2~Goodbye Cal U #3
A faint laugh escaped her. "I feel so jealous of you right now."
Amira immediately reached for her hand. "Hey..."
She squeezed it gently. "My mama is your mama too, okay? Stop saying things like that."
She smiled warmly before looking around.
"By the way... where's Abdul? Has he arrived?"
Hanan's smile faltered. "He couldn't make it."
Amira blinked. "What?"
"Something important came up."
"Something important?" She repeated surprisingly. "What could possibly be more important than attending his sister's graduation?"
Hanan simply chuckled, pretending it didn't bother her.
But Amira knew better.
She knew how much Hanan had hoped someone, anyone would be there for her today.
"It's okay." Amira said softly. "When the ceremony ends, you're coming to meet my family."
She grinned. "I promise you'll forget Abdul even exists."
That earned a genuine smile from Hanan. "Thank you."
Hanan's eyes softened. "I love you."
Amira laughed. "Not more than I love you."
Over the past three years, Amira had become more than just a roommate.
She had become family to Hanan
From strangers...
To roommates...
To inseparable best friends.
Everything Hanan had shared about her past only made Amira more protective of her.
An orphan.
No parents.
Only an older brother who had sacrificed everything to send her abroad to chase her dreams.
Amira often wondered how someone who had endured so much could still smile the way Hanan did.
She knew she would never survive losing her own parents.
Yet Hanan somehow carried her pain with quiet strength every single day.
"Hanan Aliyu."
The announcement echoed through the hall.
Amira immediately grabbed her friend's hand.
"Go make us proud."
Hanan smiled before gracefully making her way to the stage.
Each step felt unreal.
Three years ago...
She had arrived in America carrying nothing but broken dreams and unbearable grief.
Today...
She stood before hundreds of people receiving a Bachelor of Laws degree.
She had done it.
She had become one step closer to the lawyer she always dreamed of becoming.
As she accepted her certificate, applause filled the auditorium.
Then the Vice Chancellor spoke again.
"Hanan Aliyu..." He smiled proudly.
"... A graduate with summa cum laude."
"What?!" Amira's voice echoed across the hall before she could stop herself.
Heads turned toward her.
She didn't care.
"That's my best friend!"
She jumped to her feet, whistling loudly. "I'm so freaking proud of you, baby!"
The audience burst into laughter at her enthusiasm.
Even Hanan couldn't stop herself from laughing through the tears gathering in her eyes.
Had her parents been alive...
She imagined they would have reacted exactly the same way.
"Thank you." She whispered emotionally.
The Vice Chancellor raised a hand, signaling for the applause to settle.
"And that's not all."
Hanan looked at him in confusion.
"The Faculty of Law is pleased to award Miss Hanan Aliyu a full scholarship to pursue her Law school and a master's degree."
Silence.
For a heartbeat...
She simply stared.
"What?"
The word escaped her lips before she could stop it.
She was certain she misheard him.
The Vice Chancellor chuckled. "You heard correctly."
He turned to address the audience.
"We don't usually make announcements like this during commencement ceremonies."
He paused proudly.
"But Miss Hanan Aliyu is an exceptional student."
Another round of applause erupted.
"As an international student from Nigeria, she has broken our academic record by becoming the first student in this university to graduate with a perfect 5.0 CGPA."
The entire hall rose into a standing ovation.
Cheers echoed from every corner.
For the first time in years...
Hanan didn't feel lonely.
She didn't feel abandoned.
She didn't feel broken.
She felt... Proud.
Everything she sacrificed.
Every sleepless night.
Every tear.
Every heartbreak.
It had all led to this moment.
"Congratulations once again, Miss Aliyu."
She accepted the honor with trembling hands before making her way back to her seat.
The second she sat down, Amira practically launched herself at her.
"Oh my God!"
She hugged Hanan tightly. "I'm so proud of you!"
Hanan laughed through her tears, hugging her back.
"Thank you, love."
The two friends remained wrapped in each other's embrace until the ceremony finally came to an end amid thunderous applause and joyful celebrations.
Soon, the campus transformed into one giant family gathering.
Parents congratulated their children.
Friends took endless pictures.
Laughter echoed from every direction.
Word of Hanan's achievement spread quickly.
Students she had never spoken to came over to congratulate her.
Lecturers shook her hand.
Even Miss Olivia approached her.
For the first time in three years...
She pronounced her name correctly.
"Congratulations, Hanan."
The words were simple.
But hearing them from the woman who had always treated her coldly made Hanan smile.
Perhaps today really was special.
Despite waking up believing this day would only remind her of the family she lost in the past...
It had ended up giving her something she never expected.
Hope.
Standing quietly, she looked around the beautiful campus that had been her home for the last three years.
The lecture rooms...
The pathways...
The dormitories...
The memories.
A bittersweet smile curved her lips. "Goodbye, Cal U."
"Hanan!"
She turned at the sound of Amira calling her from across the crowd.
"Come over here!"
With one last glance at the campus that became her home for three years..
Hanan smiled and walked toward her friend.
.
.
.
***
A/N