₦airaland Forum

********
"Goal!" Kobiruo shouted, pumping his fist in the air. "Man, this guy just keeps beating you!"

Jimi smiled, clapped hands with Kobiruo, then glanced back down at his phone. He and Bayo were in the middle of a heated match of Dream League Soccer on their smartphones over a wireless network. Bayo, clearly struggling, was losing 5-0.

"I wish he was this good on the field," Sam said, chuckling and Jimi shot him an amused frown.

"About soccer," Alex chimed in, leaning back in his seat. "I heard our class won their match yesterday. And Sam scored a brace."

"Black Ronaldo!" Kobiruo hailed Sam, who smiled proudly.

"Well, I hope you guys are ready to lose the next one," Jimi said with a smirk, and Sam smiled faltered. "If I'm correct, winning the quarter finals means you will face the Geophysics 400-level students in Friday’s semi-finals."

"Guy, the thing tire me o, I swear!" Kobiruo groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Out of all the classes they could pair us with, they chose Geophysics final year. Those guys are like the descendants of Goliath."

The guys chuckled, with Jimi laughing the loudest.

Alex stood up and stretched. "I’m going to grab something to eat from the canteen. Jimi, can you watch my bag?"

Jimi nodded, and Kobiruo called after him. "Make sure you bring back some take-away."

"Don’t worry, I’ll bring back the coolers for you," Alex replied with a grin as he made his way down the aisle.

As he walked toward the entrance, Alex’s expression hardened when he spotted Big John and Chinonye in the first row. Big John had his arm around Chinonye’s shoulders, whispering something into her ear. She was smiling excitedly, clearly enjoying his attention.

"Big John!" Alex called out, tapping him on the shoulder.

Big John turned with a mock-frown. "Yes, what is it?"

"Don’t ask me that," Alex retorted, clearly annoyed. "You know exactly why I’m here."

"If it’s your textbooks you're after, Chinonye is the one you should blame," Big John said, gesturing to Chinonye.

Chinonye chuckled softly and looked at Alex. "I have them in my bag. I can get them for you now," she said, making a motion to get up.

But before she could move, Big John held her back. He turned to Alex. "You’re going out, right? When you come back, you can collect them."

Alex crossed his arms, his frustration growing. "I want them now. This is the fourth week already."

Big John leaned back in his chair, clearly unbothered. "Are you going to read them on your way out? Just go, and when you get back, the books will be here."

Alex gave him an irritated look. "I want to see my books on this desk by the time I return."

Big John waved his hand dismissively. "Oga, dey go na! She don tell you say the books dey her bag. She go bring am for you. Which one you come dey shine eye for me now? Abeg, go chop belleful, make you dey see front well, before you squeeze face like shit."

Alex wanted to retort but knew it was useless, so he simply sighed in resignation. These two weren't going to listen. His reaction made Big John and Chinonye chuckle softly. Alex let out an amused hiss, left them, and continued on his way.

Just as he rushed out of the hall, someone else rushed in. They suddenly collided.

The first thing Alex noticed was an expensive-looking smart phone flying through the air, heading straight for the ground. He quickly crouched down and caught it just before it hit the floor.

"Sorry," Alex started to apologise, but then he heard a irritated voice blunt out.

"Are you blind?!"

The voice was unmistakable.

Alex immediately recognized who it was. He frowned, straightened up, and their eyes met.

She raised an eyebrow in surprise recognition as she took in his face.

"You again!" They both growled simultaneously, glaring at each other.

Super hot

You're doing more than our supposed leaders

The storyline is killing

YbbJune:
You're doing more than our supposed leaders

😂😂😂 Abeg o

😂😂😂

Gengeun

Wow... Nice update.
Alex and Sarah are going to become friends possibly lovers 😂

Omo when we need a longer chapter @tonystark vanished

So where you pause this update make sense for your eyes? This is not fair mana

Thanks for the update, is that love brewing?

Thank you for the update.
What is the "book keeping" by Big John all about?

Thanks for the update the suspense is killing


A complicated relationship with tendencies for love

Well, just like I said earlier, love is budding between Alex and Sarah. But he’s gon face a serious competition from Charming who I’m sure still got his eyes on Sarah.

You’re doing exceptionally good OP.

YoungBruzzy:
Well, just like I said earlier, love is budding between Alex and Sarah. But he’s gon face a serious competition from Charming who I’m sure still got his eyes on Sarah.

You’re doing exceptionally good OP.

