Tangled hearts

Chapter 7: Gossip and Glances

The lodge felt louder than usual that Monday morning. Doors slammed, slippers dragged, and the generator groaned in protest. Ada had just stepped out of her room when she noticed Chioma, Sade, and Amaka gathered on the balcony, giggling and whispering to each other.

Chioma’s eyes widened the moment she saw Ada. “Ah, here comes the main character!” she called teasingly.

“Main character of what?” Ada asked, frowning.

Sade leaned against the railing, smirking. “Don’t play dumb, Ada. We know everything.”

“You know everything?” Ada repeated slowly, suspicion creeping into her voice.

Amaka giggled. “Oh, come on! You think we wouldn’t notice?”

“Notice what?” Ada pressed, walking closer.

Chioma exchanged a look with Sade. “You and Kemi,” she said finally, barely containing her laughter.

Ada’s stomach twisted. “We—what?”

Sade waved a hand dramatically. “Don’t act like you don’t know. All those late-night walks, the random gists in your room, the way you look at each other…”

Ada opened her mouth, but no words came. She hadn’t realized the lodge friends had been paying that much attention.

“Seriously, Ada,” Amaka added, “he’s literally glued to you sometimes. We’ve noticed.”

Before Ada could respond, the familiar, soft voice of Tunde joined the conversation.

“You’ve been talking about me?” he asked, walking up behind the girls, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

The girls burst into laughter. “Not exactly, Tunde,” Chioma said, winking at him. “But, you know… people notice things.”

Tunde’s gaze flickered toward Ada. She could see it now—the slight tightening of his jaw, the way he studied her face as though trying to read her mind.

Ada’s heart raced. She wanted to explain, to tell him it was nothing, but the words felt trapped in her throat.

Later that evening, Ada and Kemi found themselves alone in the common room after everyone had gone to their rooms.

“Those girls are relentless,” Ada muttered, sinking into the worn couch.

Kemi smirked. “You mean Chioma and Sade? I think they enjoy watching me squirm as much as you do.”

“I wasn’t squirming!” Ada protested, though a small laugh escaped her lips.

“You were,” he teased, nudging her lightly with his elbow. “And Tunde… he’s starting to notice.”

Ada froze. “He is?”

Kemi nodded, leaning closer. “Oh, he is. Don’t worry though—I’m not going anywhere.”

Ada’s chest fluttered. “You’re too confident.”

“I’m usually right,” he replied, grinning.

For the next few minutes, they sat in comfortable silence. But the tension from the day lingered, and Ada felt a little self-conscious, aware that every small movement or glance they shared could be noticed by someone else in the lodge.

The next morning, the lodge was buzzing. Ada walked out of her room and immediately noticed Tunde sitting on the balcony, pretending to read a notebook but clearly watching the hallway.

She swallowed, unsure if she should pass without acknowledging him or try to speak.

“Good morning,” he said, looking up with that careful smile.

“Morning,” she replied softly, keeping her eyes forward.

“Sleep well?” he asked, still watching her.

“Yes, thank you,” she said, quickening her pace.

Tunde’s gaze followed her until she disappeared into the hallway. He frowned slightly, a flicker of unease in his chest. Something was happening, and he couldn’t ignore it any longer.

By Wednesday, the gossip from the 400-level girls had escalated.

Ada returned from lectures to find Chioma and Sade lounging in Kemi’s room, laughing at something on their phones. Kemi was there, sprawled across the couch, looking effortlessly charming as usual.

“Oh no,” Ada muttered under her breath.

“Ah, there she is!” Chioma called, spotting Ada. “Come in, come in. We were just talking about the hottest couple in the lodge.”

Ada froze, cheeks heating. “Couple?”

Sade leaned forward. “Yes! Don’t pretend you don’t know. You and Kemi are basically glowing when you’re together.”

Ada rolled her eyes, but her heart beat faster. “We’re not—”

“You’re not what?” Amaka interrupted, grinning. “Cute together? Absolutely. Don’t deny it.”

Kemi chuckled softly, glancing at Ada. “They’re persistent,” he said.

Ada looked down at her feet. “I… I don’t know what you mean.”

Kemi leaned a little closer. “You know exactly what they mean,” he said quietly, just for her.

The effect was immediate. Ada felt her stomach twist in that familiar way, a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and something she didn’t want to name aloud.

That evening, Kemi stayed behind to help Ada with a project. As they worked side by side, their shoulders brushed, hands occasionally touching over shared notes.

“You’re distracted,” Kemi said softly, noticing the way Ada’s eyes kept darting toward the doorway.

“I’m not,” she replied, a little too quickly.

“Yes, you are,” he said gently, smiling. “I know you. You think I don’t notice these little moments? The way you laugh at my terrible jokes, the way your eyes light up when you’re excited…”

Ada’s heart raced, and she looked down, trying to hide it.

“I… I just…” she began, then stopped. Words failed her.

Kemi reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Shh,” he whispered. “You don’t have to explain. I get it.”

For a moment, everything else—the lodge, the gossiping girls, Tunde’s lingering glances—faded away. There was just them, quiet and close, sharing the kind of tension and warmth that had been building for weeks.

Ada realized then that Kemi had become her safe place, her distraction from stress, and maybe… her first real love.

Meanwhile, Tunde sat on his bed, staring at the floor. He had noticed the way Kemi lingered near Ada, the subtle smiles, the quiet moments that seemed to stretch endlessly. He wanted to confront them, but something inside him told him to wait… for now.

Unseen by anyone, the stage was set: friendships, secrets, and desires were slowly entangling in the lodge, and no one could predict how messy—or beautiful—it was about to get.