The day at FUTA dragged on, the buzz of the campus surrounding me as I walked through the corridors, the familiar sights of school adding to the sense of normalcy I couldn't shake off.
Yet, in the back of my mind, the trial from the night before, the chime of the system notifications, and the growing feeling of being caught between two worlds gnawed at me.
I was studying Mechanical Engineering at the university---one of the most demanding courses here, with its blend of complex calculations and hands-on design work.
It was supposed to be my path to a stable future, a life I could understand. Yet, after everything that had happened, I wasn't so sure anymore.
As I walked toward the Department of Mechanical Engineering building, my mind wandered to the last time I had allowed myself to think of anyone beyond the world of books and games.
That was when I was still the Seun who went out, had friends, and spent time with people.
But somewhere along the way, I became an introvert.
My old passions---video games, fantasy novels---had consumed me.
The more I dove into these worlds, the more I distanced myself from the people who cared about me, especially my childhood friend: Bimpe. She was someone who had been there from the very beginning.
As I approached the lounge area of the department, I saw her.
Bimpe.
She was sitting on one of the benches, her long hair braided beautifully, cascading down her neck, her radiant smile lighting up the room.
Bimpe had always been beautiful, but now, seeing her again felt like I had not seen her for long, it felt like she had grown into her beauty.
Her appearance was effortless---yet, it was so stunning that it seemed to make everything around her fade into the background.
Well, to tell the truth, I had been avoiding her. I would come to class just before the professors entered and leave immediately after, making sure nobody talked to me.
The use of nose mask even made my mission easier, and on rainy days wearing my hoody cardigan would make the mission even more secure.
She often messaged me after classes to make sure I had complete notes. Her grades were also encouraging, unlike mine which kept falling the more I sank into my daydreams.
She stood up when she saw me, a slight frown crossing her face. "Seun," she called out, her voice light but laced with concern. "Did you even get my message?"
I stopped short, my stomach flipping. "Message?" I repeated, trying to act casual.
I had checked my messages apps before I left home and I did see the message. But I just chose to ignore them. Sometimes I would reply with a thank you sticker when I was less busy.
Bimpe raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my attempt at indifference. "Yes. The one I sent you yesterday," she continued, crossing her arms over her ample chest. "I know you've been burying yourself in your books again, but we're supposed to be in this together. It's not like you to just ignore me like that when the tests are in 2 weeks."
I could feel the weight of her gaze, but I couldn't bring myself to look her in the eye for too long.
My old, introverted habits kicked in---the ones that had formed over the past couple of years since I started isolating myself.
"You know how it is," I said, shrugging. "Been busy with school stuff."
Bimpe's expression softened. "You always say that. Well, how about this---let me help you get on track. I'm organizing a night class for our course this weekend. I can go over some of the topics with you---since you're always too shy to ask for help." She gave me a pointed look, her lips curling into a playful smile.
I could feel her concern, but I also couldn't ignore the fact that she'd always been there for me, ever since we were kids.
We had attended the same primary and secondary school before gaining admission to study the same course in university.
Her parents were both lecturers, just like mine, which made us naturally close. Our families had always been intertwined---spending time together, attending events, and even studying at each other's houses.
But that was before I became this distant version of myself.
I knew what was happening, I was not some dense guy and I knew about my crush on her but I just didn't know how to handle it.
Bimpe had always been there for me, even when I became reclusive.
I could see it in her eyes now---she had feelings for me, feelings I had never truly addressed, buried under the walls I'd built around myself.
My heart raced. "Bimpe, I... I know you've always been there for me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I've just gotten so caught up in everything. Games, books... it's like I've been living in my own head."
She watched me silently for a moment, her gaze soft but knowing. "I know. I've seen you change, Seun," she said quietly. "And it's okay. But don't shut me out. I want to help. I know I can."
I swallowed, looking away. "You've always been there," I muttered. "I just..."
I couldn't finish the sentence. There was too much to say.
The truth was, I didn't know how to handle the growing closeness between us, especially when I had been pushing her away for quite sometime.
But she didn't seem bothered by it---she was just as determined as ever. It was just the same as before, when we played scrabble as kids. I was a Logophile and I enjoyed word games.
It was very easy for me to beat her in the games, but she would relentlessly challenge me until she got tired. Such memories of her were things I don't want to forget.
We walked in silence for a while, the sounds of students and lecturers' passing by blending into the background.
We reached an empty bench near an office where a few others were waiting outside, and she gestured for me to sit.
As we sat down, Bimpe shifted slightly, turning to face me. "Seun, there's something I need to tell you." She paused, her expression suddenly serious. "I've been holding this in for a long time, and I can't keep pretending."
I felt my heart skip a beat. "What do you mean?"
She hesitated for a moment, her lips trembling slightly. "Seun... I like you. No, I love you. I've always loved you. I didn't want to say anything, but now I can't keep it in anymore."
I froze, my mind a whirl of thoughts. I knew what this meant. It was a confession from someone I had a crush on.
It was everything I'd been running from. And yet, as her words hung in the air, something shifted inside me.
It was like the world around me cracked, the very fabric of reality warping.
Because this was not the Bimpe I knew, sure she was bold and energetic but I knew she would never say something like this in this kind of environment when she could come over to my parent's house or wait till I moved out.
I felt something wrong.
As I looked at her more closely, I noticed something that made my blood run cold.
Her shirt---on the front of it, bold and unmistakable---was the phrase "Tower of Transcendents."
"Holy Shi...!"
The same phrase that had appeared in my dreams, which had haunted my every thought since the beginning of this strange journey.
I stared at her, my breath catching in my throat. This wasn't real. It couldn't be.
I closed my eyes, letting the truth wash over me.
The school, the people, everything---it was part of the illusion, part of the trial.
I had been so consumed by my own indecisiveness, running away from reality, from my powers, from my purpose.
This was all a fabrication.
Bimpe, even with her confession, couldn't change that.
I slammed my fist against my thigh in frustration, the rage inside me building. "Why did I keep running?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "Why couldn't I just face what was real?"
My thoughts raced---my indecisiveness, my fear, all the years I had spent in self-imposed isolation, avoiding everything that mattered. The trial, the tower, my powers...
I felt my hands trembling. My body was trembling too.
I was done running.
"I'm not staying in this fake world anymore," I whispered to myself, my heart steadying. "I'll clear this trial, I'll reach the end, and I'll find the truth."
As the words echoed in my mind, a new fire ignited within me. I would embrace my powers. I would no longer hide from the truth.
And I would finish what I had started.
I won't accept this false reality and become stuck here.