Not competition, but hatred, a 'can't help it' hatred from Charming......but I don't think the story will much dwell on Alex and Charming, except the writer chooses to digress for longevity. But being a better person, for Sarah, that's where Alex really comes in....I think

New Update:

Just as always I will mention my people.

yungbanks, Jupitre, Ybbjune, panpan, repogirl, aurion1, Iseddy, DeltaBachelor, iamL, anjay1212, brightspecimen, Stephen0mozzy, pocohantas, OT2024, Divepen1, immanuelson, ifecodblissedboy, Echetex, nastynic, sal1974, Okeowonla, YoungBruzzy, truffle, alshalz, Maymac, ErnestD




CHAPTER 20

Everyone knows that feeling when you’re standing face-to-face with someone you hate—especially someone who’s been the cause of your misfortune. It’s a feeling of heat crawling up your neck, a tightening in your chest, the urge to either speak a perfectly cutting truth or say nothing at all because your silence feels heavier than any insult. It’s the strange, cold calm before every muscle in your body remembers it wants to fight.

That was exactly how Alex felt at the moment, standing directly in front of her for the first time. If all things were equal, this would have been the perfect opportunity to give her a taste of her own medical. He was a few inches taller than her, which is still an advantage for intimidation. But he knew better.

He noticed the the corners of her brows declined as her expression shifted from surprise to utter disgust—like he was some filth. What was so special about her anyways? Infact, she looked far too innocent for someone most students feared, save for the cold, unreadable look in her eyes which didn't flinch for a second. Why were students were so scared of her? She didn't really appear like someone who could pose a threat to him.

"Can't you watch where you are going, Mr. Four-eyes?" Sarah voice invaded his thoughts. "What are you, the squint-&-stumble?"

Alex frowned. "I'm not visually impaired."

"Tell that to your doctor," Sarah retorted coldly, snatching her phone from his hand, and checking for any stratch or damages.

Alex gasped, slightly taken aback by her quick-witted response. He sighed deeply, restraining himself from speaking his mind. He decided it wasn’t worth arguing with her.

"I’m sorry," he muttered, offering an apology. "I didn't see you coming."

Sarah ignored him completely, her eyes still examining her phone. After she had confirmed it was intact. She glared at him, straightened her shirt and then said, "Why don't get yourself some proper medicated eyeglasses and save everyone the trouble of listening to your apology. It’s obvious now you can’t see properly."

"Or," Alex replied calmly, "you could just apologise to me like I did."

She batted her eyes disdainfully at him. "I should apologise to you for bumping into me?" She scoffed. "You must be on drugs. Get out of my way!"

Alex stood frozen, holding her gaze with a calm, unreadable expression.

When it became clear he wouldn’t move, Sarah hissed, then moved to step around him, heading for the hallway.

But Alex wasn’t done. He swiftly moved sidewards to block her path, much to her surprise.

"Now listen up... Miss Pale face," Alex began, his voice firm. "I don’t know what your problem is, but I’m definitely not the cause. Yeah, I was rushing out of the hall and didn’t see you coming. But you, on the other hand, were busy on your phone and didn’t see me either. We bumped into each other, so it’s only fair we apologise and move on, instead of this... Jibber-Jabber you’re spouting. And FYI, you need that doctor more than I do."

Sarah’s eyes narrowed. "I will not ask--"

"Step aside, missy," Alex interrupted, stepping around her with a confident move, deliberately brushing his shoulder against hers.

He didn’t look back, but he could envision her gaze burning into his back. Her stunned silence was all he needed to know—he’d made his point

After walking a little farther, he glanced over his shoulder and saw her still standing by the hall entrance, staring at him with wide eyes. He hissed under his breath and continued on his way. She must be completely stunned. She probably thought she was the only one capable of talking back. But he was just as good at it, if not better. If she...

He stopped abruptly.

He remembered he had left the lecture hall with the intention of grabbing something to eat at the canteen, but as he found himself heading towards the college garden, he realized his thoughts were being pulled in a different direction. Great. Now that annoying witch had him all confused. He hissed again in frustration and began to backtrack, but stopped abruptly again when something caught his eye.

Among the group of male students arguing loudly about sports, Alex spotted one of Sarah’s bodyguards. He was pretending to be engrossed in the debate, but Alex knew better.

His senses immediately sharpened. He quickly scanned the area, and sure enough, there was the second bodyguard coming from the direction of the 100-level lecture halls.

Alex cursed under his breath. They were on his trail. How did they know what just happened between him and their boss? He wasn’t about to let those two follow him around like some kind of prey. He turned swiftly and made his way back toward the college garden. Walking briskly, he crossed the garden, heading for the administrative blocks, and then made a sharp left toward the library.

He entered the building and flashed his student ID at the librarian without breaking his stride. The young librarian barely looked up from his phone, muttering something unintelligible as he continued scrolling through the screen of his phone.

Alex found a seat by the window, positioning himself where he could keep an eye on the entrance. The bodyguards, obviously lacking student IDs, lingered outside the library for a while, chatting aimlessly. They stood there for about 15 minutes, and Alex didn’t trust them for a second. They weren’t just standing around—they were waiting for him to leave.

