She didn’t know her place
1599 Words
By nine o’clock, the lecture hall was almost full.
Students filled the rows, talking loudly, laughing, comparing notes, and complaining about the lecturer, who was already 10 minutes late.
Amara sat in the middle row with her notebook, she had arrived almost thirty minutes early.
It was her first real day of lectures, and she was so excited and ready to learn.
Beside her, Grace kept checking the door.
“He’s late.”
Amara looked at the clock.
“It’s only ten minutes.”
Grace looked offended.
“Ten minutes is enough time to finish a whole episode.
Amara laughed.
“You’re impossible.”
Grace replied.
“I’m just being realistic. My time is precious.”
Before Amara could reply, the doors opened.
Two girls walked in, they were laughing loudly, and everyone seemed to notice them.
Zara Adeleke walked in the front.
She looked perfect, her hair was neatly done, her clothes were expensive, and her handbag probably cost more than some students’ school fees.
Amela walked beside her talking nonstop.
Tara followed closely behind them, she was trying so hard to look like she belonged.
“Zara!” Tara called.
Zara turned.
“Hey.”
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
Tara smiled.
“Can I sit with you guys?”
Zara looked at the empty seats around her, then looked back at Tara.
“There’s a seat over there.”
She pointed to the other side of the room.
Tara’s smile dropped a little.
“Oh.”
Amela laughed quietly.
Tara forced a smile.
“Okay,” then she walked away.
Grace watched her go.
“Does that girl have no shame?”
Amara frowned.
“Maybe she just wants to be friends with them.”
“See Amara, there’s a difference between wanting to be friends, and begging someone to like you.”
“Grace.”
“What? I’m just stating a fact.”
Tara went to the back and sat alone, but even across the room, Amara could see her watching Zara.
She wanted that friendship so badly.
Not long after, the room suddenly became quieter.
Several students looked toward the entrance.
Someone whispered, “Chi.”
Grace turned immediately.
“Oh.”
Amara looked up.
A tall young man walked into the lecture hall with another guy beside him.
It was Chi, he didn’t even make a big entrance because he didn’t need to, people already noticed him.
He walked in like be used to everyone looking at him.
His friend, Joshua, was saying something that made him laugh.
Then Chi looked around the room, his eyes moved across the students, until they stopped on Amara, and for some seconds, he just looked at her.
Amara didn’t notice.
She was busy searching through her bag, but Zara noticed, and her smile disappeared.
“Chi.”
She stood up immediately.
Amela grabbed her arm, “Where are you going?”
“To say hello.”
“You’re already going towards him.”
Zara quickly fixed her hair.
“So?”
Amela grinned.
“Nothing. Go.”
Zara walked toward him.
“Chi.”
He stopped.
“Yes?”
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
“I didn’t see you yesterday.”
Chi looked at her.
“I wasn’t looking for you.”
Joshua quickly looked away.
He was trying not to laugh.
Zara’s smile became stiff, “Anyways… are you coming to dinner tonight?”
“No.”
“You don’t even know what dinner I’m talking about.”
“I don’t need to.”
Joshua coughed.
Zara ignored him.
“You can come with me.”
“I said no.”
Her smile disappeared for half a second.
Then she quickly put it back.
“Maybe you’ll change your mind.”
“Maybe.”
Chi walked past her.
Zara stood there.
Again.
Rejected.
She returned to her seat trying to act like she didn’t care. Amela leaned closer.
“He’s just trying to act hard.
Zara’s jaw tightened.
“I know.
But deep down, she didn’t know that something had changed, Chi wasn’t just rejecting her anymore, he barely seemed to notice her.
And Zara Adeleke was not used to being ignored, especially by Chi.
**
A few minutes later, Professor Elena walked into the hall, every one became quiet.
The lecture started.
Amara listened carefully and wrote almost everything down.
She was completely focused.
After an hour, the lecture ended.
Amara's pen had suddenly stopped writing. She reached into her bag for the extra one and realized it was missing, she checked the front and back pockets nothing.
She looked under her notebook, still nothing.
Then she remembered the one in her side pocket.
