Bethrand Chibuike @betty

I've always been one of those guys who didn't fancy striking up conversations with random girls I'd come across on the road. It just wasn't my thing. While my friends boasted about their smooth-talking skills and their ability to charm any girl they met, I preferred to keep to myself, immersed in my own thoughts.

But this evening was different. As I made my way back home from campus, lost in my own world, I happened to notice a girl walking alongside me. She was pretty, with a radiant smile and a kind aura that was hard to ignore. Although her beauty didn't immediately move me, something compelled me to break my usual practice and engage in a conversation with her.

With a nervous lump in my throat, I mustered up the courage to start a simple conversation. We exchanged pleasantries and talked about the weather, the campus, and our respective majors. It felt strange, yet oddly refreshing, to converse with a stranger so effortlessly.

As we strolled along, the conversation flowed naturally, unburdened by any romantic intentions. I listened intently to her stories and anecdotes, genuinely interested in getting to know her as a person. It was a purely platonic connection, devoid of any ulterior motives or hidden agenda.

Time seemed to fly as we continued our walk, talking about our passions, dreams, and even sharing a few laughs along the way. The evening was serene, the backdrop of the setting sun adding a touch of magic to our unexpected encounter.

Soon, we reached a point where our paths diverged. She was about to turn onto another road, and I could sense a tinge of expectation in her eyes. I knew she may have been waiting for me to ask for her contact information, to prolong our connection beyond this fleeting encounter. But for some reason, I resisted.

With a subtle smile, I bid her farewell and watched as she walked away, leaving only her fading silhouette in my memory. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy her company or appreciate our conversation, but I felt compelled to honor the simplicity of our interaction by letting it remain pure and untethered.

As I continued my journey home, I pondered the reasons behind my decision. Perhaps it was my desire to prioritize genuine connections over fleeting acquaintances. Maybe it was a longing to embrace the beauty of chance encounters, accepting them as meaningful moments without the need for prolongation.

While others may have seized the opportunity to collect contact details and strive for romantic connections, I found solace in the simplicity of that single encounter. It stood as a reminder that connections need not always be bound by expectation or pursued with predetermined outcomes in mind.

Victor had always been passionate about drawing. From a young age, he would spend hours with his sketchbook, creating intricate masterpieces that amazed everyone around him. But as life took its course, Victor found himself buried in the depths of university studies, leaving little time for his beloved art.

For years, Victor put his drawing on hold. He couldn't afford distractions, with deadlines to meet and exams to study for. Though his heart longed to pick up a pencil and let his creativity flow, the demands of university life took precedence.

But just recently, as the weight of his coursework lifted momentarily, Victor found himself with a precious pocket of free time. It was a rare opportunity, and he decided to do something he had been yearning for since forever – draw.

Setting up his workspace in a cozy corner of his room, Victor grabbed his sketchbook and pencils. As he gently pressed the pencil against the pristine white paper, a sense of tranquility washed over him. It felt like reuniting with a long-lost friend.

Hours turned into days as Victor poured his heart and soul onto the page. His drawing came alive with every stroke, each line telling a unique story. He allowed his imagination to guide him, exploring new techniques and experimenting with colors he had never used before.

Finally, when the drawing was complete, Victor marveled at the outcome. It was a true testament to his growth as an artist. The piece exuded a sense of mastery, its every detail captivating and compelling. Excited to share his creation with the world, Victor decided to take a photograph and upload it on an online sales platform.

Expecting little, if any, reaction, Victor was blown away by what happened next. Within minutes of posting the picture, his inbox began to flood with notifications. He couldn't believe his eyes. Hundreds of bids poured in, and people were offering staggering sums of money for his drawing. Thousands of dollars, all for a piece of his art.

Victor's jaw dropped in shock and amazement. The response was overwhelming, far beyond anything he could have dreamed of. As he read through the countless messages and inquiries, his heart swelled with joy. People from around the world recognized the immense talent and unique beauty of his work.

It was in that moment that Victor realized the immense power of his art. It had the ability to touch the hearts and souls of others, transcending time and distance. Something that he once considered merely a hobby had now become a source of inspiration and wonder to people he had never even met.

Overwhelmed by the incredible demand, Victor carefully considered the bids and responses. He wanted to ensure that his drawing ended up in the hands of someone who truly appreciated it. After careful consideration and negotiations, he chose a buyer whose passion for his artwork shone through their words.

