The Red Light.

It was a sunny afternoon when I was in my room preparing for the exam we had the next day. Apart from having proper class attendance, for me, it is hard to get back home to study. I prefer to attend classes, listen to lectures, get notes, and probably ask questions. Then when it's time for exams I revise my notes and textbooks a few days before the exams.

This day I was using my phone for the revision since I was reading a soft copy handout shared on our class group chat. Then after, I wish I had to head to school for night reading where I can have my phone charged while using.

I was about to leave when I got to the sitting room and then Elino one of our flatmates called my attention to the hotspot I left on for them. They’ve been enjoying my data since. I smiled and told them how sorry I was that I just couldn’t let go of my phone for today because I would need it at school.

Elino hammered, he asked and pleaded for me to drop my phone at home. I don't know why I felt that way. I started thinking otherwise. I couldn’t conclude whether to drop my phone at home or should I just take it along.

Others in the living room, my roommate and Elino’s roommate were also using my data subscription, they all tried to convince me to drop my phone at home.

I sighed. Then took a few steps away from the door I was resting on. Left the entrance and then went to have my seat. I smiled and told them I was still considering it. I haven’t concluded. It's so unusual of them to be persistent telling me to drop my phone at home the way it happened that day.

I called my friends Timi and Julius who happened to be my coursemate and walk mate. We read together at night classes. Timi responded that he would be dropping his phone at home because he had a hard copy with him. Ooh. I thought he would come with his phone so I could use his phone to read. Then after calling Julius, he told me he would also come with his phone because he has no hardcopy so he would be using his phone too.

I asked about where and how to keep our phones safe when we were about to go to the exam hall. Then he reminded me of the woman who sells in a store along the walkway where we drop our bags. It should be safe with her till we finish. Immediately after, I made up my mind and took my phone to school that day.

We had our night session successfully and readily prepared for the exams. Then it was morning time and we were to have the exams by noon.

We got the announcement that the exam has been rescheduled to the morning as early as 8:am. We quickly rushed to the women’s store to drop our bags. But she hasn’t arrived. I was so down. But why?

We started looking out for possible solutions. Then I suggested we drop it off with the other woman next to her since she already opened hers. But the problem was that we never dropped our bags with her before.

We had hopes that our phones would be safe, and then went to her to ask her to help us keep it then we went to the hall. After we arrived at the entrance, the examiners told us the exam would be held in the afternoon. I got pissed. But there was nothing we could do.

We had to wait till noon and then entered for the exams, after the exams we were about to go home when my instinct told me, “What if we get to the women and we couldn’t find our phone anymore?”

I asked Julius and Timi jokingly. We smiled and said that should never happen. Till we got to the women’s store.

I greeted her and asked to pick up my bag. She looked at me and asked if my friend had just come to pick it up. I was shocked at the same time.

Immediately I called Julius' attention. The woman said my friend came for our bags, did you??

Juslius saw me asking a foolish question. I asked the woman for our bags and that was her response. I knew we were doomed. Not even our phones were stolen, it was our entire bags including the notes I would read for other exams. I couldn’t cry.

We started looking out for possible places where the bag could be, then we found it in a bush where the thief had already taken our phones and dropped the bag.

Being a victim of theft and losing my phone that day resulted in a carryover course for me and Julius. I saw the smoke, but only if I could see the fire coming then I might have just sat back at home and prepared for the exams. I learned my lesson.