Little Do You Know

11. BETWEEN THE LINES

The days had started blending into each other, a routine of lectures, rushed meals, and stolen moments of laughter. The birthday party felt like a distant memory now, though Kayode never let me forget it. If he wasn't reminding me how I "abandoned" him at the party, he was throwing in random complaints about how I never gave him attention.

Unfortunately for me, he had found a new hobby—bonding with Enny.

It started subtly. A few extra greetings here and there. Then casual side conversations. Now? Now, they were practically speaking in their own language, leaving me stuck in between, wondering when this friendship blossomed without my knowledge. It didn't help that Kayode still found a way to be a menace in my life, despite his new attachment to Enny.

****
The morning sun bore down on the campus, unforgiving in its heat. I squinted at my phone screen as I made my way to the lecture hall, wiping sweat from my forehead.

"We're meeting at the usual spot after class," Alex had texted.

I rolled my eyes. Of course, His Majesty didn't even bother with greetings. Just straight to the point.

I arrived at the lecture hall, slipping through the door just as the professor turned to face the class. The hall was the same as ever—blinding white walls, rows of brown wooden seats, a projector screen hanging lazily at the front, and a few whirring fans struggling against the heat. The windows were open, but all they invited in was more hot air and the occasional noise from students outside.

I scanned the room for my usual spot beside Enny.

But she wasn't there.

Instead, she sat two seats away, deep in conversation with Kemi. My brows furrowed. She could have at least left a space for me, right? It wasn't like we fought or anything.

I sighed, dropping into an empty seat near the aisle. Kayode, the ever-persistent disturbance in my life, slid into the seat beside me with a grin.

"Ah, finally, I have you to myself," he said dramatically.

I shot him a look. "What do you want, Kay?"

He gasped. "Wow. Is that how you greet your dear friend?"

I ignored him, pulling out my notebook. The lecturer was already speaking, her voice filling the room.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Alex sitting at the back, his usual brooding self, his arms folded as he stared blankly at the board. As if he felt my gaze, his eyes flickered in my direction for a split second before returning to his notes.

The lecture dragged on. At some point, my mind wandered.

Why was Enny avoiding me? Was she upset about something?

I glanced at her again, but she seemed engrossed in whatever Kemi was saying. Something was definitely off.

I would ask her later. When the class was over,
I met at Alex at the usual spot—a small, quiet study area tucked away behind the science block where we've been meeting lately.
It was a shaded space with wooden benches and an old whiteboard, often ignored by students except for those who needed a peaceful place to work.

Alex was already there when I arrived, his notes spread out in front of him.

"Pangolins," he said without looking up.

I raised a brow, dropping my bag. "Good to see you too, Alex.

His lips twitched slightly, the closest thing to amusement I had ever seen on his face. Progress? Maybe.

"Here," he said, pushing some pages toward me. "I restructured our findings. The professor is going to want clear, concise points."

I skimmed through the notes. He was annoyingly good at this.