The morning sun spilled across Chitungwiza, but it did little to warm the chill in my bones. My body ached from yesterday's marathon, and sleep had been fitful, haunted by questions I had missed, sentences I hadn't fully expressed.
Mama stood in the doorway, tray in hand. "Porridge again," she said softly, placing it before me. "Eat, my child. Exams don't wait for tired bodies."
I nodded, barely tasting the meal. Clifton gave me a wink as he left for school, Leratho clinging to his hand, shouting, "Win again, Shelly!"
I forced a smile. "We'll try, Leratho."
The medal from the Olympiad gleamed faintly on my desk, but today it was only a reminder: yesterday's victory counted for nothing if I failed the O Levels.
---
At Speciss College, the air felt heavier than yesterday. Students murmured nervously in the courtyard, some frantically revising formulas, others just staring blankly. Today was Mathematics Paper 1, and the stakes felt higher.
Ropa spotted me as I walked in, her eyes bright but tired. "Shelly! You made it through Day 1. That's half the battle won."
"I know," I muttered, swallowing the lump in my throat. "But half is still a lot to lose."
She grabbed my hand. "Then fight for the other half. You've got this. And if anyone says otherwise, just ignore them. We know the truth."
The whispers followed us into the hall. "Olympiad girl thinks she can do everything."
"She probably cheated again."
I clenched my fists, pushing the words away. Yesterday had taught me one thing: confidence was armor, even if it was brittle.
---
Inside the exam hall, the invigilator's stern gaze swept across the room. Papers were placed on each desk, rulers and pens lined up like soldiers ready for battle.
The system pulsed softly in my mind:
> [Main Quest: O Level Mathematics Paper 1]
[Objective: Complete within allotted time with ≥90% accuracy]
[Reward: ZWD 1,200 | +3 Focus Points]
[Penalty: Reduced Confidence –5% if incomplete]
I took a deep breath, ignoring the pounding in my chest. Time was my enemy now.
"Begin."
I tore the envelope, scanning the questions. Algebra. Geometry. Trigonometry. Word problems that made my head spin.
Panic threatened to rise, but the system nudged me:
> [Tip: Solve simpler questions first to secure marks.]
I nodded to myself, breaking the paper into manageable sections. Step by step, I scribbled answers, checked calculations, and moved on.
Sweat ran down my back, but I kept going. Focus was everything.
---
Midway through, a paper ripped sound startled me. Another student had torn his sheet in frustration. The murmurs of panic and despair rippled through the hall. I felt my own hands trembling for a moment.
Then Ropa's voice flickered in my memory: "Ignore them. You've got this."
I inhaled deeply, chest tight, and returned to the paper. Each solved question felt like a victory, each tick in the system's progress bar pushing me forward.
> [Progress: 65% complete | Focus +10%]
Time raced. Minutes felt like seconds, and seconds dragged like hours. I glanced at the clock, calculating in my mind how to distribute the remaining questions.
The system pulsed again:
> [Decision Required: Attempt advanced geometry or move to mechanics?]
I weighed the options carefully. Mechanics had been drilled into me relentlessly; geometry often tripped me up under pressure. I chose mechanics, my hand moving faster than my thoughts. The system chimed softly:
> [Choice Optimal: +5% Accuracy]
I allowed myself a tiny smile, even as the sweat dampened my shirt.
---
When the final bell rang, I dropped my pen with relief. My hands shook, and my vision blurred from exhaustion. I had given everything.
Ropa found me immediately in the courtyard. "How was it?"
I exhaled shakily. "I think… okay. Better than yesterday, maybe. But I'm so tired."
She smiled faintly. "Tired is good. It means you tried."
The whispers were louder today. Some students muttered about Olympiad bias. Some teachers offered thin smiles, as if watching me struggle was part of the test. But I ignored them, focusing on the one constant—the system's glowing reminder:
> [Quest Complete: Mathematics Paper 1]
[Reward: ZWD 1,200 | Focus +3 | Confidence +2]
Even as my legs dragged on the walk home to Chitungwiza, I felt a flicker of pride. I had survived. Tomorrow was Chemistry, the subject that had almost broken me before.
I pressed the medal against my chest. It wasn't just a trophy anymore. It was a reminder: I could endure, I could rise, and I could fight for every day, every mark, every point.
And with that, I allowed myself a moment to breathe, knowing the real battle had only just begun.