Monday arrived with the usual hum of activity across Forcados University, but this time, a new layer of excitement lingered in the air. The bonfire from the past weekend had left a trail of whispers, rumors, and exaggerated tales weaving through lecture halls, walkways, and cafeteria lines. Students buzzed with conversations, each eager to share their version of what had gone down.
In the faculty of Arts, a group of students leaned against the hallway walls, dissecting the night's events.
"I swear, I saw Tayo and Cynthia sneak off behind the Engineering block," a girl with glasses whispered, giggling.
"No way! Tayo? That shy guy? Please, Cynthia is way out of his league," another girl countered, adjusting her backpack.
"I'm telling you, they were holding hands. You should've seen the way they disappeared together," the first girl insisted, a triumphant grin on her face.
Meanwhile, in the bustling student lounge, another group was deep in discussion.
"Bro, Kayden really outdid himself this time," a guy with a low fade chuckled, nudging his friend. "He was literally juggling three girls at once!"
His friend rolled his eyes. "Pfft, typical Kayden. The guy's got no shame."
"Yeah, but did you see how that Kaima girl shut him down? She didn't even blink," another student added, laughing.
Kaima, who had just walked past with Chelsea and Chuma, sighed inwardly at the mention of her name. She had become somewhat of a small legend overnight without meaning to.
"I thought the bonfire was supposed to be about fun, not drama," Chelsea remarked, sipping on her smoothie.
Chuma shrugged. "You know how Forcados is. Drama is a major course around here."
As they entered their lecture hall for the afternoon class, Kaima noticed a few heads turning in her direction, whispers undoubtedly circulating. She shook it off, determined to focus. The professor droned on about post-colonial literature, but her mind occasionally drifted to the weekend's events, especially the awkward encounter with Kayden.
When classes finally wrapped up for the day, Chelsea stretched with a yawn. "Guys, I'm starving. Let's grab something before heading home."
"I second that," Chuma agreed, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "Amanda and Aaron said they'd be at Café Royale. Let's meet them there."
Kaima agreed, and the trio made their way to the café, where Obinna, Aaron, and Amanda were already seated at a corner table. Amanda waved enthusiastically as they approached.
"You guys are late," she teased.
"Blame the lecturer," Chuma said, pulling out a chair. "Dude kept us hostage."
As they settled down, conversation quickly shifted to the bonfire again.
"Did you guys hear about the fight near the music stage?" Aaron asked, raising an eyebrow.
Obinna chuckled. "Yeah, apparently some guy from Engineering tried to impress a girl, and her boyfriend didn't take it well."
Chelsea shook her head. "People are just extra. Meanwhile, the fireworks were my favorite part."
Amanda leaned in, grinning. "I heard some people saw ghosts in the old hostel. Spooky, right?"
Kaima laughed. "That rumor surfaces every year."
They enjoyed their meal, sharing stories and updates about classes, while occasional bursts of laughter punctuated their conversations. As the afternoon turned into early evening, they decided to call it a day.
"Heading home?" Obinna asked Kaima as they stepped outside the café.
She nodded. "Yeah, I could use some rest."
"I'll walk with you. We live in the same direction anyway," he offered casually.
Chelsea shot Kaima a knowing look but said nothing. Kaima just rolled her eyes and followed Obinna as they made their way down the familiar streets.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the quiet hum of the city around them. Eventually, Obinna spoke.
"You know, you handled Kayden pretty well," he said, glancing at her with a smirk.
Kaima sighed. "I didn't expect to be the talk of the school today."
He chuckled. "It'll blow over soon. But hey, at least now everyone knows not to mess with you."
Kaima smiled faintly. "I guess."
When they reached the point where their paths split, Obinna paused. "Alright, see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "Goodnight, Obinna."
"Night, Kaima."
As she walked the last stretch alone, Kaima couldn't help but feel grateful for the little circle of friends she had found at Forcados. Gossip and drama aside, it was moments like these that made the university experience worthwhile.
----
Later that night, Kaima sat on her bed, the glow of her laptop screen illuminating her face in the dimly lit room. Her textbooks were scattered across the desk, but she had pushed them aside for now. The day had been long, and all she wanted was to unwind.
She clicked on the video call icon, and after a few rings, Ada's smiling face appeared on the screen.
"Finally! You've been MIA all weekend," Ada said, adjusting her pillow and getting comfortable. "Spill. How was the bonfire?"
Kaima laughed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It was... eventful."
"Ohhh, I knew it! Start from the beginning." Ada's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Kaima leaned back against the headboard, stretching her legs out. "Well, first of all, Chelsea practically dragged me there. I wasn't even planning to go, you know how I am with these things."
Ada smirked. "Good, because if you stayed in that apartment all weekend, I would've reported you to Mom."
Kaima rolled her eyes. "Please. Anyway, it was actually fun. I met a few new people."
Ada's eyes widened with interest. "Really? New people? Tell me everything."
Kaima hesitated for a moment, twirling a loose thread on her blanket. "Well... there's this guy, Obinna, and his friends-Aaron and Amanda. We all had lunch today after classes."
