Chapter 3: Prince Charming
1384 Words
Lucy’s POV
“Omalicha!” he called out.
The name rolled through the air like warm honey.
Even though it's not my real name—not even a nickname—I adored it. Omalicha, a Nigerian word meaning beautiful one. My boyfriend’s mom is Nigerian, and he often switched into her dialect when speaking to me. Sometimes he called me Nkem—mine. Every time he did, butterflies erupted in my stomach like someone had flung open a cage.
I turned around, and my breath caught in my throat.
There he was.
Tall. Gorgeous. Broad-shouldered. His flawless dark skin glowing under the afternoon sunlight streaming through the wide student-center windows. And those eyes—those piercing hazel eyes that carried flecks of gold—always managed to undo me.
One look from him, and every thought in my head fluttered away like startled birds.
He walked toward me with that irresistible smirk—the one that always made my knees weaken. Before I could even react, his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into him. For a moment, shock froze me. I simply stared up at him, heart pounding, as if seeing him for the first time all over again.
His warmth enveloped me, grounding me. His scent—masculine, clean, with a hint of citrus—slid into my lungs, and my body relaxed instinctively.
His lips brushed my cheek, feather-light, and I nearly sighed.
I wasn’t big on public affection—until my boyfriend. With him, nothing ever felt embarrassing or too much. It just felt right.
“Hey, babe,” I murmured when he slowly released me.
“Hey, love,” he replied softly, brushing a curl away from my face. “I missed you. Were you really going to walk off without even greeting me?”
“Oh, trust me—I almost cried earlier when I couldn’t find you,” I admitted, pouting exaggeratedly.
He chuckled, that warm, deep sound that always made my chest flutter. Pulling me back into his arms, he gave me one more quick squeeze before guiding me toward the Student Representative Council office.
Yes—my man had an office.
He wasn’t just good-looking; he was smart, influential, and respected. The Secretary General of the SRC. The moment I found that out, I jokingly started calling him “Mr. Future Politician,” and honestly… I stood by it.
Inside the office, he sat on the edge of his desk and tugged me gently onto his lap. My heart thudded. His hands slid around my waist, and his lips captured mine in a slow, unhurried kiss that sent warmth rippling through me.
His touch was innocent… yet anything but.
He didn’t push boundaries—we’d agreed to wait until the right time—but the way he held me? It made my entire body tingle.
“Babe,” I whispered against his lips, reluctantly pulling back, “I’ve got thirty minutes before class. Can you help me with my math assignment?”
His laugh vibrated through his chest beneath my palms.
“Let me see,” he said, taking the notebook from my hand.
He was brilliant—especially with numbers. He taught with patience, with a soft confidence that made learning feel effortless. Moments like this made loving him feel as natural as breathing.
---
Flashback
I guess you're wondering how things went down that first day at the student center, right?
Back then, I had absolutely no idea he would become the man who’d claim my heart so completely.
When our eyes first met, time didn’t slow—it stopped.
Completely.
Utterly.
His gaze locked on mine, and for five long seconds I forgot how to breathe. My stomach somersaulted. My palms sweated. My knees nearly buckled.
Nelly nudged me, giggling. Even though we’d just met, she leaned in and whispered, “Girl, you two are totally ogling each other.”
Heat shot up my neck. I forced myself to look away, pretending I wasn’t falling apart inside.
We eventually found seats to wait for our names to be called… but he kept glancing over. Not subtly. Boldly. Until he finally stood up and walked straight toward me.
“Hi,” he said confidently. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
I swear my heart forgot its job.
My mouth opened but nothing came out, so I just nodded and stood.
Nelly gave me a dramatic wink. “Go on, lovebird.”
He took me a few steps aside, where the noise of the student crowd faded slightly.
“Hi. I’m Kenneth Paige,” he said, extending a hand. His voice was warm, smooth, deep. “Sorry to be so forward—it’s not usually my style. But… I couldn’t stop admiring your beauty. May I know your name?”
I swallowed hard. Could this be another coincidence? Same name but different people? He didn't look anything like my Kenneth in my previous life, but how did they have the same name and surname? Was fate playing with me?
“I’m… Lucy. Lucy Foster.” I responded nervously.
“Nice to meet you, Lucy,” he said softly, his eyes sparkling in a way that made my pulse jump. “And I know this is bold, but… would you like to go on a date with me?”
My brain short-circuited. Words vanished.
So once again… I just nodded.
He smirked a little, like he knew exactly what effect he was having on me.
And that was how everything began.
Soon enough, students started calling us the campus lovebirds. And honestly? I didn’t mind it. Not one bit.
---
Kenneth finished the math assignment with me, kissed my forehead, and sent me off to class with a playful slap on my notebook, telling me, “Go get that A for me.”
We were both enrolled in the Sciences and Engineering Department—I was studying Pharmacology and in my second year and he was pursuing his third year in Construction Engineering—but our schedules rarely aligned. That made moments like this even more precious.
When I walked into the lecture hall, I noticed a girl sitting alone. She looked nervous, almost fragile despite her stunning appearance. Something in me urged me to sit beside her.
“Hi, I’m Lucy Foster,” I whispered. The lecture was about to start, and Dr. Hamilton was not someone you kept waiting. He had a reputation for scolding latecomers using their full government names.
“Nice to meet you, Lucy. I’m Patricia Bratton,” she replied.
I froze.
Patricia?
Not again.
Same name… different surnames.
Surely this wasn’t fate mocking me.
A flicker of panic rose, but I forced myself to breathe. This Patricia was nothing like the venomous woman from my past life. She looked soft-spoken, elegant, polished. Kind even.
Maybe this was just coincidence.
Rebirth similarities.
That’s what I told myself.
I decided not to overthink it.
Of course… that was the biggest mistake of my life.
“Are you new?” I asked. “I haven’t seen you around.”
“I transferred from Northern University. I’m from The Valley,” she answered politely.
I nodded, though I wasn’t familiar with much of the North or West beyond knowing they were monarchies. Kenneth came from the Western Kingdom, but he rarely spoke about it. I was too intoxicated with our love to question deeper.
After class, Patricia asked if she could hang out with me, and I agreed. She seemed harmless.
We walked to the student mall cafeteria so she could grab a snack. We had barely sat down when Nelly strolled over, eyes wide in dramatic betrayal.
“OMG! Girl, I see how it is—replacing me already?” she teased, hands on her hips.
“Pfft! Don’t be ridiculous. You’re irreplaceable,” I said, laughing as we fist-bumped.
“Patricia, this is Nelly—my BFF and roommate,” I introduced.
“Nice to meet you,” Patricia said, reaching out for a handshake.
“I’m her roommate and best friend,” Nelly clarified with a playful smirk.
The two shook hands politely.
And I smiled, blissfully unaware…
That the storm brewing behind Patricia’s pretty green eyes would one day destroy everything I held dear.
- Writer