He leaned back in his chair, silently cursing under his breath. He had no choice but to stay in the library, even if it meant missing his next lecture. He was trapped. And to make matters worse, he was still hungry.

*******

Sarah stood frozen as she stared at his retreating figure, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Who the hell is this guy?" she muttered under her breath, frustration and curiosity evident in her tone. Who does he think he is? The audacity of him! He had no fear, no hesitation. He blocked her path, and dared to call her "missy" again. He even brushed shoulder against her's, pitching her aside. That guy definitely had nerves—nerves she was more than ready to break.

Pale face! What did he even mean by that? Was her face pale today?

Sarah touched her cheek and frowned. She had to find out who he was.

She stormed into the hall, and stopped at the first row by the door, where Big John and Chinonye were sitting.

"John!" she called, but Big John was still busy whispering something to Chinonye, who was smiling at whatever he was saying.

Sarah's patience snapped. "JOHN!" she yelled, slamming her palm onto his desk, startling both of them.

"Oh-oh! What’s going on now? Madam, what do you want?" Big John grumbled, looking up with a mix of irritation and confusion.

"Are you both deaf? What nonsense are you whispering about?" Sarah snapped.

"We’re discussing..." Big John started to explain, but he faltered under Sarah’s intense glare. He quickly shut his mouth.

Sarah’s eyes narrowed. "Who was that guy who just stepped out of this hall?" she asked.

Big John and Chinonye exchanged puzzled glances, clearly unsure of who she meant.

"What guy?" Chinonye asked.

"Light-skinned weirdo, with a full bushy hair and eyeglasses, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt," Sarah clarified, her impatience growing.

Big John immediately registered that she was talking about Alex. He was surprised she didn’t know him already. "You don’t know who he is?"

"Stop answering my questions with questions!" Sarah said impatiently.

Big John shrugged, unfazed by her tone. "His name’s Alex. He’s on transfer. Joined our class this session."

Sarah’s expression turned thoughtful. A transfer student? In third year? She remembered Chinonye mentioning a new transfer student, but she hadn’t paid much attention at the time.

“Why are you asking after him?” Big John asked, raising an eyebrow at Sarah.

“Uh... I haven’t seen him in this class before, so I was just curious...” Sarah replied, but her tone was flat, as if she were brushing off the question.

“And?” Big John prodded, sensing there was more behind her curiosity.

“And he’s very rude,” Sarah added, her lips curling into a mild frown.

Big John couldn’t help but shake his head. The queen of rudeness was calling someone else rude.

"How ironic," he thought, but also subconsciously muttered it under his breath.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sarah asked sharply, narrowing her eyes.

“Nothing,” he quickly responded. He turned his attention back to Chinonye, as if to continue their whispered conversation.

Sarah shot them both an irritated look before climbing towards her seat.

Big John must have said something wrong, because Chinonye suddenly frowned, slapped his arm off her shoulders, she pushed him away and stood up to leave.

“Sorry na,” Big John muttered, trying to grab her arm.

“Get out!” Chinonye snapped, her voice sharp as she marched up the aisle, leaving Big John behind. He watched her go, his face twisted in confusion.

She took a sit on the third row, next to Sarah, who was examining her face in a small square mirror.

“Nonye,” Sarah called, her voice a little softer now.

Chinonye turned, her brow furrowing. “Yes?”

“Does my face look pale?” Sarah asked, her eyes still on the mirror.

Chinonye blinked in surprise. “What? No, your face is glowing as always.” She studied Sarah for a moment, sensing something was off. “Did someone say your face was pale? Was it Alex?”

Sarah’s gaze lifted from the mirror to Chinonye, and for a split second, her expression seemed unreadable. “No, he wouldn’t dare say that to me. I just...” She trailed off, her frown deepening. “I feel a bit off today.”

Chinonye could see through the lie, but she chose not to press. Instead, she asked, “Have you taken any medication?”

Sarah nodded slowly, her fingers tapping absently on the table. “Yeah... I’ve taken some.”

Chinonye, sensing Sarah wasn’t ready to share more, let the conversation die there. She turned back to her phone, while Sarah remained quietly lost in her thought.

After a long silence, Sarah suddenly spoke again, breaking the silence.

“Why would you even think he would say that to me?” she asked out of nowhere, her voice low and filled with an unexpected edge.

Chinonye shifted her attention from her phone to Sarah, her expression thoughtful. “Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did,” she said, her voice lowering slightly. “Not after what happened to him because of you. The guy probably hates you a lot.”

Sarah furrowed her brows in confusion. She had no idea what Chinonye was talking about.

Chinonye caught the puzzled look on Sarah’s face and shrugged. “You still haven’t seen that video, huh?” She tapped on the school app while muttering under her breath, “This is why I always tell you to watch some of these videos. You never know when something’s important.”

