By the time I returned to school, matriculation day had already taken place. One look at me then could tell anyone close to me that I wasn't my usual self. Maryann tried all the time to cheer me up. Most times, she did my laundry, cooked for me, and did a lot of other things, but that did not help much. Yet Maryann did not stop there—she constantly remembered me in her midnight prayers to help me overcome the emotional trauma.
At the end of the first semester exam, I had a carryover in one of my core subjects, but my GPA (Grade Point Average) was not too bad. I managed to put more effort in the next semester. Subsequently, I came back to my usual self and became jovial once more. I had to attend lectures more regularly, opted for tutorial classes, purchased a few handouts, and carried out private research where necessary. With all these efforts and determination, I was able to clear all my papers that semester with a good pass.
The vacation period was not long enough, so I had to spend it at my lodge. Maryann left for home and I was left alone. Memories of all the good times I had with Gabriella began to set in, but I did my best to wave them off. I didn't want to be reminded of forgotten pains.
One of those days, I decided to go shopping at a luxurious shopping mall in Surulere, where I bumped into Frank—the guy who had helped me out the first day I got lost. We were surprised to see each other.
"Oh my goodness!" Frank exclaimed. "Is this really you? You are looking so amazing," he added.
I smiled shyly at the compliment and replied, "You too, you don't look bad yourself."
"It has been a long time indeed. I've been trying to reach you after you called, but it wasn't going," Frank complained.
"I'm so sorry about that. I actually misplaced my phone in a bus," I said.
"I'm sorry to hear about that too. So, tell me, how about your admission?" Frank asked.
"About that, I will soon become a 200-level student," I said with a little pride.
"That's great! What course are you studying?" he asked again.
"Law. Civil Law, to be precise."
Later on, we exchanged phone numbers. Frank went ahead to settle my bills. I thanked him so much and left for my lodge.
When Maryann finally returned, I did not hesitate to gist her about the incident.
"Hmm! I can see someone is in love," Maryann joked.
"Abeg, no even go there! I am only here to fulfill my dream of becoming a lawyer and not to start up any romantic relationship whatsoever," I replied.
"Does that really matter? Who knows if God has designed him to be your destiny helper? He could be a blessing in disguise," Maryann said with a shrug.
"Very well then, I am not interested," I bluntly replied.
The first day of lectures after resumption was a bit hectic. There was this particular coursemate of mine who was also my course representative. His name was Alex. He had made several futile attempts to ask me out since last semester, but I politely turned him down. For my sake, he had to attend Christian Fellowship on campus along with Maryann and me. Still, I did not give him the chance to make advances at me.
One day, my mum called and asked me to return home urgently. I tried to know what had happened, but she insisted I come home first. Coincidentally, at that time there was a compulsory one-week seminar organized for all law students, to be held within the school premises. Delegated tutors from the NBA (Nigerian Bar Association) were to take us on each session of the seminar.
However, I pre-informed Alex that I would be unavoidably absent because I needed to travel home that same week. Being a smart colleague, he agreed to lend me his jotter when I returned. I even paid him some cash in appreciation.
Before leaving, I also informed Maryann and asked her to take care of my luggage. I took the next available night bus. While on the journey, I ensured my items were intact to avoid a repeat of the theft incident that once happened on my way to Ikorodu.
At last, I got home around noontime—safe and sound. Much had not really changed in my absence, except for the fact that my dad had retired from government service and was awaiting his pension.
My mum was busy in the kitchen when I arrived. I ran to embrace her from behind. After greeting, I asked after my father. She said he had left earlier for the farm. I lied that Aunty Jane and her family sent their regards. Then, I hurried into my room, changed into casual wear, and returned to the kitchen to assist my mother.
She asked about my studies and I gave an affirmative response. If she had pressed further to ascertain my course level, I would have told her that an endemic strike had broken out at school. I too wasn't in a hurry to ask what the said emergency was about, since both she and my dad were faring well.
Later in the evening, my dad came back home. He was delighted to see me, but I quickly observed that there was something wrong with his countenance. I served him food and went to join my mother in eating—that was one childhood habit I could not resist.
While we were eating, I decided to ask about the emergency for which I came home. To my greatest discomfiture, she said there was nothing serious, only that she missed me and needed to see my face. She knew too well that I would not come home if she hadn't used such a strategy.
I became suddenly angry but concealed it. My mum had made me miss an important seminar in school just to have me around. I was not going to blame her, because I was her only child and she often felt lonely.
That very night, I found out that there was truly an emergency—the reason my dad had returned home sad, which my mum hadn't told me. I overheard my dad narrating to my mum how his immediate elder brother threatened him to leave his farmland because he had no male child to inherit it, as custom demands.
My mum pleaded with him to forfeit the farmland for peace to reign. She went ahead to narrate how the women, folk, and friends she borrowed money from were pressing her hard to pay off her debts.
The next day, I devised a plan on how to help my parents without letting them know. If they knew, my mum especially would start asking one thousand annoying questions.
When she had gone to the market with her goods, and my dad had left to see a friend, I rushed into their room. I searched for the book where they recorded their confidential matters. It took me some minutes to find where my dad had hidden it. I copied out their account numbers—both their individual savings accounts and their joint account. There and then, I transferred some money from my own account to theirs.
I stayed for a week before making my intention of going back to Lagos known to my parents. When my dad asked if I needed anything, I told him not to worry—that his prayers were all I needed.
Thereafter, I took my leave.
Perfect — thanks for arranging them in sequence. I'll transcribe only Chapter Twelve exactly from your handwritten notes, correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation but keeping your story and style intact.