Chapter 10: New circles
1454 Words
Ada walked quickly away from the restaurant, her chest rising and falling as she tried to calm herself. The night air felt heavy against her skin, and the streetlights blurred slightly as tears gathered in her eyes.
She didn’t look back.
She didn’t want to see the aftermath of the fight or the shocked faces of the people who had watched everything unfold.
All she wanted was to get back to the lodge and disappear into her room.
But the moment she stepped into the hallway of the building, she bumped into someone.
“Ouch—hey!”
Ada stumbled slightly before steadying herself.
She looked up.
Standing in front of her were Lexi, Jaden, Charles, and Rose.
They were gathered near the staircase, clearly returning from somewhere together.
All four of them were staring at her.
Lexi was the first to notice the redness in Ada’s eyes.
“Ada… are you crying?” she asked gently.
Ada immediately wiped her face.
“No, I’m fine.”
Jaden folded his arms and tilted his head.
“You look like someone who just fought a lion.”
Charles snorted.
“More like someone who just survived a war.”
Ada sighed softly.
“You guys heard about the fight?”
Rose nodded slowly.
“Heard about it?” she said. “Half the lodge watched it.”
Ada leaned against the wall, suddenly feeling exhausted.
Everything about the past week had drained her.
The accusations.
Lizzy’s words.
The whispers around campus.
And now the fight between Tunde and Kemi.
It felt like her entire life had been flipped upside down.
Lexi stepped closer.
“You’ve had a really rough week,” she said softly.
Ada looked at her, surprised.
“You know about everything?”
Jaden chuckled.
“This place runs on gossip. If someone sneezes on the third floor, people on the first floor already know.”
Charles nodded.
“But gossip doesn’t always mean truth.”
Ada frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Rose spoke quietly.
“We don’t believe you exposed Lizzy.”
Ada blinked.
“You… don’t?”
Lexi shook her head.
“No.”
Ada stared at them, her chest tightening.
“Why?”
Jaden shrugged.
“Because you don’t seem like that kind of person.”
Charles added, “And honestly? The whole story sounded suspicious.”
Rose nodded.
“Your best friend’s sealed record suddenly appearing on announcement day? That’s not normal.”
Ada felt a lump form in her throat.
For days, everyone had been looking at her like she was a monster.
But these four people… believed her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Lexi smiled warmly.
“Well… since your old friends are currently acting like characters in a tragic movie…”
Charles grinned.
“You’re welcome to hang out with us.”
Ada laughed softly for the first time in days.
“Are you sure you want that kind of drama in your lives?”
Jaden shrugged dramatically.
“Please. Our lives are boring. We need entertainment.”
Rose nudged him.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Lexi smiled.
“We just think you shouldn’t go through this alone.”
Something warm spread through Ada’s chest.
And in that moment, she realized something important.
Maybe losing some people didn’t mean losing everyone.
Over the next few weeks, Ada slowly started rebuilding her routine.
Her life became filled with new laughter, new conversations, and unexpected friendships.
Lexi, Jaden, Charles, and Rose quickly became regular parts of her daily life.
Each of them had completely different personalities.
Lexi was confident and outspoken. She had a sharp sense of humor and a protective nature that made her stand up for her friends without hesitation.
Jaden was the joker of the group. He loved teasing everyone and could turn even the most serious moment into something ridiculous.
Charles was adventurous and energetic. He always had new ideas for things to do—road trips, parties, game nights.
And Rose was calm and thoughtful, often offering quiet advice when things got overwhelming.
Soon, Kemi also started spending more time with them.
Despite everything that had happened, his bond with Ada remained strong.
Sometimes they studied together in the library.
Sometimes they walked around campus late at night, talking about life, dreams, and the future.
And sometimes they joined the group for fun outings.
Together, the six of them formed a lively and slightly chaotic circle of friends.
One Friday evening, Charles burst into the common room with an idea.
“We’re going out tonight.”
Jaden raised an eyebrow.
“Where exactly?”
Charles grinned.
“The fun park near the expressway.”
Lexi laughed.
“That place still exists?”
“Oh yes,” Charles said dramatically. “And tonight, we’re going.”
Ada hesitated at first.
But Rose grabbed her hand.
“Come on. You deserve a break.”
Eventually, Ada agreed.
The amusement park was bright and noisy, filled with flashing lights, loud music, and groups of students enjoying their weekend.
Charles immediately dragged everyone toward the roller coaster.
“We’re starting with the biggest ride.”
Jaden groaned.
“I hate you already.”
Within minutes they were screaming as the roller coaster dropped suddenly, the wind rushing past their faces.
Ada laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
For the first time in weeks, she felt completely free.
They spent the next hour trying different rides, eating snacks, and taking ridiculous photos together.
At one point, they sat down near a small food stall.
Jaden was telling a dramatic story about how Charles once got stuck in a Ferris wheel for two hours.
“It was only thirty minutes!” Charles protested.
“You cried,” Jaden replied.
“I did not!”
Ada laughed so hard she nearly dropped her drink.
Kemi watched her quietly.
“You’re smiling again,” he said softly.
Ada looked at him.
“I forgot how good it feels.”
He smiled.
“I’m glad you remembered.”
But a moment later, her smile faded slightly.
“I still miss Lizzy.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Kemi’s expression softened.
“I know.”
Ada sighed.
“We used to come to places like this together.”
She looked down at her hands.
“She was my best friend.”
Kemi gently nudged her shoulder.
“Maybe one day she’ll see the truth.”
Ada nodded, but the sadness in her eyes remained.
Later that week, the group gathered again in the lodge common room.
Music played softly while they debated which movie to watch.
Jaden insisted on a horror movie.
Lexi refused.
“I’m not screaming all night because of your bad choices.”
Charles sided with Jaden.
Rose stayed neutral.
Ada laughed as they argued.
But every now and then, her eyes drifted toward the hallway.
The hallway where Lizzy used to appear almost every evening.
Lexi noticed.
She exchanged a quiet glance with Rose.
Rose noticed it too.
After Ada and Kemi stepped outside for fresh air, the four friends gathered quietly near the couch.
“She still misses Lizzy,” Rose said softly.
Jaden nodded.
“Of course she does.”
Charles sighed.
“But we don’t even know how to fix this.”
Lexi leaned back thoughtfully.
“What if Ada was set up?”
The others looked at her.
“You think someone planned it?” Jaden asked.
Lexi nodded slowly.
“The announcement thing never made sense to me.”
Charles rubbed his chin.
“If that’s true… someone really went out of their way to destroy Ada and Lizzy’s friendship.”
Rose frowned.
“But who would do that?”
None of them had an answer.
The room fell silent.
Because if someone had truly planned everything…
It meant Ada had been betrayed in ways she didn’t even realize yet.
Outside on the balcony, Ada stood beside Kemi, staring at the glowing Lagos skyline.
The city lights stretched endlessly into the distance.
“It’s strange,” Ada said quietly.
“What is?”
“How everything can change in just one week.”
Kemi nodded.
“Life does that sometimes.”
She looked at him.
“Thank you… for staying.”
Kemi smiled gently.
“Where else would I go?”
Ada leaned against the railing.
Despite the laughter, the new friendships, and the moments of happiness…
A small part of her heart still felt incomplete.
Because no matter how much life moved forward…
She still wished Lizzy was there beside her.
And somewhere in the shadows of the campus…
Someone was still watching.
Waiting.
And the truth about what really happened was still hidden.
- Writer