She quickly searched for and found the video, then handed her phone to Sarah. “Here,” Chinonye said, her voice softening. “Watch this.”

Sarah took the phone, her curiosity piqued. As the video played, her eyes scanned the screen, her brows knitting together as the events of that day came rushing back to her. She remembered his face immediately. The weirdo. The naive-looking, smiling weirdo who had approached her in the canteen. She had brushed him off, thinking he was just another freshman trying his luck.

At the time, she hadn’t wanted to make a scene by calling her bodyguards, so she had told him to go away. She had then rested her head on the table, tuning out the world around her, focusing on TikTok videos instead. What she hadn’t realized was that he had stubbornly tried to sit with her. And her bodyguards had... well, embarrassed him.

The memory stirred something in Sarah, and her lips curled into a slight smirk. So that was why he was so angry with her. He must’ve felt humiliated. But how was any of that her fault?

She watched the video until it ended, then handed the phone back to Chinonye.

“Hmm,” Sarah mouthed with a straight face, her voice barely a whisper. “Well..." she paused. "...he deserved it.”

Chinonye looked at her with a small, knowing smile. She could tell that Sarah wasn’t bothered by the situation. "You really think so?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

Sarah didn’t respond immediately, but her gaze hardened. “He needs to know his place.” Her voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. “But If he thinks he can just talk or take out his frustration on me however he likes, then he’s in for a rude awakening."






*******
Alex lingered in the Library hall until the Librarian politely asked him to leave, as the Library closed at 4:00 PM. He had already texted Jimi, letting him know he had something important to take care of and that he shouldn’t wait up for him. As Alex stepped outside, he glanced around, then made his way to the back of the administrative block. He hung around there until 5:04 PM, before deciding to take a different route to the canteen.

When he entered the canteen hall, it was nearly empty. Lisa, who was behind the counter, spotted him immediately and flashed a cheerful smile. Alex returned the smile and walked up to the food counter.

"Hi, Alex! Good evening," Lisa greeted him warmly.

"Hey, Lisa," Alex replied.

"I thought your classes ended a few hours ago," Lisa said, her tone curious. "I saw your course-mates leaving the hall."

"Yeah, I just stayed behind to study," Alex answered casually. "Can I get something to eat?"

"Of course!" Lisa sang, her tone light and friendly. "What can I get for you?"

Alex, with a playful grin, replied in the same lighthearted tone, "Just give me my usual."

Lisa’s expression turned playful. "Well, your usual is no longer available," she said, teasing him.

Both of them burst into laughter at the exchange, but Alex’s smile faltered when he remembered what she had said.

"Wait," he said, his eyes widening in realization. "The basic pack isn’t available?"

She chuckled softly and nodded. "Sorry, the last one was bought about two hours ago."

Alex sighed, a little disappointed. "Okay, then, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow," he said, turning to leave.

"Wait!" Lisa called out, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "You can always get the special pack. It’s still available."

He shook his head. "I don’t think I can afford that," he said, his voice light but with a hint of reluctance.

"Well, I can give you a discount," She said, offering a smile.

"Really?" Alex raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Yeah!" Lisa grinned and began serving the food. She pack it in a takeaway container so he could take it home.

Just as she was finishing up, a handsome young man walked into the canteen. He was of average height, and had a rich, brown complexion. His smile faltered when he saw Alex standing at the counter, with Lisa smiling at him from across it.

Lisa's expression darkened when she saw him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked flatly.

The man ignored her question and pointed at Alex. "Who’s this guy?"

"None of your business," Lisa shot back, her tone cold.

"Is he the one you’re planning on replacing me with?" the man asked, his voice raised.

Before the situation could escalate, Alex quickly interjected, "Hey, I’m just a customer."

The man turned to him, his eyes narrowing. "Oga, I wasn’t talking to you. I’m talking to my girlfriend!" he snapped.

Alex raised his hands in surrender. "Cool, man." He step aside, deciding to mind his own business.

The young man turned to Lisa. "Babe, I said I'm sorry."

Lisa gave him a disgusted look. "Obinna, I’m not your girlfriend anymore. We broke up."

Obinna’s expression shifted to one of sadness. "Monalisa, please don’t say that. I still love you. I know I made mistakes, but why can’t you forgive me?"

Lisa shook her head, frustrated. "A mistake that happened two times, Obinna. You cheated on me twice with your bestie!"

"C'mon, we took a break after our heated quarrel. And Cassy was just there for me emotionally. She seduced me. And I know I'm a fool for falling, but I'm a changed man now."

"Well, good for you... and your bestie. Atleast you wouldn't end up cheating on her."

Alex stifled a laughter and Obinna shot him a hard glare.

