi and she brought out a bag. She told me that it was for me and when I looked in the bag, it was filled with foodstuffs (rice, beans, garri, vegetable oil, tomato paste, and some packs of spaghetti). I instantly got goosebumps and I almost knelt down to thank her. I was trying hard to fight back the tears that were about to gather in my eyes and I just kept thanking her.
Even after she left, I was still standing in one spot and staring at the direction she took. "Just because I helped her during that exam?", I kept asking myself but even I know it's more than that, coz the lunch she bought for me back then and even the money she gave me has more than covered up for that, so what did I do to keep getting things from her? That was the question running through my head.
Just thinking about the event of that day is still giving me goosebumps and I will forever be grateful to her because the foodstuffs came at a time I really needed them, she is god-sent 😊. She has graduated from the university now while I'm currently in 500 level, my final year. I saw her yesterday and she offered to buy me lunch but I was late for class at that time, so I told her "maybe next time".
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