As Victor packaged the drawing, he couldn't help but reflect on the journey that brought him to this point. Life had taken him on a detour, putting his passion on hold.

there was a silly fowl named Fred. He lived with his family in a cozy little coop near a big farmland. Now, this farmland had all sorts of tasty treats, but there was one area that the fowls were strictly warned to stay away from.

One sunny day, curiosity took hold of Fred's little chicken brain. He just couldn't resist the temptation. "I wonder what's so special about that forbidden land," he clucked to himself. "I mean, it's not like a few mouthfuls would hurt, right?"

Ignoring the wise advice of his family, Fred hopped his feathery self right over to the forbidden field. It was filled with delicious-looking grains and juicy bugs. His beady eyes widened with excitement as he pecked away at the scrumptious feast.

But little did Fred know, the farmer had set a sneaky trap in that very field to keep the fowls away. Before he could cluck twice, Fred found himself caught in a sticky snare, feathers frantically flapping.

"Oh no!" he squawked. "I should have listened to my family!"

Fred yanked and pulled, but the trap wouldn't budge. He was stuck like a silly fowl in a sticky, snarly mess. He sat there, feeling pretty darn foolish as he waited for help.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a friendly farmer spotted Fred's feathery fiasco. With a chuckle and a shake of his head, he released the stubborn fowl from the trap, setting him free.

As soon as he was loose, an embarrassed Fred dusted off his feathers and waddled away as fast as his little chicken legs could carry him. He had learned his lesson the hard way.

From that day forward, Fred swore off that forbidden farmland. He wouldn't even get close to it if his chicken life depended on it.

It was beautiful Sunday morning, as Daniel made his way to church, he stumbled upon a peculiar sight on the path before him. A shimmering insect, unlike any he had ever seen, caught his eye. It had an intricate body adorned with iridescent patterns, resembling a beetle. Amazed by its uniqueness, Daniel felt as though he had stumbled upon a special gift from above.

Without hesitation, he gently picked up the insect in his palm and continued his journey to church. As he approached the entrance, eager to share his newfound treasure with his church community, he was met with confusion and uncertainty. The security guard, puzzled by the sight before him, questioned Daniel's intentions.

Feeling a mix of excitement and disappointment, Daniel was faced with a choice. He could either surrender the insect to gain access to the church and potentially the judgment of his fellow churchgoers or hold onto it and be denied entry. After a brief moment of contemplation, he resolved not to lose sight of his unexpected blessing.

Daniel chose to stand outside the church, patiently waiting for the service to begin. Although disappointed about missing the fellowship inside, he refused to let go of the unique creature he had found. As the service commenced, Daniel listened intently, joining his fellow community members in prayer and song. Though physically present outside, he was fully engaged in the spiritual experience within.

Just as the mass concluded, and people began to shuffle out of the church, an elderly man's eyes locked onto the striking insect in Daniel's hand. He couldn't contain his curiosity and approached Daniel, his face lit up with excitement. The man was an esteemed entomologist and recognized the insect as an exceedingly rare species—one that held remarkable scientific significance.

With joy in his heart, Daniel listened as the elderly man spoke of the insect's worth, not just in monetary terms, but in its potential to unlock secrets of the natural world. Astounded by the sheer enormity of the blessing he had stumbled upon, Daniel realized that his prayers had been answered in the most unexpected way.

Last semester, my classmates and I had just finished studying and writing an exam on metabolism. After the exam, we all logged onto our departmental group chat to discuss our experience and share our thoughts about the questions. It seemed like everyone was in agreement - the exam questions were ridiculously easy!

We chuckled and teased each other about how we had anticipated a challenging test, but ended up breezing through it without breaking a sweat. The group chat was buzzing with excitement as we proudly claimed our victory over the exam. We even joked about how our professor must have given us an unexpected gift with such straightforward questions.

Little did we know, our celebrations were premature. Today, the exam results were released, and to our dismay, nearly 80% of the class had scored either an "E" or an "F" grade. Shocked and confused, I couldn't wrap my head around the dismal outcome of the exam. How could the same questions that we had breezed through result in such poor performance?

As I write this, my phone incessantly buzzes with new notifications from the group chat. Each message holds a lament from a classmate, expressing their disbelief and frustration. It seems like we're spiraling into a cycle of disappointment and confusion, desperately seeking answers for our unexpected grades.

The group chat has now become a battleground of emotions. Every two minutes, new messages flood in, each one lamenting the unfairness of the exam and questioning our professor's intentions. The once cheerful atmosphere has transformed into a cloud of gloom and frustration as we try to console and support each other in our collective disappointment.