Obinna stepped closer to Lisa, extending his hand over the counter to grab her wrist. "Baby, I’ve changed for real. I promise you, It’ll never happen again, I swear. I’m ready to wait for you, whenever you’re ready. I will do whatever you want."

Lisa pulled her wrist back, but Obinna's grip was firm. "Obinna, stop," she said, her voice wavering. "You’re hurting me."

Alex had initially decided to mind his own business, but he could no longer stand by when he saw Obinna physically restraining Lisa. He stepped forward and gripped Obinna’s arm.

“I think you should let her go now,” Alex said firmly.

Obinna spun around, his anger flaring. “Guy, how is this your business? I thought you were just here to buy food!”

“Well, I would’ve done that if you weren’t holding her wrist and stopping her from attending to me!” Alex shot back, his voice rising.

“Guy, I go change am for you, oh! I go just comot your teeth!” Obinna snarled, freeing Lisa’s wrist and stepping toward Alex.

It took Alex a moment to process what Obinna had said in pidgin, but once he understood, he didn’t hesitate to respond.

“I dare you to try,” he said, his voice cold, as he moved closer, still gripping Obinna’s arm.

Before things could escalate further, Lisa quickly intervened. She stepped through the counter door, putting herself between the two men.

“Alex, it’s okay. I can handle this,” she said, her tone steady but firm.

“Are you sure?” Alex asked, still glaring at Obinna.

“Yes, you don’t have to worry,” Lisa reassured him.

Obinna, still fuming, shot a glare at Lisa. “So, you even know his name?” he spat angrily. "I thought he said he is just a customer."

“He’s my friend!” Lisa retorted, glaring right back at Obinna.

With that, Lisa quickly walked back to the counter and handed Alex the takeaway pack of food. Alex reached for his wallet, intending to pay, but Lisa stopped him with a weak smile.

“It’s a 100% discount,” she said softly.

Alex hesitated, wanting to insist on paying, but before he could say anything, Obinna barked at him.

“Oga, get out already!”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Alex snapped back, facing Obinna again. "And you really need to mind the way you talk to people, Mr boyfriend."

Lisa, now visibly uncomfortable, urged him to leave. “Alex, please don’t mind him. Just go, we’ll see tomorrow.”

Alex nodded, taking the food and heading for the door. As he walked out, he heard Obinna’s voice behind him.

“We will meet again. No be this campus, I go deal with you.”

Alex walked toward his lecture hall, where he had parked his bicycle. He unchained it and attempted to wheel it off, but the bicycle dragged heavily over the rough ground. Frowning, he bent down to inspect the tires and saw that both of them were punctured—two large holes on each side.

A hiss of frustration escaped his lips. He already knew who was behind this. But how had they known it was his? He shrugged off the thought, unwilling to waste more time on it.

panpan:
Thank you for the update.
What is the "book keeping" by Big John all about?

Remember in chapter 2, when Alex went with Big John for clearance, the departmental official made mention of some text books that weren't available. That Alex should get it from Big John when it was ready.

tonystark007:
Remember in chapter 2, when Alex went with Big John for clearance, the departmental official made mention of some text books that weren't available. That Alex should get it from Big John when it was ready.

U go gimme discount?
I want to buy

annayawchee:
U go gimme discount?
I want to buy

😂😂 Clears throat

tonystark007:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hello,

My dear esteemed readers,

The digital copy of the Transfer Student is now available in PDF to be purchased.

For now, purchase can only be done directly, until the online version is ready.

You can contact me via:
Email: flaskblogexams@gmail.com

Whatsapp: 2347071062975 (nairaland dey filter WhatsApp link with regex?)

To get a copy for just #2000

Don't forget to like and share to invite more readers👍

As always, drop your comments, and opinions about the story so far.

Till then, stay tuned.

Great 👍.
The story is getting juicy

Please check your WhatsApp dm big man.

What I will say is, this story is worth every penny @Tonystark007 is selling it, gosh!





I’m coming back to drop my comment and reviews tho😉 make I go read am finish fess

Guys this story na bomb... The dramas you have seen so far is nothing compared to the ones loaded in the PDF copy. Support the writer and purchase the PDF you won't regret it.

Iseddy:
Guys this story na bomb... The dramas you have seen so far is nothing compared to the ones loaded in the PDF copy. Support the writer and purchase the PDF you won't regret it.

Thanks,

They haven't even seen half of it 😂😂

Na make I go buy the book remain like this...

But Alex is just making himself go deeper into dramas..

When is the next update?

Mrchux10:
When is the next update?

Thursday

tonystark007:
Thursday

I can't wait bro

Final Update:

This might be the last update here.

