FORBIDDEN GIFT

University life was nothing like I imagined. The campus buzzed with thousands of students rushing to lectures, hanging out in clusters, and chasing dreams that all seemed larger than life. For the first time, I wasn’t “the girl without a father” or “the quiet one at the back.” I was simply Gift, a young woman carving her own path. On my very first day in class, I noticed him—Charles. Tall, dark-skinned, with a smile that seemed to light up the room whenever he walked in. His laughter carried easily, smooth and confident, and his eyes… they had that mischievous glint that made you feel as if he knew a secret no one else did. He wasn’t like the boys from secondary school who only noticed you when you had a new hairstyle or when they wanted to mock you. Charles carried himself differently—like someone born to be admired. Girls whispered whenever he passed, nudging each other, their eyes trailing after him. It wasn’t just about his looks; it was the way he seemed comfortable in every space, like the world belonged to him. “Is this seat taken?” he asked one morning, pointing to the space beside me. I looked up, trying not to stare. “No, go ahead.” He dropped his bag and flashed that easy smile. “You’re Gift, right? I’ve seen you around.” Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Yes… and you are?” “Charles,” he replied, extending his hand as if sealing a deal. “Second-year Economics. But don’t worry, I don’t bite.” I laughed nervously, not realizing that a simple handshake would mark the beginning of something complicated. --- Days turned into weeks, and Charles became a constant in my routine. We studied together at the library, shared snacks between lectures, and sometimes walked back to the hostel, our conversations flowing like we’d known each other forever. He was attentive in ways most guys weren’t—listening, teasing, protecting. Slowly, almost against my will, I found myself drawn to him. But then there was Bunmi. She was the kind of girl everyone noticed without trying. Curvy, bold, and fashionable, Bunmi had a confidence that filled the room before she even spoke. Rumor had it she had broken more than a few hearts on campus. Some said she once made two roommates fight over her. Others claimed she had connections with older men off campus who showered her with gifts. Whether the rumors were true or not didn’t matter—Bunmi walked like a queen who knew people were watching. Bunmi and I weren’t close, but she knew who I was. And she knew Charles. One afternoon, I walked into the cafeteria, and there they were—Charles and Bunmi, sitting together at a corner table, their heads bent close, laughing at something I couldn’t hear. My heart dipped, a strange twist of jealousy tightening in my chest. “Gift!” Charles waved me over, his smile genuine. “Come sit.” I forced a smile and joined them, pretending not to notice the way Bunmi’s eyes lingered on me, sharp and calculating. “So this is the famous Gift?” she said, her voice dripping with sweetness that didn’t reach her eyes. I nodded politely. “Yes. And you are Bunmi?” She grinned, but it felt more like a challenge. “Exactly. Charles and I go way back.” I glanced at him, and he quickly added, “Yeah, we’re old friends. Nothing serious.” But the way Bunmi placed her hand lightly on his arm told another story. --- Over the next few weeks, Bunmi’s presence became harder to ignore. If Charles was around, Bunmi somehow appeared. She laughed at his jokes louder than necessary, touched his shoulder as if marking territory, and gave me those knowing looks that made my stomach twist. One evening, as Charles and I studied in the library, Bunmi showed up, dressed in a fitted top that turned heads. She plopped herself beside him, pushing her books onto the table. “Charles, help me with this equation,” she said, ignoring me completely. I bit my lip, fighting the urge to leave. But before I could, Charles reached for my notebook instead. “Gift already explained this to me. She’s smarter than both of us combined.” My cheeks warmed at his words, but Bunmi’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. --- The tension between us grew silently. It wasn’t until the campus talent night that things finally exploded. I had been dragged to the event by my hostel mates, and as I sat in the crowded auditorium, I spotted Charles on stage, volunteering for a karaoke round. He looked confident, as always, his voice echoing through the hall. The crowd cheered wildly, girls screaming his name. When he dedicated the song “to someone special,” my heart pounded, hope rising in my chest like a fragile balloon. But then, when he stepped off the stage, Bunmi rushed into his arms dramatically, whispering something in his ear while everyone watched. Whispers filled the air. “So it’s Bunmi?” “Didn’t he like Gift?” “Ah, I knew Bunmi always gets her way.” I sat frozen, my throat tight, forcing back the sting of tears. Later that night, as I walked back to my hostel, Charles caught up with me. “Gift, wait!” he called, grabbing my wrist gently. I turned, my eyes avoiding his. “Shouldn’t you be with Bunmi?” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not what you think. Bunmi is… complicated. But you—you’re different. I don’t want you to misunderstand.” I searched his eyes, desperate to believe him. “Then make it clear, Charles. Because right now, it feels like I’m fighting for something that isn’t even mine.” Silence stretched between us, heavy and uncertain. That night, as I lay awake staring at the ceiling, Bunmi’s laughter echoed in my head, mixing with Charles’s words. I didn’t know if I was stepping into love or into a battle I wasn’t ready for. All I knew was this: my heart had already chosen him. But had his chosen me?