I CHASED LOVE BUT FOUND SOMETHING ELSE PART 4

"Bro Kwabena, wake up! Woda dodo!"

A sharp shove jolted me from what felt like another dimension. My eyes snapped open, and there he was—Kwabota, my little nephew, his tiny hands planted firmly on my chest.

"Ah, what is it again?" I groaned, rubbing my eyes.

"Uncle, you were shouting ‘Emmie, Emmie’ in your sleep. Who is that? You owe me an explanation!"

I shot up like an accused man in court. Wait—was I giving a running commentary in my dream? My eyes darted around. I realized I was no longer in my high school dorm. No, I wasn't even in the hostel. Where was I? Home. I had come back for the weekend from the University of Education, Winneba, to get some money and food.

I checked the time: 6:15 AM. I had a mid-semester exam at 8:00 AM. 

Herh, see my life.

Why did I turn off my alarm at 4:30 AM and deceive myself into thinking I would just close my eyes for a five-minute prayer? If not for Kwabota, I would have slept until 10:00 AM. I sprang out of bed and dashed to the washroom. I didn’t know I could bathe in under two minutes.

I threw on my clothes and stepped out of my room, my heart pounding. I kept blaming myself for falling back asleep after my alarm had gone off. I was running late. Just as I reached for my phone, Kwabota stepped in my way again, arms folded like a disappointed landlady.

"Uncle, I said, who is Emmie?"

"Oh, she’s my coursemate. We study African Studies together."

That was a fat lie. I didn’t know anyone named Emmie in real life. In fact, as of yesterday, she didn’t even exist!

"Then why were you begging her in your sleep?"

Ei, see investigative journalism! I ignored him and rushed out. I had a bigger problem—our mid-semester exam in African Studies was in less than two hours, and I hadn’t even finished reviewing the slides.

I took a taxi to campus, still shaken by the dream. My mind kept replaying the moment the lady saved me from disgrace and how she had agreed to be my girlfriend. I was so grateful to Kwabota for waking me up because it also meant I had escaped Emmie’s father’s wrath.

The taxi screeched to a stop at 7:28 AM. I jumped out and sprinted toward the big exam hall, my bag bouncing on my shoulder. But just as I adjusted my bag properly, something happened that nearly sent me back into unconsciousness.

The moment I stepped into the lecture hall, I saw her.

Sitting at the far end of the room.

The same face. The same skin tone. The same confident posture.

I froze mid-step.

"Herh, KD, move! You’re blocking the way!" someone hissed, pushing past me. 

But I couldn't move.

Because the girl from my dream was real.

And I had just spotted her right before the exam.

No, no, no. This can't be happening. This must be a cruel prank from the gods. This shouldn’t be another dream!