Just as always I will mention my people.

yungbanks, Jupitre, Ybbjune, panpan, repogirl, aurion1, Iseddy, DeltaBachelor, iamL, anjay1212, brightspecimen, Stephen0mozzy, pocohantas, OT2024, Divepen1, immanuelson, ifecodblissedboy, Echetex, nastynic, sal1974, Okeowonla, YoungBruzzy, truffle, alshalz, Maymac, ErnestD, Mrchux10, Frankcallys




CHAPTER 21
Thursday — 8:34AM
******

Alex arrived late to campus. As he hurried to the lecture hall, he noticed that the class for CSC 312 was already in session. He walked in and greeted the lecturer.

"Hey, you!" The lecturer called out.

Alex, already halfway up the aisle, stopped, turned, and glanced at the man. "Me?"

"Yes, you. Why did you greet me?" the lecturer asked.

Alex, taken aback, blinked. "Because... it's the right thing to do?" His reply came out more like a question than an answer.

The lecturer frowned. "No, it’s not. You don’t greet a lecturer when you’re late for class. What you did just now was a distraction to me. Next time, just quietly walk to your seat."

"Okay, sir," Alex replied politely, his face neutral as he continued to his seat. Every lecturer had their own style, he thought.

He glanced at Sarah as he walked past her seat. She was fully engrossed in the lecture, not even noticing him.

"What happened? Why weren’t you in school yesterday?" Jimi whispered as soon as Alex sat down beside him.

"I had to take care of something important," Alex replied, keeping his voice low.

"What about Tuesday? You first said you were going to the canteen, then you texted that you had something important to do, but I saw your bicycle chained to the pillar when I was leaving the hall," Jimi pressed, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I forgot about it, but I came back for it later," Alex replied, shrugging.

Jimi gave him a look of disbelief, not fully buying the story.

****** 11:27 PM ******
The lecture hall buzzed with low chatter as Professor Adeyemi paced slowly across the front of the room, gesturing animatedly as he spoke. The course was CSC 314, and the topic, Software Architecture: Separation of Concerns. Today’s class was unusually interactive—students volleyed questions, and the professor responded with patient enthusiasm.

Then he paused, turned toward the lectern, and tapped his marker against it thoughtfully.
"Alright, great questions so far,” he said slowly, voice rising above the murmurs. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he face the students. "Now, let me throw one at you.”

The room immediately fell into silent.

The Professor grinned before speaking again. "What are the core or fundamental principles of 'Separation of Concerns’ – And why is it fundamental in software architecture?"

Heads turned. Pens froze mid-scribble. A few students glanced at each other, unsure whether to risk it. Most of the students avoided eye contact with the lecturer completely. But no hands went up.

Then, from the third row, Sarah raised her hand.

Professor Adeyemi nodded. “Go ahead, please.”

She stood with quite confidence, her posture poised, voice crisp. “Separation of concerns refers to the process of segmenting a software system into distinct sections, each addressing a separate functionality. It enhances modularity and allows for parallel development. For example, the data access layer should not interfere with the presentation layer. This principle is often enforced through design patterns like MVC and dependency injection frameworks…”

She continued, weaving in terms like cross-cutting concerns, encapsulation, and aspect-oriented programming. Her tone was confident, and a few students nodded in understanding, but some others exchanged confused glances as they were visibly lost.

Professor Adeyemi gave a brief smile. “You’re on point. Very technical and detailed. But... not quite what I was hoping to hear.”

Sarah blinked, her expression tightening slightly.

Then a hand rose from the far back of the hall.

“Yes, you want to help us out?” the professor asked.

All heads slowly turned towards the back as Alex stood, eyes calm and clear.

“Please, go on,” the professor encouraged, waving him on.

Alex spoke, his voice casual. “Basically, Separation of concerns is like organizing your life. You don’t mix your laundry with your groceries, right? In software, it means keeping different parts of the system focused on one job. The UI handles how things look, the logic handles decisions, and the database handles storage. When you mix them up, it’s harder to fix bugs or make changes. With Separation of Concerns, developers, designers, marketers and product teams can focus on one significant part without breaking the whole system...”

He paused, then added, “Also, my course mate just mentioned aspect-oriented programming, but that’s more about handling cross-cutting concerns like logging or security—not the core idea of separating responsibilities.”

A ripple of understanding passed through the room. A few students nodded. One even whispered, “That makes sense now.”

“Excellent,” Professor Adeyemi beamed, clearly pleased. A spontaneous round of applause followed.

Sarah’s expression turned icy, clearly not pleased to be overshadowed or corrected, especially by someone she openly disliked. She remained standing.

“Sir," she said, her voice composed, chin lifted slightly, as she addressed the professor. "What he just said was a simplified analogy or example of the subject. And while I may have expanded beyond the core of the question, my reference to aspect-oriented programming still aligns with the broader principle of separation of concerns. It’s a valid architectural strategy used to isolate cross-cutting functionalities, which supports modularity and maintainability. So I believe I was still on point.”

The professor, and a few students, including Jimi nodded in agreement.

