BROKEN TILE

CHAPTER FIVE

           Finally, Christmas vacation came after waiting for like ages. After the challenging first semester exams, I couldn't help but glut over the thought of going home soon. I promised myself to leave the school premises just the following day after the last paper. I literally packed my bag and cleaned my room two weeks before the last exam. Funny right? That was how desperate I wanted to be home.

Prior to the commencement of the exam, we were given orientation by both the final year students and some of the lecturers; warning us against exam mal-practice, late attendance to exam venue and the rest of them. At first I was scared. I made sure I read tirelessly to ensure I had no reason to fail. I made sure I was at the exam venue at least thirty minutes before the exam time. I spent less time with Tony and the girls. I hardly saw them around and I understood perfectly due to the fact that we all were in different departments. The few times we studied together at my place was because we had courses in common, beyond that, we rarely hung out. Exam preparations took all my time and I barely had time to think of food or any form of pleasure.

Examination at Chastity university wasn't a child's play. Strict supervision coupled with the exam questions that made most students fidget in the hall. But I made sure I attempted the questions to the best of my knowledge. I avoided anything that would implicate me in the hall and I also ensured I submitted as at when due. After the whole exam, I thanked God it was successful and I prayed for the stress it caused me would be worth it.
I bided my friends farewell and I sure knew that I would miss them so much but not as much I missed home that moment. We had a slumber party at my place the night we concluded our exams. We were all happy we would be going home, we got drunk and said a lot of things which we woke up to forget.

I pleaded with Ma and Da not to bother coming to pick me up. I promised them that I could sort myself out that I was not any kid. Well if someone needed to be picked from school, I'm sure it should be Fortune. I laughed when the thought crossed my mind.

When I got home, Da and Ma weren't home yet. Guess who was sitting on the sofa!
"Dan!" I screamed as I ran to hug him. He was now all grown and his shoulders were so broad and muscles were all popped out at the right places. Jezz! I couldn't believe it. He carried me effortlessly in a hug and spurned me round like I weighed nothing.
   "Gush Fav why are you this light?" he grinned when he finally dropped my feet to the ground. He still wore that his boyish grin and my brother was looking so handsome!
"Well all thanks to Chastity." I shrugged "When did you get back?"
"Few days ago." he sat back on the sofa and continued with what he never stopped loving doing. Video game!
"Really?" I asked, not particularly at his answer but at my surprise of his never changed obsession with video games.
"Yea really." he answered still fixing his eyes on the TV. He noticed the odd look I was giving him and he turned his gaze at me. "Common Fav don't give me that look. I've missed this a lot. I don't even have the chance to play the one I managed to get over there. Tight schedule and I literally have no time for pleasure so my dear here I am."
"Hmm I reserve my comment because I'm so tired and need some rest before Fortune gets back." I replied as I carried my luggage to to my room.

I had imagined how I was going to clean up the room. It must be dusty and dirty due to how long we've stayed away from it. To my greatest surprise, it was as neat as the way we left it. Ma must have done the cleaning! Owing to the fact that we were coming home. Oh thank God. I climbed into bed and allowed the sweet smell of the room tease my nostrils. I smiled at that feeling. I really missed this room so much. There was no other place on earth I wanted to be at the moment but this memorable room.
           I dozed off for a split second but was snapped back into reality when the door to our room swung open.
"Look who we have here!" She screamed.
"Oh my God!" I instantly rolled out of bed as the sleep suddenly disappeared from my eyes. We ran our hands around each other's shoulders in a tight hug. Non of us really wanted to let go. It felt like if we did, we would go back to where we had come from and probably won't have the chance to see again.
After about maybe two minutes of holding on each other, we let go and stared at each other from head to toe. She's thinner!
"What the hell happened to you girl?" I asked with the surprise obvious in my voice.
"I should be asking you Fav, you look skinny." Fortune said appraising me again this time moving round me. She dropped her luggage near the wardrobe and looked back at me. I sat down at the edge of the bed and watched her.
"Well I guess non of us should talk about how we look now because certainly we lost tons of flesh." I said smiling at her, she smiled back at me with her right dimple flashing back at mine.
"Did you do the cleaning? This place is just like we never left." She asked and started unpacking.
"All thanks to Ma I think. I came back to the room just like this. It hasn't been long I arrived"
"Oh"
"Did you take a cab?"
"No. Why should I? I called Da and he picked me up"
I laughed loudly. I knew she would justify my thoughts earlier. Fortune hadn't changed a bit.
"You mean Da brought you back home? Where is he?"
"In the sitting room. I'm sure you've seen Dan." She asked smiling
"Waow my brother is all grown now. Who would have imagined Dan would add up so much with those muscles." I laughed.
"And we are just skinner than he used to be." Fortune laughed.
"I have to go say hello to Da. I'll be back" I ran off quickly to the sitting room. I was brief with my greetings with Da because he was having a conversation with Dan and I wanted to go back to Fortune, we had lots of things to discuss.