The medal glittered faintly in the dim glow of my bedside lamp, its gold sheen almost mocking in the cramped room I called my sanctuary. Just hours ago, I had stood on a stage with a proud smile, the name of Speciss College tied to mine, the whispers of "genius" following me like a shadow. Now, back in Chitungwiza, the medal lay silently on the desk, surrounded by tattered textbooks, half-used pens, and the suffocating reminder that life had no pause button.
The O Level exams loomed—seven days.
Seven days to prove that the Olympiad wasn't a fluke. Seven days to secure the kind of results that could pry open the doors of university scholarships, opportunities, maybe even a way out of this life.
The system flickered awake, glowing faintly across my vision:
> [Warning: National O Level Examinations in 7 Days]
[Primary Quest: Secure Top Distinctions in 5 Core Subjects]
[Reward: ZWD 5,000 | Skill Unlock – Academic Resilience]
[Penalty for Failure: System downgrade, opportunities lost]
The word "penalty" sent a chill crawling down my spine.
---
"Shelly?"
Mama's voice broke through my thoughts. She leaned against the doorframe, apron dusted with mealie-meal, her face etched with exhaustion. I turned to meet her eyes. They were proud but heavy with worry.
"You've done us proud, my child. Chitungwiza was buzzing today—everyone talking about the girl from Speciss College who put us on the map." She smiled faintly, then sighed. "But medals don't pass exams. You know the O Levels matter more."
I swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "I know, Mama. I'll pass."
Her gaze searched my face, lingering on the dark circles under my eyes. "Don't burn yourself out. Remember, health first."
Health. That word felt foreign. Health didn't pay fees. Health didn't get you scholarships. I wanted to tell her that—but seeing the fatigue in her eyes, the way her hands trembled from another day at the market, I couldn't.
"I'll be fine, Mama," I whispered.
She nodded and left, humming a hymn.
---
Clifton barged in moments later, Leratho clinging to his back like a mischievous little koala. "Big sis, the whole neighborhood won't stop talking about you! 'Speciss genius,' 'Chitungwiza's pride'—you're like a celebrity!"
I rolled my eyes. "Clifton, I need to study."
But he wasn't done. He flopped onto my bed dramatically, nearly crushing my textbooks. "So… are you going to buy us a house when you're rich? Or maybe just leave us behind?"
"Stop it," I snapped, sharper than I meant. His eyes widened, hurt flickering across his face. Leratho, sensing the tension, scrambled down and hugged my arm.
I sighed, softening my tone. "I'm not leaving anyone. But I can't joke right now. My exams… they're everything."
Clifton muttered something under his breath and shuffled out, Leratho giving me one last hug before toddling after him.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
---
I turned back to the desk, flipping open my chemistry book. The system pulsed again:
> [Sub-Quest: Master Chapter 1 – Atomic Structure]
Progress: 62%
Reward: ZWD 200 | +1 Concentration Point
I buried myself in formulas and diagrams, the system guiding me with glowing highlights and whisper-like reminders in my head. Each completed section filled a progress bar. Each bar felt like survival.
But my phone buzzed suddenly, vibrating across the desk. A message lit the screen:
Tinashe (Classmate): So the rumors are true? You bribed your way through the Olympiad? Everyone at Speciss is saying it.
My throat tightened. Fingers trembling, I typed back:
Me: No. I worked hard. I didn't cheat.
The three dots danced, then vanished. No reply.
Another message came minutes later from Ropa, my closest friend at school:
Ropa: Shelly, people are jealous. But you have to focus. Exams are in 7 days. Don't let them break you.
I stared at her words, my vision blurring. Focus. How? When whispers of "cheater" echoed louder than any congratulations?
I dropped my head into my hands.
---
The system's glow sharpened.
> [System Alert: Emotional Stability Critical]
[Tip: Pressure is a catalyst. Diamonds are made under stress.]
I let out a bitter laugh, tears slipping down my cheeks. "Even my system thinks I'm a diamond in the rough."
But deep down, I knew it was right. Pressure was all I had ever known.
I wiped my face and forced myself back into the books. The night stretched on, the hum of generators from neighbors' houses filling the silence, the faint cry of a baby down the street, the distant bark of dogs. Chitungwiza never slept quietly.
At 2 a.m., I collapsed back in my chair, body aching, eyes burning. The progress bars on chemistry and biology glowed at nearly 80%.
Yet it still didn't feel like enough.
---
The medal on my desk caught the light again. For a fleeting second, I imagined standing on a bigger stage, Ohm and Pond at my side, cameras flashing, the world chanting my name. The dream was still alive. But it was far away, hidden behind seven days of relentless war with textbooks, rumors, and fear.
I clenched my fist, whispering to myself:
"I'll pass. I have to pass. For Mama. For Clifton and Leratho. For me."
The system responded softly, almost reassuringly:
> [Acknowledged: Host determination detected.]
[Motivation boost activated: +10% Study Efficiency for 24 hours.]
I smiled weakly, eyes closing for just a moment. Sleep tugged at me, but determination burned brighter.
Seven days. Seven mountains to climb.
And I would climb every single one.