But Alex wasn't done yet.

He spoke again from behind, his voice calm but firm. He was addressing Sarah directly this time.

“You are right, but that’s true only in theory. Aspect-oriented programming deals with the techniques used to implement SoC—not the foundational separation of responsibilities between layers. It’s a refinement, not the core. The question was about the fundamentals, not the exceptions. My explanation was meant to make the concept clearer—and to correct a few things you said that weren’t... quite accurate.”

The room stirred again. A few students murmured. The Professor grinned.

Sarah’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a firm, unimpressed line. Slowly, she turned backwards to face Alex, her voice cool and deliberate.

“I don’t recall inviting your commentary,” she said. “Or asking for your corrections.”

Alex gave a nonchalant shrug. “Didn’t realize I needed your invitation to speak.”

“You don’t,” Sarah replied, her tone clipped. “But basic courtesy is usually a sign of being civilized and raised well. Should we discuss that instead?”

A few chuckles rippled through the room—low, knowing. No one was surprised. This was typical Sarah.

Alex didn’t flinch. He glanced around, then back at her. “It’s an interactive class. Everyone’s allowed to speak. And frankly?” He paused. “Most of us had no idea what you were talking about.”

Sarah's eyes narrowed. “So now you think you speak for everyone?”

“No,” he replied, “but I’m pretty sure most people here would agree my explanation was easier to grasp.”

“Maybe. I wouldn't argue that," She retorted sarcastically. "But if you wanted to prove you’re so egg-headed, why didn’t you answer first?”

Alex matched her gaze, his voice laced with sarcasm. “You didn't give me the chance, since you're always too quick to speak..." He paused. "...before thinking.”

Sarah scoffed, slightly taken-aback by the audacity. “Are you trying to start something?”

A low howl of amusement rippled through the hall again. A few students exchanged wide-eyed glances, soft chuckles, murmuring, and even nods of agreement. The tension was electric.

Professor Adeyemi raised his hand. “Alright, enough,” he said, chuckling. “In an exam, both of you would score the same. But what matters more is understanding and implementation. That’s the heart of software architecture.”

He turned to the class. “Let’s applaud both of them.”

Even though the room erupted in polite applaud, Sarah and Alex still had their eyes locked in a cold stare.

Sarah sat down stiffly, her eyes still locked on Alex.

“That jerk is seriously asking for trouble,” she muttered under her breath.

******

After the class, Big John and Chinonye took the podium to address the students.

"As we all know," Big John began, his tone turning serious. "Our class has made it to the Semi-finals of the AUST Community Competition. And as fate would have it, we’ll be facing the 300-level Geophysics students..." Some of the male students grumbled at the mention of Geophysics.

"Please, decorum!" Big John shouted, his voice commanding silence. He gave them a moment to settle before continuing. "I know many of you may have lost hope in the competition. But I’m telling you, we can still win. Remember, the grand prize is 200,000 naira! So let’s not take this lightly. I want all of us to show full support, whether you're playing or not. Our female students, I know some of you aren’t into football, but please, come tomorrow and cheer the guys on. Thank you."

Chinonye took the podium next. "I would like to inform everyone that the lecturer for CSC 319: Software Application and Product Management has announced that we’ll be doing a group presentation next Thursday. There will be a 10:00 AM class on Monday, and all the details about the presentation will be provided by the lecturer then, so please make sure to be in class as attendance is strictly mandatory." She paused, making sure everyone was paying attention. "Also, for those of you who weren’t in class yesterday to collect your marked GSE assignment scripts, you can come now to get them. And please note that the marks have been recorded as part of your Continuous Assessment."

“They actually marked and returned the scripts?” Alex asked Jimi, his eyes wide with surprise.

“I was just as shocked as you. They even added remarks on some of the scripts,” Jimi replied.

After the announcement, most of the students filed out of the hall, but those who hadn’t collected their scripts—Alex included—headed toward the front row, clustering around Chinonye. She called out names and handed out the scripts to those who signaled.

When Chinonye called Alex’s name, a short, fair-skinned guy stepped forward to collect the script. But Alex quickly snatched it from his hands, giving the guy a stern look before walking away. He glanced at the score, hissed in frustration, and folded the paper, slipping it into his jeans pocket.

He walked over to Jimi, Sam, and Kobiruo, who were waiting for him. As he reached them, Jimi asked with a grin, “So, what did you score?”

Alex handed over the script without saying a word. Jimi unfolded it and stared at the red-inked score: 6—and a remark beneath it: "Please improve on your writing." Jimi couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Bro, I’ve told you before, your handwriting looks like a signature, and it’s so tiny,” Jimi teased. Alex hissed in response, clearly annoyed.

“The funniest part is that I scored an 8, and Kobiruo and Sam—who both copied from my script—got 10,” Jimi added, shaking his head in disbelief. Sam and Kobiruo laughed, clearly pleased with their scores.

