Image generated using AI
Yesterday I took a paper and was expecting one this morning.I came to school early and since the exam was starting by 9am, I decided to do some revisions in the library.
I got into one of the seats among one of the round tables in the library and began to go through my notes for revisions, later on Jane came to join me.
I was happy to see her, so we continued reading and asking ourselves questions in a hushed tone.
We ended up revising past questions, and I felt more confident going down to the hall where the exam will be taking place. We left by 8:45 since it was just a stone's throw from the library.
The hall was filled with noise when we came in. I settled in one of the seats while Jane sat beside me. We went ahead to ask each other questions while we waited for the invigilator to come for the exam to commence.
It was already past 9, yet the invigilator hadn't arrived yet, so Jane and I continued revising.
The seat by my left was empty before a girl occupied it. I gave her a quick glance and exchanged pleasantries before turning to Jane.
Her name is Sarah; she acts like the bossy one, comes to school with a car, and hardly comes to class. I admire her, though, because she always wore expensive things. As time kept ticking, I felt already exhausted, so I leaned into my seat and decided to snack before the exam started.
I didn't eat much before rushing out. I brought out my snack and placed it on the table in front of me, but my eyes caught something. The jotter in front of Serah.
It wasn't just the jotter; it was the picture displayed in front of me.
At that moment I lost my courtesy grabbing the jotter with my breath caught in my throat.
“Excuse me.” Serah raised a brow in confusion at my abrupt behavior.
“Do you know this guy?” I pointed at the picture of the guy who had his lips curved upwards, the corners lifting into a satisfying smile.
He had a lady by his side who looked deep into his eyes like he was some sort of precious metal to be adored.
My eyes were already glossed when I looked up at Serah. She gave me a conscious look, taking a quick glance at me and the jotter in my hand before snatching it away from me.
“You don't just take people's things without asking for permission,” she said arrogantly, turning to her book to continue what she was doing.
I raised my hand to the air in frustration, my head already pounding and my heart in a mix of pain like a dagger had been dug deep down.
“Emily what is it?” Jane asked, even at that moment I couldn't find my voice to say anything like my tongue was tied to the roof of my mouth.
All I did was to point to the table. She adjusted to get a view of where I was pointing at but she couldn't see it so she stood up.
“Do you mind if I see your jotter?” Jane asked politely before turning to me with pity in her eyes.
I avoided her eyes.
“Is him, right?” I asked in a delusional tone. His name is the same name I know. He might be a twin. I compensated myself but I couldn't believe it, my boyfriend of three years was under the arms of another woman with a broad smile.
The wedding was recent, it happened over the weekend. Was that the reason he told me he was traveling to the village? His excuse was that his mother was sick.
I felt hot all of a sudden, thrown into a state of muddle and that was when the invigilator chose to show up.
I refused to even stand on my feet to take away my bag. I refused to do anything but just cry.
My heart was bleeding. Jane helped to take my bag out and even tried to comfort me by giving me words of advice to focus on my exam instead.
When the answer sheet and question paper were shared, I couldn't even write a thing.
How can I find out my boyfriend didn't just cheat but was married to someone else without any breakup? How could he do this to me? No quarrels, no fight.
“Emily, you have to try to write,” Jane kept whispering in my ear. How could I write my exams in this state? Even when I try to shove those feelings away, I can't.
The exam was over; I stood to my feet and walked away without even waiting for Jane.
“Emily,” she called after me, but I kept moving; she later caught up to me.
“You have to calm down first. Wait, I will take you home,” she suggested, and we finally got home to see Michael already in my apartment.
He came to open the door for us, and the room was filled with a pleasant smell of whatever he was cooking.
“Babe, are you okay?” I ignored his question; my eyes traced down to his finger, but there wasn't any ring to show he was married.
“When are you going to tell me?” I asked with a broken voice, breaking into another round of tears.“Tell you, what! What are you talking about?”
“Don't act dumb to me” I pointed at him.“When are you going to tell me you're married?” He was taken aback for a moment then surprise and then guilt.
The cloth on his hand fell down; he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came, and all he could mutter was.
“I'm sorry.” he said those words like it was suddenly going to make up for anything. It's been a year and standing right at the altar I couldn't help but feel blessed having the best man in the world. Micheal's breakup make me stronger.
