The plan
1125 Words
Episode 10
As the days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months.
Time flew like it was being chased.
Alex finally realized it wasn’t a one-time thing.
That girl in the back row was still living rent-free in his head.
He admitted it to Aiden, Kelvin, and the others one night over dinner.
“I have a crush on her,” he said, jaw tight.
Aiden whistled. Kelvin just smirked.
“But I don’t know how to get close,” Alex added.
Kendrick leaned forward. “I have an idea.”
Alex thought about it. Hated it. And decided to go with it anyway.
---
The first semester ended.
Tia’s friends packed up and went home for the holidays.
Tia stayed.
Cafe in the day. Bar at night.
Then the call came: _All students must evacuate the dorms. Find new housing before resumption._
She went restless. Rent in Umuahia wasn’t cheap.
So she took extra shifts. And when that still wasn’t enough, she took the job her manager offered: bar hostess.
She called Katie and the others.
“Did you guys get the notice?”
“Yeah, we’re going home to Mum and Dad for now. You should too.”
Tia forced a laugh. “I’ll figure it out.”
School was starting in 2 weeks. She was still short on cash.
That night she agreed to overtime.
Her boss pulled her aside. “VIP room. They’re asking for you.”
“It’s not in my job description,” Tia said quietly.
“I’ll triple your pay.”
She hesitated. Then nodded. That money could mean a decent room near campus.
The hallway reeked of alcohol and cigarettes.
Too late to turn back now.
She pushed the door open, pasted on a calm smile.
Three older men were inside. One of them patted the seat next to him.
“Sit. Entertain us.”
“I’m just here to take your order, sirs.”
They didn’t listen.
A glass was shoved toward her mouth.
“Drink.”
“Please, I don’t—”
“Drink!”
Tia started to cry. Begging.
One of the men got irritated by her resistance. His hand reached for her wrist.
And then—
A quiet voice cut through the room.
“Get your hands off her.”
---
All heads turned.
Standing in the doorway, in a black shirt with his sleeves rolled up, was Alex.
His eyes locked on Tia. Shaking Tears streaked.
And something in him snapped.
Alex was halfway to the VIP section when he saw her.
That messy bun. That hoodie.
Tia.
His steps faltered. He was about to follow her when his phone rang.
Aiden. “Emergency meeting. 10 minutes.”
“Can’t. Call you back.”
He hung up and ran.
By the time he reached the room, the door was half open.
Three men. One girl cornered.
Hands reaching for her.
His voice came out low. Deadly quiet.
“Get your hands off her.”
Every head turned.
And when his eyes met Tia’s — tear-streaked, terrified — something in his chest snapped.
But he kept his face blank. Cool. Controlled. Like Dr. Alex.
The men froze. Then scrambled.
They bowed their heads so low Alex thought they’d hit the table.
“Sir, we didn’t know— We’re so sorry, sir—”
Right.
Alex had bought this bar 2 weeks ago.
Not for the business.
Because Kendrick’s “idea” was to get a job where Tia worked and keep an eye on her.
Tia didn’t wait to hear more. She wiped her face quickly and bolted out the door.
Alex dealt with the men.
10 minutes later they walked out behind him with swollen faces and busted lips.
They stopped in the hallway, bowed in unison.
“We’re sorry, sir.”
Alex didn’t look at them. He was already looking for Tia.
He found her outside, arms wrapped around herself.
Rain was pouring. No umbrella. No ride.
She was about to walk anyway.
“Tia.”
She turned, eyes red.
“Why are you working here?” he asked, voice softer now.
So she told him. The dorm notice. No money. No home to go to. Extra shifts.
By the end of it, her voice was shaking again.
When she finished, she tried to leave.
But the rain was coming down harder.
She had nowhere to go.
Alex sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“You can’t walk home in this. Stay at my place tonight. Just until the rain stops.”
He said it casually. Like it was nothing.
Tia stared at him.
The man who just bought a bar to watch her.
The man whose face she tried so hard not to look at in class.
“Thank you, but no,” Tia said quickly.
She didn’t know he was her professor. Not yet.
But Alex wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“It’s pouring. You’ll get sick. Just one night.”
After 5 minutes of arguing with the rain, she gave in.
The ride was quiet.
Tia stared out the window the whole time.
Alex couldn’t stop stealing glances at her. And smiling. Like an i***t.
The silence got too loud.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Tia.”
“Alex.”
That was it. That was the whole conversation.
When they got to his house, it was almost midnight.
Alex unlocked the door and Tia’s mouth fell open.
The house was huge. Clean. Expensive. Nothing like the cafe and bar she’d been in all day.
“You can take the guest room—”
“It’s a mess,” Alex cut in. “Renovations. You’ll have to sleep in my room. I’ll take the couch.”
Tia was too exhausted to argue. She just nodded.
He ran her a hot bath himself. Set out fresh towels, extra bedsheets, a spare hoodie for her to sleep in.
“Shout if you need anything,” he said, then left.
Before bed, Tia did what she always did when she was stressed.
She sang. Softly. Just to herself.
Down the hall, Alex was lying on the couch, eyes wide open like usual.
Until he heard her voice.
Soft. Shaky. Beautiful.
His eyes drifted shut.
And for the first time in years, Dr. Alex slept through the night.
---
Morning came.
Alex woke up late. Stretched. Felt... rested.
He walked to his room.
Empty.
Tia was gone.
On the counter was a note: _Thank you. I’ll pay you back. - Tia_
He laughed to himself. Stupid girl.
But he was smiling.
Because he remembered what it felt like to sleep.
And he made a decision.
He was going to ask her to move in.
After class today.
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