“Guy, everything na grace,” Kobiruo said with a grin.

Just then, Alex heard someone calling his name from behind. He turned to see the short, fair guy from earlier. Sam, Kobiruo, and Jimi exchanged confused glances as the guy approached.

“Hey Alex, what was your score?” the guy asked, his tone casual.

Alex gave him a puzzled look before answering, “Six?”

“Oh! Okay, see you then,” the guy replied, smiling widely as he walked off, looking like he’d just hit the jackpot.

“Is it just me, or is that guy really awkward?” Alex asked, raising an eyebrow. The trio burst into laughter.

“That’s Kennedy,” Jimi explained. “He’s one of those overly intelligent students who thinks every other smart person in the class is his competition.”

Alex chuckled. “How does he even know if I’m intelligent or not?”

“The guy’s crazy,” Sam chimed in. “He can smell intelligence from miles away. I heard he scored an eight—that’s why he was so happy when you told him you got a six.”

“Don’t mind him,” Kobiruo added, shaking his head. “He still thinks we’re in primary school, where students are ranked by position. The guy wan carry first for university.”

They all burst into laughter.

Alex shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t believe there were still people like that in the university.

After the conversation died down, Sam and Kobiruo left to head for their training match in preparation for tomorrow’s competition, while Alex and Jimi began walking toward Alex’s place.

"What was that all about in class today?" Jimi asked. "Why pick a fight with the Ice Queen?"

Alex scoffed. "I wasn’t trying to start a fight. I just wanted to correct a misinformation."

Jimi raised a brow, unconvinced.

Alex added, "I know you probably don’t believe me, but honestly, I can’t sit back when someone says something wrong. It’s instinct. I have to correct it—it’s just who I am."

Jimi nodded slowly. "Maybe you’re telling the truth. But the rest of the class saw what happened today as an indirect confrontation. In fact, as we speak, that’s the hot topic on the class group in the campus forum. A lot of them think you’re trying to stir up trouble. One person even commented, 'You should be careful who you make your enemy.' My advice? Let it go, bro."

Alex hissed. "Why does everything in that class have to revolve around her? I’m not picking a fight. She threw the first jab—what was I supposed to do, stand there like a fool?"

"Saying nothing doesn’t make you a fool. Sometimes it means you’re wise."

"Or maybe just scared."

"Alex, look, most people—especially the guys—aren’t scared of Sarah. We just want to avoid trouble. Silence keeps things peaceful. Otherwise, you end up with a story that rarely have a happy ending."

"Whatever," Alex muttered.

Jimi chuckled softly. “Anyways, where’s your bicycle?” Jimi asked as they walked.

“I didn’t bring it,” Alex replied nonchalantly.

“So, we’re trekking again today... and always?” Jimi asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alex smirked. “If you don’t want to trek, we can go back to the library now.”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine with trekking. It’s good exercise, after all,” Jimi said, and they both shared a laugh.

*******
"Rose, there's a female student looking for you outside," a fellow course-mate called out.

"Who?" Rose asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"I don't know. She’s waiting for you at the entrance," he replied.

Curious, Rose stood up and made her way to the entrance of the hall. Her expression shifted to one of irritation when she saw who it was.

"Hello, my very unfriendly friend," Charming greeted, flashing his usual charming smile.

"Really? A female student? I should've known better," Rose responded, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"I’m—"

"Please, Oga, what do you want?" Rose interrupted, clearly frustrated. "I was busy when you decided to disturb me."

Charming hesitated, but then said, "Okay, hmmm, I wanted to invite you and your friends to our semi-finals match tomorrow."

Rose stared at him as though he’d just asked her to jump into a volcano. "You came all the way from the College of Science just to invite me to a match? Does that even make sense to you? So, you expect me to walk all the way from here to the Sports Complex just because I’ve never watched a football match before, right?"

"No, I didn’t mean it that way—"

"It’s okay," Rose cut him off. "You don’t need to explain yourself. I’m not interested."

Just then, one of her friends stepped out of the hall and walked over to them. She greeted Charming enthusiastically, and he returned the greeting casually.

Rose turned to her friend and said with a sly smile, "Oh, Bridget, Mr. Charms here was asking if you’d like to go watch their match with him tomorrow." She gave Charming a pointed look before excusing herself and heading back into the hall, leaving him with Bridget.

Bridget’s eyes lit up. "I would love to!" she said cheerfully, her gaze fixed on Charming.

Charming, trying to suppress his disappointment, forced a smile. "The match is at 3:00 PM. See you there, bye." He quickly excused himself and walked away.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to check the screen. The caller ID read, 'Bisi'. He let out a frustrated hiss, switched the phone to airplane mode, and stuffed it back in his pocket.