Chapter 3: First impressions
988 Words
By the third day of resumption, Ada had already remembered three important things about lodge life.
First—privacy did not exist, people would always poke nose in things that doesn’t even concern them for absolutely no reason or even read meaning to things that are irrelevant.
Second—noise was permanent there’s no changing that.
And third—everyone somehow knew everyone else’s business.
She sat at the small desk in her room, typing quickly on her laptop.
Lines of code filled the screen.
Her fingers moved fast, but her concentration kept breaking because of the noise outside.
Someone upstairs was blasting music.
Two people were arguing about water in the corridor.
And somewhere in the building, someone was laughing so loudly it echoed through the entire lodge.
Ada sighed.
“Focus,” she told herself.
Her phone buzzed.
Lodge Queens 💅
She already knew it was trouble.
She opened the chat.
Amaka:
Ada where are you?
Ada:
My room.
Rita:
Come outside.
Ada:
Why?
Three dots appeared.
Then Amaka replied.
Amaka:
Kemi is outside.
Ada frowned.
Ada:
So?
Bisi:
So come.
Ada shook her head and typed back.
Ada:
You people are very unserious.
She dropped the phone and returned to her laptop.
But barely thirty seconds later—
Knock. Knock.
Ada didn’t look up.
“If you’re here to drag me outside, I’m busy.”
The door opened.
“Wow.”
Ada looked up.
Kemi leaned casually against her doorframe.
“You already knew it was me?”
Ada blinked.
“What are you doing here?”
“Visiting.”
“You don’t visit people you just met.”
Kemi shrugged.
“I do.”
Ada leaned back in her chair.
“How did you even know my room?”
Kemi pointed down the corridor.
“Your fan club.”
Ada didn’t need to ask who.
“Amaka,” she muttered.
“Correct.”
Kemi looked around the room.
“You weren’t lying.”
“About what?”
“You actually spend your time coding.”
Ada gestured to the laptop.
“Computer science student.”
Kemi stepped inside the room.
Ada raised an eyebrow.
“Did I invite you in?”
“No.”
“And you still entered?”
“Yes.”
Ada shook her head.
“You’re very bold.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
Kemi laughed.
He looked at the screen.
“What are you building?”
“A program.”
“That explains nothing.”
Ada turned the laptop slightly toward him.
“It organizes student schedules.”
Kemi stared at the code for a few seconds.
Then he leaned back.
“I understand nothing.”
Ada smiled slightly.
“I’m not surprised.”
“Law student,” he reminded her.
“Exactly.”
They both laughed.
For a moment the room felt quieter.
Then another voice appeared behind them.
“I knew you were here.”
They turned.
Tunde stood at the door.
His expression was calm, but his eyes moved between them curiously.
“Kemi,” he said.
“Yes?”
“You disappeared.”
“I was exploring.”
Tunde looked at Ada.
“Sorry if he’s disturbing you.”
Ada shrugged.
“He’s entertaining.”
Kemi grinned proudly.
“You see?”
Tunde stepped into the room.
“Have you eaten?” he asked Ada.
Ada blinked.
“Not yet.”
“I’m going to buy food outside,” he said. “Do you want anything?”
Ada hesitated.
“That’s okay—”
“I’m already going,” he said quickly.
“Just say what you want.”
Ada thought for a moment.
“Maybe jollof rice.”
“Okay.”
Kemi raised his hand.
“Buy for me too.”
Tunde gave him a look.
“You have legs.”
“But you’re already going.”
Tunde sighed.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been told.”
Tunde turned back to Ada.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Thanks,” she said.
He nodded and left.
The room became quiet again.
Kemi watched the door for a moment before turning back to Ada.
“You see that?”
“See what?”
“He likes you.”
Ada almost laughed.
“Relax.”
“I’m serious.”
“You just met me three days ago.”
“And I’m observant.”
Ada shook her head.
“You’re dramatic.”
“Maybe.”
Kemi leaned against the wall again.
“So tell me something.”
“What?”
“Why are you always in your room?”
Ada shrugged.
“I like it here.”
“That’s suspicious.”
“Why?”
“Because normal people enjoy fresh air.”
Ada gestured to the corridor.
“You call that fresh air?”
Kemi laughed again.
“You’re funny.”
“I wasn’t trying to be.”
He studied her for a moment.
“You know something?”
“What?”
“You’re not what I expected.”
Ada narrowed her eyes slightly.
“What does that mean?”
“I thought you’d be quiet and boring.”
“And?”
“You’re actually interesting.”
Ada smirked.
“Congratulations. You discovered that in three days.”
Kemi nodded.
“I’m a fast learner.”
Before Ada could reply, her phone buzzed again.
She checked it.
Lodge Queens 💅
Amaka:
Is he still there???
Ada sighed.
Ada:
Yes.
Immediately the chat exploded.
Rita:
Oh my God.
Bisi:
Tell him we said hi.
Ada rolled her eyes and locked her phone.
Kemi noticed.
“Let me guess.”
“What?”
“They’re gossiping already.”
Ada groaned.
“You have no idea.”
Kemi smiled.
“Good.”
Ada looked at him suspiciously.
“Why good?”
“Because gossip means something interesting is happening.”
Ada shook her head.
“You’re trouble.”
Kemi smiled slowly.
“Probably.”
- Writer
