Love Bounded Us

LITTLE BROTHER

Chapter Three ✨

Zain’s POV

I was walking across campus with my hands tucked casually inside my pockets when I suddenly felt it.

That feeling.

Like someone was staring directly at me.

Not the usual kind of stare either.

I was already used to girls whispering whenever I passed by. Some were bold enough to wave while others secretly took pictures when they thought I wasn’t looking.

It was honestly annoying at this point.

Most conversations usually sounded the same.

“He’s so handsome.”

“Do you think he has a girlfriend?”

“I heard he rejected another girl again.”

None of it interested me anymore.

But this stare felt… different.

Slower.

Quieter.

Curious.

I frowned slightly before slowly lifting my head toward the female dormitory. My eyes scanned through the rows of windows carefully until they finally landed on her.

She stood quietly beside the window, completely unaware that I had already noticed her staring.

The soft evening light reflected gently against her face while strands of dark hair rested against her shoulders.

She looked calm.

Too calm.

Unlike most girls here who constantly tried too hard to get attention, she looked almost distant from everything around her.

And unfamiliar.

Definitely a new student.

I would have remembered seeing someone like her before.

Judging from her features and skin tone… Nigerian, definitely.

For a brief second, our eyes met.

She looked away almost immediately.

A small smirk tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

Cute.

Still, I ignored the strange curiosity building inside me and continued walking toward the boys’ dormitory.

I wasn’t interested in getting involved with anyone.

Especially not another girl.the last one I tolerated during my 3rd year tried touching me.How annoying.

Relationships were stressful.

People were stressful.

And honestly, I already had enough things to deal with.

As I walked past a group of girls near the hallway, one suddenly stepped forward nervously.

“Zain,” she called softly.

I stopped briefly.

She smiled shyly while holding out a folded piece of paper.

“My friend wanted me to give you this.”

A love letter.

Obviously.

I stared at it for a second before sighing quietly.

“I’m not interested,” I replied calmly before walking away again.

Behind me, I heard disappointed groans immediately.

“She got rejected again.”

“That’s like the fifth girl this month.”

I ignored them completely.

A few minutes later, I finally stopped in front of Room 289.

Maleek’s room.

Without bothering to knock, I forcefully kicked the door open with my foot.

The loud bang echoed across the hallway instantly.

“What the f**k was that?” Maleek asked calmly from inside the room without even looking surprised.

I laughed lightly while stepping inside.

Only one person entered like that.

Me.

“Hey, little brother,” I greeted casually. “I thought the door was locked.”

Maleek sighed dramatically before closing the laptop resting on his lap.

“I knew it was you,” he muttered.

His room looked exactly the same as always.

Neat.

Quiet.

Organized.

Sketches and rolled architectural papers covered almost every corner of his desk while soft music played quietly in the background.

Unlike me, Maleek actually enjoyed peace and silence.

I dropped lazily onto his bed and stretched comfortably like I owned the place.

“So…” I began lazily. “What are you doing, lil bro?”

“None of your business,” he replied calmly.

Then he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Why are you here?”

“Huh?” I scoffed dramatically. “Why are you asking like that? I came to visit my lovely brother.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he replied dryly.

Still, a small smile appeared on his face anyway.

That was Maleek for you.

He acted cold most of the time, but he was probably the only person who genuinely cared about me without wanting something in return.

Girls wanted attention.

People wanted favors.

Friends wanted popularity.

But Maleek never asked me for anything.instead,my popularity is affecting his peacful life.(Zain's brother)

“I’m serious,” he continued while leaning back in his chair. “Why are you really here?”

I shrugged carelessly.

“I got bored.”

“Go bother someone else.”

“No.”

Maleek rolled his eyes before suddenly standing up.

“Well, glad you came anyway.”

I raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

“And why’s that?”

He walked toward his desk before grabbing a sketchbook and pencils.

“I need someone to use as a portrait reference for my new drawing assignment.”

“Arghh, not again,” I groaned immediately.

Last time he used me for practice, I nearly lost feeling in my back after sitting still for almost two hours.

Maleek ignored my complaints completely.

He dragged a chair across the room and placed it directly in front of him before forcefully pushing me down onto it.

“Sit properly.”

“You’re bossy.”

“And you complain too much.”

I clicked my tongue dramatically but stayed still anyway.

Honestly, I didn’t really mind helping him.

Maleek was one of the very few people I could tolerate for long periods without getting irritated.

Silence slowly filled the room except for the scratching sound of his pencil moving against paper.

After a few minutes, boredom immediately hit me.

“How long is this gonna take?” I complained.

“You’ve only been sitting there for five minutes.”

“That’s already too much suffering.”

Maleek snorted softly.

“Drama queen.”

“I prefer handsome king.”

He burst into laughter immediately.

“You’re actually impossible.”

I grinned proudly.

The room became quiet again for a while.

Outside the window, faint noises from students walking through campus echoed softly in the distance.

Eventually, I spoke again.

“So… you enjoy living alone, huh?”

Maleek shrugged slightly without looking up from his sketch.

“It’s peaceful.”

I scoffed.

“That sounds boring.”

“Not everyone enjoys chaos like you.”

“Life without chaos is boring.”

Maleek simply shook his head with amusement.

“During your time, you had one roommate.”

I groaned immediately.

“That wasn’t my fault.”

Maleek finally looked up and rolled his eyes dramatically.

“Well, that was because the dorms were full and the school practically begged you to let someone stay in your room.”

A small grin appeared on my face.

“They even offered to refund the extra room space you bought.”

“Whatever,” I muttered childishly while sticking my tongue out at him.

Maleek stared at me for two seconds before bursting into laughter again.

“You’re literally a grown man.”

“And you’re literally annoying.”

“Yet you love me.”

“I tolerate you.”

“Same thing.”

I laughed quietly before leaning back against the chair again.

For a moment, the atmosphere became comfortable.

Easy.

This was probably the only place on campus where I could actually relax without pretending to care about anyone’s expectations.

Maleek suddenly tilted his head slightly while staring at me carefully.

“What?” I asked suspiciously.

“You seem distracted today.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

“You sound like my mother.”

“She’s usually right too.”

I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

Maleek returned to sketching quietly for another minute before suddenly speaking again.

“So…” he began slowly. “Who’s the girl?”

My eyes narrowed immediately.

“What girl?”

“The one you’ve been thinking about since you entered this room.”

I stared at him blankly.

“You’re imagining things.”

Maleek smirked knowingly without looking up.

“Right.”

I looked away immediately, annoyed that he could read me so easily.

But for some strange reason…

The image of the quiet girl standing beside the dorm window suddenly crossed my mind again.

The way she looked at everything so carefully.

The nervousness in her eyes.

The softness in her expression.

She looked completely different from everyone else here.

And somehow…

That bothered me more than it should have. ✨