Ada grinned mischievously. "Ohh, a guy? Tell me more about Obinna."
Kaima shot her a look. "Stop it, it's not like that. He's just a friend. We walked home together today, since he lives a couple of streets away."
Ada narrowed her eyes. "Hmm, okay. But why are you blushing, then?"
Kaima's eyes widened. "What? I am not blushing."
Ada burst into laughter. "Kaima, you totally are! Look at you, all shy and smiley."
Kaima groaned, covering her face with a pillow. "I shouldn't have brought him up."
Ada grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "Too late, sis. So, is he cute?"
Kaima peeked from behind the pillow and sighed. "I guess... I mean, yeah, he is. But that's not the point. He's just really nice, and he looks out for me."
Ada wiggled her eyebrows. "Mmhmm, sounds like someone's got a little crush."
Kaima shook her head, laughing. "No crush, Ada. He's just cool to be around. His friends too. They're all fun and easy to talk to."
Ada nodded thoughtfully. "Okay, fine. But I like this, Kaima. You're meeting new people, stepping out of your comfort zone. I'm proud of you."
Kaima smiled softly. "Yeah, it's been... different. I guess university isn't so bad when you have good people around."
Ada grinned. "Exactly. And I can't wait to meet this 'good people,' especially Mr. Obinna."
Kaima rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "You're impossible."
"I try," Ada said with a wink. "Now, tell me more about this bonfire. Did anything crazy happen?"
Kaima laughed and launched into the details of the night-how Kayden had tried to charm her, the drama near the music stage, and how Chelsea danced the night away. They talked for a while, sharing stories and catching up on each other's lives.
Eventually, Kaima yawned and glanced at the time. "I should get some sleep. Morning classes aren't going to be fun."
"Yeah, me too," Ada agreed. "But seriously, I'm happy for you, Kaima. You're doing great."
Kaima smiled. "Thanks, Ada. I miss you."
"I miss you too," Ada said softly. "Goodnight, sis."
"Goodnight."
As the call ended, Kaima lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling with a thoughtful smile. Maybe Ada was right-university wasn't so bad when you had the right people around.
----
Chelsea lay sprawled across her bed in her small but cozy lodge, her legs kicking idly in the air as she stared at the open textbook in front of her. The soft hum of her bedside lamp provided just enough light, and the faint sound of music from a neighboring room filled the background.
Her phone, propped up against a pile of folded clothes, displayed a video call with Kaima and Chuma, both buried in their own revision materials.
"Chelsea, are you even paying attention?" Kaima's voice came through the speaker, laced with amusement.
Chelsea groaned dramatically, rolling onto her back. "Ugh, my brain is full. I think I'm done for the night."
Chuma chuckled, flipping through his notes. "You barely started. We've only been at this for, what? Thirty minutes?"
Chelsea pouted. "Thirty long, exhausting minutes."
Kaima laughed. "Chelsea, you're so dramatic. Just focus. We have a test coming up."
Chelsea sat up, crossing her legs and picking up her pen. "Fine, fine. But I don't see why I have to suffer alone. Chuma, give us one of your super-hard questions."
Chuma smirked. "Alright, since you asked... What are the key principles of post-colonial theory in African literature?"
Chelsea blinked. "...Uhh, something about colonialism?"
Kaima groaned. "Wow. Very insightful."
Chelsea grinned. "Hey, I'm trying!"
Chuma shook his head. "You need serious help."
Chelsea pointed her pen at the screen. "That's why I have you two. My brain might not be a literature powerhouse like yours, but I bring the vibes."
Kaima smirked. "Sure, sure. Let's see how far vibes will get you in the test."
Chelsea stuck out her tongue playfully. "You'll see. I'll ace it and rub it in your face."
Before Kaima could respond, Chuma's voice cut in. "Okay, enough distractions. Let's get through two more pages before we call it a night."
Chelsea sighed but obediently flipped her textbook open again. "Fine. But if I start dozing off, it's on you guys."
They studied for a little while longer, with occasional teasing and banter, until Kaima yawned.
"Okay, I think we're done for tonight," Kaima said, rubbing her eyes.
Chuma agreed. "Yeah, we made good progress. Same time tomorrow?"
Chelsea nodded. "If I survive. Night, guys."
"Night, Chelsea," Kaima said with a smile.
"Don't dream about failing," Chuma teased before ending the call.
Chelsea tossed her phone aside and stretched, feeling the weight of loneliness settle on her. Just as she was about to get up, her phone buzzed with a message.
Dad: Hope you're doing okay, sweetheart. We miss you so much at home. Don't overwork yourself. Love you.
Chelsea's heart clenched a little, and she sighed. I miss you too, Dad, she typed back, staring at the message for a moment before sending it.
She lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling a little homesick. School could be so lonely sometimes, even with all the noise and activity. But thinking about Kaima and Chuma made her smile. She wasn't entirely alone-she had them.
Pulling her blanket over herself, she whispered, "At least I have my friends."
And with that comforting thought, she drifted off to sleep, ready to face another day.