CHAPTER THREE: UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS
807 Words
The first week at Riverside University felt like an entire month for Teniola.
Every day came with something new.
New faces.
New buildings.
New instructions that somehow managed to confuse her even more.
By Friday morning, she was exhausted.
She sat on her bed, staring at her phone while her roommate, Aisha, arranged clothes in her wardrobe.
"You've been quiet since you got back yesterday," Aisha said.
Teniola looked up. "Have I?"
"Yes. And considering we've only known each other for three days, I can already tell when something is on your mind."
Teniola smiled slightly.
Aisha was the complete opposite of her. She was friendly, talkative, and somehow knew everybody's business despite being a fresher herself.
"Nothing is wrong," Teniola said.
Aisha narrowed her eyes.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Teniola laughed softly.
"Okay, maybe I'm just tired."
Aisha nodded. "That's believable."
She sat on her bed and looked at Teniola.
"So... have you met anyone interesting yet?"
Teniola frowned. "Interesting?"
"You know what I mean. Friends. Enemies. Crushes."
"It's been less than a week."
"And?"
"And nothing."
Aisha folded her arms.
"Nothing at all?"
Teniola hesitated.
For some reason, a familiar face appeared in her mind.
Calm eyes.
A sarcastic smile.
A voice that somehow managed to sound both helpful and annoying at the same time.
She blinked.
"No," she said quickly.
Aisha looked unconvinced.
Before she could ask another question, Teniola's phone buzzed.
It was a message from the department.
ALL 100-LEVEL MASS COMMUNICATION STUDENTS SHOULD REPORT TO THE AUDITORIUM BY 10 A.M. FOR AN ORIENTATION SESSION.
Teniola sighed.
"Another orientation?"
Aisha laughed.
"Welcome to university."
By ten o'clock, the auditorium was already crowded.
Students filled almost every seat.
Some were chatting.
Others looked half asleep.
Teniola quietly took a seat near the middle row and waited.
A few minutes later, one of the student coordinators walked onto the stage.
"Good morning, everyone."
A lazy response came back.
"That wasn't good enough," she said.
This time, the response was louder.
She smiled.
"Welcome officially to Riverside University. Today, some senior students will be speaking to you about campus life and how to survive your first year."
Teniola leaned back in her seat.
This should be interesting.
"First speaker," the coordinator announced, "Mr. Damilare Sulaiman from the Department of Political Science."
The name hit her immediately.
She sat up.
No.
It couldn't be.
A few students applauded as someone walked onto the stage.
And there he was.
Dami.
Dressed in a simple black shirt and jeans.
He looked calm as usual.
Completely comfortable standing before hundreds of students.
Teniola stared.
Then blinked.
Then stared again.
Of course.
Of all the people in this school...
It had to be him.
As if sensing something, Dami looked up.
His eyes moved across the hall.
Then stopped, on her.
For one brief second.
A look of surprise crossed his face.
Then it disappeared.
A small smile appeared instead.
Teniola looked away immediately.
This was ridiculous.
She had managed to avoid him for two days.
And now he was standing on a stage.
Talking to her.
Well... not directly.
But still.
"Good morning," Dami said into the microphone.
The hall responded.
"I'm not here to scare you," he continued. "Riverside University isn't as difficult as people make it seem."
A few students laughed.
"It can be stressful. It can be confusing. And yes, some of you will get lost more times than you want to admit."
The hall laughed again.
Teniola narrowed her eyes.
She had a feeling that the statement wasn't entirely random.
Dami continued speaking.
He talked about balancing academics and social life.
Making good friends.
Asking questions.
Taking opportunities.
For someone who joked so much, he sounded surprisingly sincere.
And for the first time, Teniola realized something.
Damilare Sulaiman wasn't just another student.
People listened when he spoke.
People respected him.
The realization was... unexpected.
The session ended with applause.
Students immediately began leaving their seats.
Teniola stood up quickly.
She needed to leave before.....
"Trying to escape?"
She froze.
That voice again.
She turned slowly.
Dami was standing beside her.
Hands in his pockets.
Looking entirely too amused.
She sighed.
"Do you just appear everywhere?"
He considered the question.
"I could ask you the same thing."
She shook her head.
"No, seriously."
He smiled.
"No, seriously."
For a second, neither of them said anything.
Then he asked, "So... have you managed not to get lost this week?"
Teniola almost laughed.
Almost.
"Yes."
"Impressive."
"I'm learning."
"Good."
A small silence settled between them.
Then Dami nodded toward the door.
"Are you heading back?"
"Yes."
"Great."
She frowned.
"Great?"
He started walking.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"I'm showing you a shortcut."
She stared at him.
"You know, for someone who was determined not to get lost."
Teniola sighed.
Then, despite herself...
She followed him.
- Writer
