HOW I MET MY CHEATING GIRLFRIEND

Episode 10

"Ensure you don't have your phones with you. Otherwise, if found, you won't do the exam." I heard one of the invigilators saying. I didn't know anything about that unit actually. And because my brain was blank, the only hard disk I trusted was my phone. I once tried using it while doing Dr Sibuor's exams and it was successful. I did believe that I was going to succeed here also.

Exam papers got distributed. When I looked at it, everything seemed to be familiar except the answers I could give without googling. I had activated my tablet to silent mode and removed all the passwords to make me get access to it easily. The screen was to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity. "Oops! This phone can't enter my pocket!" One of the best ways to keep my phone had hit the wall. I decided to place it on my thighs. "The paper shall take exactly three hours. Don't write your name on the booklet. Simply write your Admission number and other details required there. You may start." Dr Elizabeth said.

I went through all the questions. I couldn't remember anything on them. Besides, I was just stressed up. I thought of the success wishes Sweeney used to send to me every morning, with an online kiss. I was already missing them. "And what if Sweeney leaves me?" A sad thought ran into my mind. As I started reading a question, Sweeney's image could be visible in my lonely thoughts. I took about 20minutes, trying to figure out what I was to right on the booklet.

I turned my data connection on secretly and started to google the first question. "Critically, explain the role the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) has played in uniting the country, 25mks". This question itself invoked anger on me. BBI could sound like "Bibi" in Swahili, at the time my "wife" Sweeney had refused to talk to me. However, I managed to write something - just anything I got from the Google that familiarized the question.

The exam began at 8am. After spending the first two hours in the exam room, I saw the message notification on the screen. I was happy! I knew it was for Sweeney. "She might have missed me very much now." I said to myself. Opening the message, it was in deed from Sweeney. "Hi Oscar, I wish you well in your life. Goodbye." She texted. Normally, Sweeney could only call me 'Oscar' when she was not in her normal moods. I read the text, and with my head down, I saw droplets of my tears on the booklet. "What exactly do Sweeney mean with this text? Does she mean our relationship is over?" I asked myself many questions that I couldn't answer by myself.

I knew my neighbours or even one of the invigilators could sense something was not okay with me and reach for me. I was a criminal at the first place. I had a phone, which was prohibited. Again, if that could not be the case, they could have thought the paper was that difficult and that is I was crying. I didn't want to get embarrassed, or risked being taken to the University Senate for cheating in an exam room.

Of the four possible questions to be answered out of six, I had only answered two of them. I was to begin the third one when I met the heartbreaking message. "How I wish I could have switched off this phone." I cried bitterly, and internally, having an intra-personal communication. I decided to submit my answer booklet and left. When I stood up to take my booklet to the collection centre, which was just in front of us, I heard a murmur at the back. Consequently, it went viral and the class started to make some noise. "What could be wrong with me? Or is there a torn place on my trouser?" I was asking myself, wondering why people had to react like that when I stood up. The invigilators also were wondering. However, instead of asking what the murmur was for, they ordered the students to keep quiet and concentrate. I later realized that I had finished exams earlier before everyone, something that had never done before. I was used to finish the paper ten minutes to time.

"The paper is very simple. Just finish and submit yours too. You don't need to murmur." Dr Elizabeth reiterated as I was getting out.

I wanted to talk to Sweeney. I called her immediately I was from the exam room. I could get her skiza tune of Mercy Mwaipaja of Nifundishe Kunyamaza playing. That call went unanswered. Shortly, she texted, "I think I had told you to enjoy your life and a goodbye. The best thing to do is to wish me the same but also I won't beg for that...if you like, do, if you don't like, leave."

"Why are you talking like this, sweetheart?" I got some little courage to still ask questions.

"Am Sweeney please...I guess that text is also not meant for me. Send it to the owner."

"Am sorry please my dear. Kindly come down and let's talk."

"Oscar, call me Sweeney or stop wasting your time texting me. I think am clear!"

"We need to talk, kindly."

"Okay, go ahead. And let me believe it's not about love, because I don't owe you that love."

Relationship kills! Sweeney had just changed all over sudden and she was talking to me as if I was already a stranger to her. If one can take away his life because of love, then I was almost heading to that stage. I lost morale, I lost hope, I lost energy but I never lost my interest in her. It was obvious we could only talk about love. I had another paper at 12.00pm which was only an hour from the time I was chatting with Sweeney. I thought of going back to my house to have a lunch before proceeding to the next paper. I was already tired and I decided to have a rest under the tree that was behind our exam room.

"Sweeney, do you love me...?" I restarted the conversation. I waited for her reply. I wanted to text her again but something told me that maybe, I was to wait for a whole passage.

"Yes Oscar, I don't hate you. But sincerely, why did you have to cheat me that you had never dated in campus? And by the way, even that day we were at the restaurant in town, I saw you had saved someone "Darling" and that's why I also saved myself that way just to test you. When I called, you thought it was your girl calling and you rejected the calls. Oscar, I don't know why I had to trust you that easily."

"The truth is, I met that girl before I could travel home on Thursday. She was a friend to my friend's girlfriend. I was with him when both came to his place. Am a political science student and we're taught about communication and socialization. So we did the introduction and she gave me her contact. She's called Darleen and I decided to save her as Darling. On what happened last night, she had been in need of my love but I refused. Have been avoiding her, so I decided to tell her the truth. Please, I can't cheat on you. I can't lie to you. I love you so much."

"K." She replied to that my long text.

"To mean?" I asked.

"It's okay. I understand... and thanks for your openness. Anyway, how was your today's paper, are you done?"

For a while, I started to smile. It was like she began to care for me again. "Sincerely, I had been having stress since last night. Exam became harder and had to come out...just because of your love. Am yet to go for another one in 20mins time." I replied.

"Aww, am sorry please. Usifail kwa sababu yangu...I love you and take care. Text me when done I'll call you. Success beb. Byeee."

I fully regained my happiness. "I couldn't beg her...for what? I'm the one to quit, not her...why has she accepted me again, with lies...hahaha. Lemme go and take my lunch I rush for my paper." I took some minutes monologuing before I could leave for a packet of milk and cakes for my lunch.