Chapter 89 SHATTERED FOCUS
Godiva POV
Dina tried reaching out to Ben for over ten minutes, giving him over twenty-nine calls he didn’t pick, and on her thirtieth try, his number was switched off.
I began trying Jerald’s number not long after Dina started trying Ben’s number again, and unlike Ben’s phone which rang at first, Jerald’s own wasn’t reachable from the very first try.
“Is this what they mean by we needed better phones to reach out to at any time?” Dina groaned in frustration.
This was the most important moment of our lives in school and this single uncertainty could shatter it.
“Just chill girl, we don’t need this kind of stress now. Don’t forget we need to be at the state library for the regionals as early as 7:00am, so worrying is a luxury we can’t afford now,” I tried encouraging Dina, feeling worse myself.
We had our dinner by 7:00pm at the Job’s residence before we began our final study. We studied for three hours intensely before finally calling it a day.
I was woken up as early as 4:30am by Mama’s gentle kiss on the cheek.
“Hey Mama,” I muttered, stretching and trying to recollect myself.
“Rise and shine baby, you need to get your day started,” Mama announced, gently pulling my blanket off my body.
For the first time ever, Mama made me do yoga for fifteen minutes, according to her, it would help me focus. After the yoga exercise, I took my bath and headed downstairs for breakfast when I sighted the pastor sitting on Mama’s favorite couch.
“God’s blessings sir,” I greeted respectfully, in our usual way of exchanging pleasantries.
“May His favor be with you,” he replied, joining his hands together.
“Mama, why is the pastor here so early?” I whispered, entering into the kitchen.
“He’s here to pray with us before the big competition,” Mama replied in whispers, handing me my breakfast.
“Aww, that’s so thoughtful of him,” I beamed excitedly. “Only a few persons will willingly come to pray for your success in a competition his son is also a part of,” I added.
“Hurry and finish with your breakfast while I dress, the prayer will be at Dina’s house,” Mama said, taking the apron off her waist.
I had just taken a few spoons of my oatmeal when I saw Jerald’s message pop up.
“Wow, he sent the message at 5:35, that’s minutes back,” I murmured to myself, opening the text message.
“Good morning my ray of sunshine, if I don’t send this message this early, I’d never be at ease with myself.”
A smile slowly crept to my lips as I kept reading.
“Today you’re going in for the competition as a champion, I know there’s nothing that’ll ever make you lose today. Go forth and return victorious, I love you my woman.”
I smiled hopelessly reading through the text he sent.
I was about exiting the app when another message came in from him, which I read in a hurry.
“I’m sorry, we’re locked in, so we will be absent from your big day today since we’re grounded, but do your best knowing I’d be watching it live.”
Tears suddenly welled up in my eyes as I abandoned my cutlery in the plate of oatmeal, staring at my phone screen, hoping another message would pop up saying it was all a prank.
“You look full already,” Mama observed, taking my bowl of oatmeal away.
“Don’t be tensed up baby,” Mama added, patting me on my back, observing my countenance as we walked to Dina’s house.
“Div!” Dina exclaimed, hugging me tightly as we entered the living room.
“What’s with you two, why do you look gloomy?” Mrs Job asked, looking at us in a suspicious manner.
“It’s probably tension,” the pastor chuckled.
“This doesn’t look like tension to me, but anyways,” Mrs Job muttered.
We worshipped for a bit before the pastor finally prayed a prayer of victory and thanksgiving for us. It was as though the prayer worked magic in me, I felt lighter from the worry of Jerald and Ben’s absence.
“Worry is a luxury we can’t afford now,” I whispered suddenly to Dina as we approached Mr Job’s car.
“How do you mean?” Dina asked, sounding discouraged.
“Worrying will only affect our performance, and I heard we may not even see the crowd in this round, that everyone will be outside since it’s a written exam, including our parents,” I replied unsure.
Dina and I drove the remaining journey to the state library in silence. The library was about forty minutes’ drive away from home.
For the first time since the preparation for the competition, I got scared seeing the multitudes who came for the competition, just by taking a glance at some, they looked like Einstein.
“Don’t let anyone intimidate you girls, you’re champions on your own,” Mama said, trying to encourage us.
“Girl, we really took this competition for granted because our school was the best in the state,” Dina whispered in my ear, totally dispirited.
All through the registration, Dina and I kept our arms locked, resting our heads on each other as our heart rates kept going irregular.
“You got this girl,” Mama cheered us on, noticing our countenance.
“I don’t gat this, someone help!” Dina screamed dramatically, making those around us burst out laughing, including me.
Alas, it was 7:00am and the online registration closed when a huge-looking man came forward and introduced himself as Poppo, our coordinator for the day.
Poppo briefed us on all we needed to know before the competition, not forgetting to mention the penalty for malpractice.
He was still speaking when I sighted Leo at the opposite end from us.
“Isn’t that Leo?” I whispered to Dina uncertainly.
“Where?” she asked anxiously, looking around.
“There,” I muttered, pointing in his direction.
Dina squinted, then her eyes widened. “Wait, isn’t that Lis and Jerald locking arms?” she echoed in disbelief.
My heart missed a dangerous beat.
“What Jerald do you mean?” I queried, snapping my head in that direction.