She stood up to get it. At that same time Zara stood from her seat.
Amara took one step, Zara took one step.
Then…..
Bang!
Their shoulders crashed into each other.
Zara's phone flew from her hand, it hit the floor.
The entire room went silent.
Zara stared at the phone, a long crack ran across the screen.
Her face changed.
“What the hell?”
Amara immediately bent down.
“I'm sorry I didn't mean to…..”
“You broke my phone!”
Amara looked up.
“I didn't break it. We bumped into each other.”
Zara stared at her.
“Are you serious?”
“I said I'm sorry.”
“You should be.”
Whispers started around the room.
Amara could feel everyone looking at her.
She hated attention.
“I'll pay for the repair.”
Zara laughed.
“You'll pay?”
“If I caused it.”
“If?”
Amara frowned.
“You bumped into me too.”
Zara's eyes widened.
“I was standing there.”
“So was I.”
A few students exchanged looks.
Zara stepped closer.
“Do you know how much this phone costs?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
Amara took a deep breath.
“I would have paid, if I caused it, but it was a mistake. There's no need to make this bigger than it is.”
Zara looked at her with anger.
“You just ruined my phone.”
“Zara.”
Amela touched her arm.
“Leave it.”
But Zara wasn't ready to leave anything.
She had already been embarrassed by Chi, now this new girl had embarrassed her again, and she needed someone to blame.
“You should learn to watch where you're going.”
Amara's eyes hardened.
“You bumped into me.”
The room became completely silent.
Zara slowly turned towards her.
“What did you say?”
“I said you bumped into me first.”
Grace had just returned to the classroom.
She stopped near the door.
“What happened?”
Nobody answered her.
Then Zara noticed Chi watching, and something in her face changed, the anger suddenly disappeared.
She suddenly looked hurt, she picked up her phone.
“It's fine.”
Amara stared at her.
Zara immediately looked towards Chi. “I guess it's my fault trying to be nice.
Amara frowned.
“What?”
Before Zara could say anything else, Chi spoke.
“How much is the repair?”
Everyone looked at him.
Zara's face brightened.
“It's….. expensive.”
“How much?”
She quickly told him.
Chi nodded.
“I'll pay for it.”
Zara smiled.
“Really.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, my Chi. Thank you,” she moved a little closer.
“I knew you would understand.”
Chi didn't reply to her , instead he looked at Amara, “Are you okay?”
Amara nodded.
“Yes.”
“Good.” he turned and started walking away.
Zara's smile disappeared immediately.
“Chi?”
He kept walking, Joshua followed him.
Chris suddenly stopped at the door, he turned around, and his eyes went straight to Amara.
“I'd like to see you later.”
Amara pointed to herself, “Me?”
Chi smiled slightly.
“Yeah. You.”
Then he walked out.
The lecture hall exploded with whispers.
Grace grabbed Amara's arm.
“What just happened?”
“I don't know!”
“You don't know?”
“No!”
Zara was still standing there, she wasn't smiling anymore, and she was staring at Amara, there was something cold in her eyes, Amela noticed it.
“Zara.”
Zara said nothing.
She kept on looking at Amara.
Amara packed her things quickly she wanted to leave before everyone will start asking her questions.
Grace followed her outside.
“You know you're in trouble right?”
“Grace what trouble?”
Grace looked behind them.
At Zara.
“That girl.”
Amara sighed.
“I didn't do anything.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you saying i'm in trouble?”
“Because she likes Chi.”
Amara blinked, “So?”
Grace stared at her,
“so?”
Amara shrugged, “I don't even know him.”
Grace shook her head.
“You'll understand later.”
They continued walking.
Behind them Zara was still standing in the classroom, Amela walked over to her.
“Forget her.”
Zara picked up her bag.
“I don't even know who she is.”
“Then leave her alone.”
Zara looked towards the door,
“No, my man wants to see her, and I'll not allow that to happen, Chi is mine and no one can take him away from me. I get whatever I want.”
Amela frowned.
Zara's lips curved slowly into a smile.
“I want to know everything about her.”
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