MY RIVAL BECOME MY LOVER

Chapter 4:The Campus Found Out

We thought we were secret. We thought if we don't hold hands outside Room 14, if we don't kiss outside, nobody will know that Room 14 boys now kiss at night and sleep in each other's arms.

We were very wrong. University of Nairobi students have eyes like security cameras. They see everything.

Monday morning, we walked to lecture together for African Literature class. We didn't hold hands. We held books and backpacks. But we walked too close. Our shoulders were touching. And we were smiling too much. For two people who were known as sworn enemies for three years, we were smiling like fools who won lottery.

When we entered Hall 9, whispers started immediately.

"Jay and Brian came together?"

"They were fighting last week, now they are smiling at each other?"

"Did you see Brian's i********: story last night? He posted a photo of balcony view and there were two coffee mugs on table? Two mugs means two people."

We sat together, not far from each other like before. We sat close, same desk.

Professor Otieno came. He gave us assignment to present our love poem homework.

"Brian Mwangi, present your love poem homework to class."

Brian stood up. He looked nervous. His hands were shaking a little. He looked at me once, took a deep breath, then opened his notebook and read. But it was not the homework he wrote last week. It was a new poem, written last night after we kissed.

He read in a clear voice:

"I hated his voice in class, now I wait for it every morning before class starts.

I hated his pride when he wins awards, now I love his pride when he beats me fairly.

I hated sharing room with him, now I hate going to class because I will miss him for one hour.

My rival became my lover, and I never want to be enemies again. I want to be lovers forever."

Total silence in Hall 9. Eighty students silent. You could hear a pin drop. Professor Otieno removed his glasses and looked at Brian, then at me.

Then noise exploded. Shouting, laughing, clapping, cheering.

Jayden from back row shouted, "Finally! Room 14 finally fell in love! We knew it since first year! We knew you were not really enemies!"

Shirley, who loves romance novels, shouted, "I support this! Rivals to lovers is my favorite story! My favorite!"

My face burned like fire. It became red, hot. I wanted to disappear under the desk and hide. Brian just sat down and under the desk, where no one could see, he held my hand tightly, his hand sweaty but strong, not letting go. He was not ashamed.

After class, the Dean called us to his office again. We thought we were in trouble.

"Boys, is this true? You are dating? You are a couple now?" he asked, serious face.

We stood, holding hands now openly, no hiding, no fear. Brian said, confident and proud, "Yes sir. We are dating. And we are still top of class. Our grades are still First Class. Our academic performance is still best."

Dean looked at us for a long time, then his serious face changed and he smiled. An old man warm smile.

"In my twenty years as Dean of Students, I have seen rivals become friends. I have seen roommates become brothers. This is first time I see rivals become lovers. This is new for me. But love doesn't reduce marks. If love makes you win more awards, if love makes you study harder, then love more. Keep winning for this school. Make us proud. But please, no noise at night, other students are studying, okay?"

We laughed, embarrassed but relieved. He was supportive.

We walked out as official couple. Hands held tightly. Outside hall, many students were waiting and took photos of us. By evening, our photo holding hands was on University Crush f*******: page, Confessions i********: page, and t****k.

Caption: "From Rivals to Lovers - Room 14 Boys finally confirm relationship. We love to see it. Congratulations!"

Five hundred likes in one hour. Comments: "Finally!" "I knew they were in love" "This is real life BL story" "I want love like Room 14"

I was scared. What will my mother in the village say when she sees this photo on f*******:? What will his rich parents say? Will they beat us? Will they disown us? Will they stop paying fees?

But for now, in campus, we were free. We were famous. Room 14 became known as love room, not war room.

That night, we cooked dinner together in Room 14. He added too much water to flour, I laughed at him. He wiped flour off my cheek with his thumb and kissed it.

Being lovers is better than being rivals. Much better. But also more scary because now we have something to lose. We have each other to lose. And we don't want to lose each other.