Lessons After Class.

Chapter 2

The sun was already high when I got to the administrative building. The place always looked calm from far away but once you came closer you saw the truth. Students were everywhere. Some stood under the shade of the mango tree. Some leaned on the wall with files pressed to their chest. Others paced about while checking the time on their phones. The line outside the office was long and slow like a tired snake.

My heart beat fast when I saw the queue. I whispered to myself that today could not go wrong. I had worked too hard for this scholarship to lose it over small mistakes. I adjusted the file in my hand and scanned the line again. That was when I saw Melissa.

She stood at the front. Her hair was packed neatly and she wore that calm face she always wore when she knew things were going her way. She had been texting me all morning asking where I was. Seeing her felt like water on dry ground.

I walked quickly toward her and tapped her shoulder. She turned and her eyes widened.

“Where have you been? I kept on letting people go before me because it has been my turn for a while but I didn’t want to go before you since you said you were close”, she asked.

“I will explain once we’re done here”, I told her to calm down and said I would explain. I had barely started talking when the woman inside the office raised her voice and called the next two people to come forward.

Melissa looked back at the door and then at me. She asked the girl behind her if I could go in with her since she had been saving my place. The girl looked at me for a moment and then nodded. She said it was fine and stepped back a little.

Relief washed over me. I thanked her and followed Melissa into the office.

The room was cool and quiet. The lady in charge sat behind a desk with a large monitor in front of her. She looked serious but not unkind. Piles of files sat beside her like small hills.

Melissa greeted her politely and handed over her papers. The lady checked the pages one after the other. She paused at some point and looked closely at the signatures. She then typed on the monitor for a while. The tapping sound filled the room.

After a few seconds she picked up a pen and signed where she needed to sign. She smiled at Melissa and told her congratulations on her scholarship reapplication. Melissa smiled back and thanked her with clear joy in her voice.

The lady then lifted her head and said softly that the next person should come forward. That was me.

My legs felt heavy as I stepped closer. I greeted her and handed her my file. She opened it and began to type again. Her face changed a little as she read through my details.

“Your cgpa was very close to not meeting the requirement for the scholarship this year. You would need to put in more effort this session if you want to qualify next year. If you don’t improve you might not be eligible again. You can meet the guidance counselor for advice”.

I nodded quickly and told her I understood. My throat felt tight but I kept my face calm.

She continued checking the papers. Then she stopped. She frowned slightly and flipped through the pages again.

“Your forms are not complete. The sheet signed by the professors teaching you this session is missing”, she said with a raised brow.

My heart dropped.

I took the papers from her and went through them again with shaking hands. I kept shaking my head as I checked each page. The signatures were not there.

I felt dizzy.

“I had them signed. I brought them. I promise”, I told her. I said I remembered clearly. As I spoke a picture flashed in my mind. The stranger. The sudden bump. My papers flying into the air.

“Actually, there was an accident earlier that morning and someone bumped into me. My papers fell but I was sure I gathered everything back”, I explained in a rush because fear was rising in my chest.

Melissa stepped in at this point because the lady looked like she didn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth,“She is telling the truth. I’m her friend and roommate and we went around together to get the forms signed. I watched her collect every signature. I promise”.

The lady listened quietly. She looked at me again and then at Melissa. After a moment, she sighed and reached for a drawer. She brought out a fresh form and handed it to me. She said, “This is another form. Make sure to get all the signatures before I close for the day. If not, there is nothing I can do for you”

Hope rushed back into me.

I thanked her again and again and told her how much I appreciated it. She smiled and waved us off gently.

Melissa and I stepped out of the office and into the noisy hallway. I let out a deep breath I did not know I was holding.

She asked me to explain properly what happened that morning. As we walked away from the building I told her everything. I told her about leaving early. I told her about the stranger who bumped into me and how my papers scattered. I told her how scared I felt when I realized the signature page was missing.

She listened and shook her head, “I knew something would happen when you were coming over yourself. If I was at home and didn’t come from Malik’s house, this wouldn’t have happened. He is even the one that dropped me off at school this morning. Anyway, thank God I’m moving back to the apartment today, everything can go back to normal. If I was with you when it happened , I would’ve checked the forms if they were complete”.

I told her it was not her fault. She squeezed my hand and told me everything would be fine.

Then reality hit me again. I asked her, “how I would get all the signatures again in one day when it took me two full days before?” My voice shook as I spoke.

She stopped walking and looked at me, “You don’t have a choice so you just have to try. Remember that the office would close later in the day and that time is already moving fast so you have to get everything done as early as possible.”

I nodded even though fear sat heavy in my chest.

That was when I remembered my class.

I looked at the time and my eyes widened. If I did not run now I would be very late. I told Melissa I had to go and took off without waiting for her reply.

I ran across the campus with my bag bouncing against my side. Students stared as I passed. My breath came fast and my legs burned. I prayed silently as I ran.

By the time I reached the lecture hall I was already twenty minutes late. My heart sank when I saw the professor inside. The class was quiet and all eyes turned toward me as I pushed the door open.

I apologized loudly and told him I was sorry for coming late. I began walking toward my seat with my head down.

Then his voice stopped me.

“Stop”, his voice sounded calm but firm. There was something about it that felt familiar but I could not place it.

He told me that I had passed his fifteen minutes limit for lateness. He said I should leave the class.

I turned back and tried to explain. I told him I had an important issue at the administrative office. I said I was sorry and asked him to please understand.

He cut me off. He said, “rules are rules. Please make use of the door”.

I felt heat rise to my face. I stood there for a moment unsure of what to do. The class was silent. I could feel the eyes of other students on me. Some looked curious. Some looked amused. Some looked sorry for me.

I nodded slowly and picked up my bag tighter. I told him okay and walked out.

As I stepped outside the hall, the door closed behind me with a soft sound that felt louder than it was. My chest hurt with shame. I leaned against the wall for a moment and closed my eyes.

I told myself to focus. I reminded myself that I still had work to do. I still had signatures to collect. I still had a chance.

I pushed myself off the wall and started walking again.

Today was far from over.