DEAR ME🎁 THE PENULTIMATE 3

Mara rolled her eyes and made the sign of the cross. Worst exam yet, she fumed as she stood up and delivered her paper to the tall robust and unsmiling Mr Robert. Then she scanned the tense hall before walking down the aisle and out the door.

She smiled when she saw Theodora looking out for her. She joined her and both of them embraced and whimpered. Leo soon joined them. A look in one another's eyes was enough to pass the message; the exam had been tough.

"Does anyone care for ice cream?" Leo asked suddenly. Then their faces lit up and they strolled to the back of FASA hall where an icecream bicycle was standing near the popcorn box.

"You're the best, Leo! Icecream is perfect for the celebration," said Theodora with a noisy sip.

"It doesn't feel much like a celebration. Those questions were a perfect example of what I ordered versus what I got," Mara sighed.

"Look on the bright side. We're done for the year and in a few days, we'll be finalists," Leo said and nodded vigorously while the girls shook their shoulders excitedly.

"I can't believe we're almost done. I don't think I'm ready yet," Mara panicked.

"I am," Theodora cut in, "I've had enough of this shege."

"I don't know. I'm going to miss that tiny classroom..." Leo began but the girls cut in with loud protests of disgust and trauma. "Alright. Maybe not the classroom itself. I guess I'll miss the memories of it; early morning stampede for seats and us risking losing our bags and notebooks just because we suspected Steve was going to change the lecture venue. If you think about it, we never stood for a class this session."

"Cheers to us!" Theodora thrust out her icecream and her friends knocked theirs against hers together. Then they laughed.

"I'll miss Mr Robert's classes. Low-key, he's a feminist," Theodora said and they laughed.

"I won't miss the deadlines and submissions," Mara winced and so did her friends.

"Final year will be better. I have it all planned out. I'll save some money this Christmas and buy a laptop. Then I'll utilize my graphic designing skills. There's a lot of money to be made there and I have to get used to the fact that my parents' goodwill will soon expire," Leo said hopefully.

"Me, I'll work on my GP. I'm still not giving up. The curse must be broken and Mass communication department must have a first class graduate once more," Theodora asserted with a clenched fist and Mara and Leo hailed her with cries of BGS.

"What about you, Mara?" Leo asked suddenly and gave Mara a look that heaved an old feeling.

"I don't know. I want to make this year count. I want to enjoy every bit of it and create memories that'll last forever. I'm so excited."

"Is it because of all the talk on penultimate year?" Theodora asked and Leo chuckled. Mara only smiled.

Theodora's question lingered in Mara's mind as she returned to her hostel. She basked in all the happy sentiments of a new academic level. It felt like reliving her happy birthday which was weeks ago.

So much had happened. She couldn't remember them all but deep down, she felt that the passing year had been more than she could tell her past self to expect. It had been a full package of both good and bad. The most exciting thing about the year was no doubt the anticipation of another year, a new three-six-five for her to do with as she hoped. Another chance to live better.

"It will also be the last here..."

Mara read through her two letters to herself and smiled. Crazy how it had been so long ago. She still remembered the beating of her heart with the typing of each word.

Then she smiled and wrote...

Dear Me,

3rd year has been a lot for you. You attended a music concert (which I'll never forget!), explored the den for electricity, fought for water and went to see the Christmas lights at VC's office. You also joined NFCS and now, you don't feel guilty whenever Fr. Greg mentions it in church. Let's not forget that you fell in love...

Now, you're a finalist (almost). You're still nervous at the question, "After school, what next?" You also have an anxious feeling whenever Dr Nwachukwu's voice rings in your ear with the calm words, "penultimate year."

Some course mates seemed to have gotten his message. Emma won the SUG election and Stella got that awesome scholarship and trip to France. You're happy for them but also want something to remember when your days in the den come to an end.

So, you wrote a letter to me as I write one to you now. I don't know what you'll think of this letter when you open it but I'll go ahead to write all the things I'd love to do before we meet on our sign out day.

First off, I'd like to walk the entire length of UNN. I'm not jobless, just curious. Can you believe that after three years in this school, I still don't know the way to Odim? I hope you do though.

When I'm done with my adventurous trek, I'd like to visit Vet mountain. A lot of status posts from my friends told me that was the happening spot this passing year three. So, what do you think of a hike up that mountain with Theodora and Leo? I imagine us crying at how our legs hurt, gulping gallons of water or dying of thirst cos we forgot to bring water bottles. I also imagine we'd scream curses at UNN once we get to the top of the hill. Did we do all that? I think it'd be fun.

