Between two worlds

Chapter 1: Stepping into the circle

POV - Mariam

Walking into the room that night, I wasn’t expecting much. Just another reading session, another chance to improve my French, and maybe have a few laughs with the group. But then, there was Kingsley.I noticed him immediately, the way he carried himself—calm, confident, almost aloof. He was different from the other guys in the room, and there was something about him that caught my attention. He was exactly my spec—not in a romantic way, though. I had no intention of catching feelings, but I liked being around guys like him. The kind of guys who had depth but didn’t flaunt it, who were easy to talk to but hard to get to know. That’s what pushed me toward him.It wasn’t the first time I’d been drawn to guys like this, just for friendship. People always misunderstood that about me. I loved having male friends—maybe even preferred it sometimes. They were easier to relate to, and I didn’t have to deal with all the drama that came with girls.I smiled when our eyes met, and he smiled back. That was enough to make me feel welcome. I walked over, feeling a little excited about getting to know him better. Kingsley seemed like someone I could easily be friends with, no pressure, just good conversation and maybe some jokes along the way. I didn’t think much of it beyond that.Of course, there were always differences. I wasn’t the most devoted Muslim—far from it. I wore my hijab, but I wasn’t one to go to the mosque regularly. I prayed when I felt like it, or when something inside me told me to. Some people might judge me for that, but I was okay with who I was. I wasn’t perfect, but that didn’t mean I didn’t have values. And, for me, friendships mattered, regardless of who they were with.But with Kingsley, I sensed a barrier. He seemed distant, like he wasn’t entirely comfortable with me being so friendly. Maybe it was because I was a girl, or maybe it was because I was a Muslim. Either way, I wasn’t trying to push any boundaries. I just liked him as a friend, and I hoped he’d eventually see that.

POV - Kingsley

These night reading sessions were supposed to be routine. Just study the French, have a few laughs, and leave. That’s how I liked it—no drama, no attachments. But then there was Mariam.When she walked in with her roommate, Abosede, I noticed her more than I had before. She smiled when our eyes met, and I smiled back, just to be polite. It wasn’t meant to invite anything more than that. But she walked over, making a beeline for me, as if I was the only person in the room. Out of all the guys here—Emmanuel, Daniel, Glorious—why me?It’s not like I’ve ever given off the vibe that I wanted to be close to anyone, especially not girls. I’ve always kept my distance, avoided friendships with girls because they complicate things. But Mariam seemed to ignore that. She was being too friendly, like she thought we could be something more. And it didn’t help that she was a Muslim. I don’t have anything against that, but it made the situation even more uncomfortable for me.Her friendliness wasn’t just casual; it felt like she was trying to connect with me in a way I wasn’t ready for. My mind kept spinning—why me, out of everyone here? Why not Emmanuel or Daniel? They were right there, laughing and talking, but she seemed fixated on me.I tried to keep my voice calm, but it felt like every word was pushing her back in my mind. This wasn’t what I wanted, and I wasn’t sure how to handle her interest. All I knew was that I wasn’t interested in this kind of friendship, not with her, not with anyone.