Chapter Three

General Certificate Examination

"I'm sure she's proud of herself" Vivian said.

"Was that not why you stepped down from the competition ?" Jackson said.

" What exactly do you take me for ? I just hate the fact that the school's attention is on me, it discomforts me"

" Oh, so guys are beginning to hit on you" Jackson teased

"Hey Jackson watch your mouth" Vivian chased him round the room. The door swung open and Sophia walks in.

" Guys, come on we need to talk"

" About what ?" Jackson asked.

" The GCE we talked about in school"

" Wasn't that an excuse to avoid the quiz ?" Vivian asked.

" It would have been if our homeroom teacher didn't call my dad to ask him about it"

" Wait ! Hold on, don't tell me we are actually going to write that tough exam" Jackson asked.

" What did your dad tell her in return"

" He said I get to choose what I do but since I haven't told him about it that means I wanted to surprise him. Now he got me registered". Sophia said

" It's your fault, you always love to surprise your dad, have you seen the effect now ?" Jackson complained and went to the reading table.

" Vivi, what do you say ?"

" As long as you're already registered we should also do the same"

"Vivi, are you really going to do that huh. Count me out " Jackson said

" It's not like you have a choice now" Sophia said to Jackson and handed him a bar of chocolate

" Let's go get registered right away" Vivian said.

" I think they must have closed now"

" Can anyone hear me out ? I said that I AM NOT INTERESTED " Jackson specified

"So should we all spend the night here ?"

"I think we should " Vivian answered while changing the bedsheets.

" You girls listen to me"

" Yes boss, we've heard you, anything else?" Vivian answered

" But why does it feel like you didn't"

" Vivian seriously when was the last time you went home ?" Sophia asked.

" My dad has a contract abroad, he keeps sending me some cash to take of myself while my mom basically live her life in the hospital. Then who did you want me to meet at home besides they know I'm with you guys "

" Ok no problem "

" What are we going to eat this night please" Jackson asked

"Are you hungry already"

" You guys should go get something let me take a nap before you come to disturb my life" Vivian suggested.

" Enjoy it while it lasts"

Immediately they left Vivian laid down to take a nap.

The date of the Examination was released as well as the timetable table.

The three friends had begun extra classes after school. They decided not to go home for the time being. They officially moved into their secret lodge where they began an intensive study method. They applied all the techniques they know including visiting the church and praying over and over again. Deep down they were very nervous unlike the Junior WAEC this one is tougher. They kept on reading till late at night. They decided to take a break after tonight's study.

" I think we should put our legs into a bucket of water, that way we will keep on being focused and awake" Jackson suggested

" What's sort of dumb study method is that ?" Vivian asked

" It's not dumb, let's try it and see how it goes"

" Why is Sophia not saying anything ?"

"She's always like this"

"I think she's taking this too far, she rarely takes a break from study"

"Maybe she's possessed by the spirit of study"

" Jack is that even a thing ?"

" Who knows ?"

" Jack do something"

" Like what ?"

" If I knew I won't ask you, just do something to make her take a break from study"

" Sophia !" Jackson yelled

" Do you really have to shout ?" Vivian asked

" She needs to hear me though"

" What's wrong Jack ? " Sophia asked

" Am starving but guess what am craving "

" What ?"

" Fried chicken, let's go to Chicken Republic and eat something nice"

" Am not going,I need to finish this chapter"

" No you are definitely going" he went to her and held her hands. " Shall we ?"

" Vivian please help me here"

" I would love to but am starving too"

" Oh you guys already planned this right"

" No am just hungry" Vivian said.

" You know the adage ' All works and no play makes Jack and dull boy' and I think I'm becoming dull already"

" There's also another adage ' All play and no works makes Jack a lazy boy' and I think you are already lazy"

" You two stop, can we eat out now" Vivian interrupted.

While they were eating, Sophia asked;

" Whose idea was this ?"

" Mine" Jackson replied

" Be honest man" Sophia said.

" It weird but it was actually Vivian's "

"Really, that's new"

"What's new ?" Vivian asked

" You getting more concerned and more considerate nowadays"

" Shut up and eat up".

A day before the GCE. They went to meet up their homeroom teacher in the staffroom.

" Good morning Mrs. Gracefilled"

" Feathers, how are you three doing ?"

" Very well ma. We are here to take permission from you. The GCE is starting tomorrow so we won't be coming to school till we are done"

" But I'm not Jackson's homeroom teacher now"

" We already met him"

" Alright then, do your best and drink alot milk for retaintive memory"

"Yes ma"

" You need to know you represent this school wherever you are "

" Yes ma"

On the D-Day of the examination, before the invigilator came to the hall, the students have already hacked into various GCE sub- official websites to see the questionnaire and browse their answers immediately. While others screenshoted answers with their phones, others copied the answers down. Vivian, Jackson and Sophia were rather busy revising along some other smart students in the hall. After the invigilator arrived, a student went out with him and gave him an envelope with money in it. After he shared the question papers to them. He left the hall while giving them the chance to use the illegal equipments during the exam. The students kept bribing each invilgilator to let them have it their way. Unfortunately enough on the day Mathematics is to be written a strict invigilator was assigned to the exam center. As usual the student went to give him the brown envelope again but was rejected this time. This invilgilator never gave them a breathing space and stuck to the exam time and asked them to submit their papers.

" Finally an upright man " Jackson said with a relief

" I wonder why this is happening this way though" Sophia asked

" At least the final exam was successful. Let's pray for our results" Vivian said

" The school bulletin said that the school authorities have elected new school official prefects" Sophia said showing them her phone.

"Must you be detailed like ' new school official prefects' just say prefects, what's there " Jackson blabbed

" Thank God we missed it" Vivian said." How was the whole exams. Should we chill out tonight"

" Are you saying that with a low voice. You needed to see how my dad was smiling at me yesterday when he got me food stuff. He looked damn proud" Jackson said.

"I like the boy you're becoming" Sophia said to Jackson " he must have felt that way".

Since they finished the exams successfully the went out chilling all night. They visited the spa and also went shopping too. After giving themselves two days break they went home after tidying the lodge.