Is it just me or do my regrets for missing great stage play performances by TFS grow deeper? This year, there was a Fela concert and I painfully forfeited because of a ₦1500 ticket fee. When Chy posted a clip of the event and how fun it had been, I wanted to burst! My Spotify wrapped brags about how I love musicals and stage plays but I have never attended an actual one in my life! I doubt I'll have this opportunity back at home. Even if I do, it'll be more costly. Please tell me the next show has me smiling in the New Arts Theatre and not feeling wretched on my bed.

In the coming year, just before we meet, I'd like to take Leo and Theo out for a treat. They've been such great friends to me. Can you remember how fiercely united we were through the hurdles this passing third year? I could never have asked for better friends to keep me smiling and strong. Truly, the gift of men is priceless.

For now, I have no money in my purse so my idea of a treat is taking them to 11:45 and letting them stare at the garnished chicken on the rotisserie. Seeing is believing. If I get some cash, maybe I'll get them each a plate of ice-cream. Then, if I cash out big time, I'll buy each of them a chicken and beef Shawarma. Not bad, don't you think? If only you could tell me now which one of the above I would be able to do.

Something I have to do before my sign out is have a sleepover at the library. Theodora thought it was a silly idea but I've really been considering it this third year. My time there reading for MAC 334 made the urge even stronger and I don't think my time here would be complete without spending a vigil in that quiet and knowledgeable room.

The next item in my list is to attend a CEDR conference. There, I said it. I'm still shuddering from the one they made us attend this 3rd year at the cost of 30 marks. I almost got whipped with wires by a madman because of an attendance booklet. Like, what the heck? This conference will be different though. I won't be forced to attend and I won't have to sign an attendance booklet. I'll just go to tap wisdom from angel investors and maybe pitch a business idea and get a sponsorship. I really loved entrepreneurial studies this year. I'd like to go into it full time. Who knows, maybe I'll find you a budding entrepreneur on our sign out.

With all the talk about me and my course mates being in our penultimate year, it still didn't cross my mind to take pictures. I've been going through some posts of my friends who recently signed out. They have actually been preparing for their big day since day one! The before and after clips were cute and I almost cried when I saw their video edit titled, "Four friends 4 years." It was so sweet. I went through my album and there were only awkward videos of me walking to class or back from class. I also don't have a single picture with my best friends. To change that, I'm planning a picture session with them. I do hope we get to capture all the sweet moments of the coming and final year before we graduate. Although I'm not a type to make flirty faces at my selfie cam, I'll still admit that it's heartwarming to keep captured moments, images you can fall back to when adult life feels depressing.

Don't worry. I'll be sure to snap with the FASA statue of liberty at the Chinua Achebe courtyard. I'm thinking of posing with my hand akimbo, and I'll wear my green and white gown to match his green and white shorts. Does the picture look great?

One thing I must do this coming year is treat myself. It's part of my plans for my new age as well. To treat myself. I don't want to ask you to confirm if the rumours of how dreadfully stressful final year is are true because I feel like you'll make me reluctant to see it for myself. No matter how bad it gets, I'll be sure to take care of me. A Shawarma a week at Gineer Tasty will help keep body and soul together. If you suggest, I'll even add a smoothie at 120 or a plate of fried rice at Bosa Kitchen.

Can I ask you something? Did someone get us a money bouquet or cake? What's our inscription on our shirt? We customised it, right? Do we look nice? How much is attachment there let me know if I'll buy some now. Are you happy it's our sign out? Are you smiling?

I really hope so. I hope when we meet, I'll be smiling at a picture of us with the FASA signpost in the background. Or better yet, we can sit on it for a change. It would be the day we conquered FASA et Mass com so, why not?

I'm kind of reluctant to add this but we can't lie to ourself about how we feel, and as we grow, we change. You'll probably tell me it's alright that I fell in love. You'll say, it was our first penultimate semester and we were young and dreamy. You'll say it's not our fault that Leo became the object of our desire, the canvas of our lovey-dovey art. You'll say it wasn't stupid to mistake his kind friendship for something more and almost ruin a bond since year one. I appreciate your words but I also hope you feel less lonely and guilty as I do now. I hope you've found someone else. I imagine he's smart, loves books and has a thing for an awkward introvert girl like us. I hope he treats you right. I hope he deserves you because you are precious, darling. I also hope you fall in love slowly like how Vanessa did in the book I'm reading. I hope so much that with time, you'll never remember the bitter tears you cried after your first real heartbreak (I don't know if I can call it that though).

Well, I've got to drop my pen here. You're already at the top and I have a lot of climbing to do. As Willie Wonka would say, there's so little to do and so much time to do it. Strike that and reverse it.

Wish me luck on my journey, darling. It may take a while but it will surely come to be by God's grace, and by the time you open this letter, I hope to meet you and find you happy and accomplished as I envision you now.

See you soon,

Me.