Chapter 50
Tara refused to get up when the results were pasted. All the students rushed toward it. While some had such downcast looks, some were yelling.
"I got in!"
"My name there!"
"Oh my god!"
"I got in!"
"Who's this?"
"This is the highest score I've seen in years"
"Whoa!"
"167 over 200"
"Eh?"
"And the next person had 123"
"It should be Desola nah"
"Its not her"
"What do you mean by its not Desola?"
Desola frowned as she checked the list. The girl was right. Her name was number two.
"Ayo yours is number 14, you had 104"
"I tried"
"That was a tight competition if my name is 14 and yours is 2 and yet you have 123 and I have 104"
"Who's the girl who had the highest?"
"Some Tara girl"
Tara raised her head as she ran towards the pasted papers. She pushed the students in her way away as she fought to go to the front.
"Who's this?"
"Will you stop pushing?"
"Am sorry excuse me?"
Tara got to the papers and saw her name on the list. First name, the very first name.
Her breathing increased as she started stammering
"Ho... how... How... Did... my... name... get.... there?"
She started panting.
"You are Tara?"
"Whoa!"
"Congratulations"
"Congrats babe"
Tara glanced at the name again as tears rushed to her eyes.
She did it.
It resounded in her ears over and over again before she fell down.
"What's wrong with her?"
"She fainted"
"She did what?"
"I think she was too shocked"
"You guys should space out"
Nathaniel eye went to the big screen immediately it was time up. His name was the first. He had answered 31 questions and had missed two. He took sharp intake of air. The next person to him answered 28 and missed six. The funny part was a boy had answered 58 questions and missed 42 out of it.
Everyone burst into laughter and even Nath couldn't help but laugh.
They walked to their seats as Mr Williams entered the hall back, twinkle in his eyes.
"Tara"
"Huh?"
"Yes sir. The results should have been out by now"
Mr Williams nodded
"How did she do?"
"She topped the list"
"Huh?"
"She topped the list"
Semiloore gave a yell and Nath instantly covered her mouth attracting attention.
"You don't mean it sir"
"She even fainted"
Semiloore burst into laughter at that.
"We qualified here and Tara made it into the finals"
"What about those two? Rolake and Deji?"
"The bus driver has gone to pick them up. They didn't say anything"
"Ohh"
Semiloore watched as the bus driver drove into the car park. They got on to see Deji hugging the big trophy.
"You guys won?"
"Of course"
"On a clean slate" Deji replied proudly
"Rolake was really cool today" Deji confessed
"You were too"
They picked Tara on the way and the latter was still dazed.
"You worked for it okay"
Rolake still seemed flabbergasted as she stared at Tara.
She actually topped the list? It was something she wasn't expecting. She knew that she would definitely get into the list but topping the list wasn't what she imagined.
What do you mean by is not what you imagined? Her mind asked. You all worked hard and you too. You made yourself proud too. I never thought you could do it.
Rolake laughed quietly as she stared at Semiloore.
Just what kind of people were this people for them to hate her so much? To me Semiloore was the definition of someone who stood the test of time and passed in flying colors. How was she not depressed? She envisioned herself in the same situation she was. She would have killed herself but yet she managed to scale over.
She sighed as she rubbed the trophy "Hehe"
Tamiloore and her group got to school first. The students carried them high and many people did not want to believe that they had actually won the GVS debate. But seeing the awards round their necks, what other proof were they looking for? Besides Tamiloore had proven herself capable in the school so there was really nothing much to worry about.
They were all eager to see the others. Many of the students wrote their exams in an hurry to get out of the class. Some even submitted blank answer sheets.
The moment the bus drove into the school. Deji stretched out the trophy to ease their curiosity.
The school went in a frenzy. They had won the BDS CAQ.
They had qualified for the Cowbellpedia semi finals in Lagos.
Tara had topped the EEC list. The crowd went mad as they carried they around the school.
Everyone had this unexplainable joy as they were carried around.
Semiloore laughed as they carried her and kept throwing her up. She glanced at the loving gazes of everyone she knew. They were laughing. They were smiling. They were happy. They all looked like they had all won a lottery ticket. No one was frowning. No one was folding his or her arms and standing akimbo. No one was glaring daggers at her. No one was looking at her murderously.
Calm down Semiloore, this isn't Hicol Lag
The way she felt at that moment;she couldn't explain it. As she glanced over to Nathaniel who was laughing likewise, her heart turned into a puddle.
Rolake stood in front of Jerry as she removed the gold medal on her neck and wore it on his neck.
"Its for you"
"You did the hard work"
"If you didn't trust me I wouldn't have being able to do anything"
Jerry smiled at her "Congratulations"
"Thank you"
"The NMC starts in two days. All good?"
"As long as am beside you, am good"
Jerry smiled as he pulled her closer and dropped a slight deck on her cheeks.
"I won"
Theo smiled "I know"
"What do you mean by you know?"
"Of course I know" Theo replied trying to tease her.
"I feel happy"
"I know you do"
"Will you treat me?"
"What do you want? Shopping?"
"No. Wait sef. Close your eyes"
"Close my eyes?"
"Yes"
"Why?"
"Just close them okay?"
Theo looked at her smugly before closing his eyes. He sighed "So what's this.... "
Tamiloore ended his speech as she placed her lips on his. Theo was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to kiss him right there. They were in class for goodness sake. He just held her waist as he murmured against her lips.
"You know we are in class right?"
"Hmm"
"What do you mean by hmm?"
"Just kiss me back and stop talking"
Theo smiled against her lips as he kissed her back.