It started subtly.
A daily good morning text from Derrick.
A shared plate of jollof rice during study breaks.
A casual, "Did you eat today?" that became more consistent than her alarm clock.
By the end of the week, Eliana couldn't deny it—she was talking to Derrick.
Not officially dating. Not yet. But there were long chats at night about her dreams, her frustrations, and even the little things—like how she loved rainy nights or why she hated the sound of chalk on a blackboard.
Derrick listened.
Really listened.
That weekend, he showed up at her doorstep with a small paper bag.
"For you," he said with a proud grin.
Eliana blinked, surprised. "What's this?"
"Something you mentioned craving two nights ago. You probably forgot."
She opened the bag. Inside was a steaming pack of puff-puff from the exact roadside seller she'd gushed about days before.
She chuckled, genuinely touched. "You actually went there?"
"I did. Waited in line like a soldier. Got into a mini-fight with a man who tried to jump queue, but I prevailed."
Eliana laughed—harder than she had in days. "You're crazy."
"And you're worth a little crazy," he said, casually, like it wasn't a line but the truth.
From that moment, the vibe between them shifted. They still studied together, but now Derrick would lean closer when explaining formulas, teasing her when she got answers wrong, celebrating when she got them right.
He'd offer her rides after classes, slipping small things into her bag when she wasn't looking—packs of chin chin, new pens, cute sticky notes with motivational quotes.
And Eliana?
She started smiling again. Laughing more. She still hadn't heard from Mae, and while a small part of her still checked her messages, the ache was duller now.
One afternoon, while walking home after a tutorial session, Derrick gently took her hand.
She didn't pull away.
Instead, she glanced at him and asked quietly, "Why are you doing all this?"
He shrugged, slowing his steps. "Because I like you. Because you deserve to be reminded that you're special, even when life doesn't make it easy to believe."
She paused. Then added softly, "I've been hurt before. I'm not trying to be difficult. I just… don't want to be played again."
Derrick nodded with understanding. "Then let's take it slow. No pressure. No games."
The sun cast a soft golden hue over the quiet street. Eliana felt her heart flutter—a different kind of warmth than what she had once felt around Mae. It wasn't thrilling or mysterious.
It was safe. Honest.
And right now, that felt more valuable than anything else.
Meanwhile…
From the rooftop of the Business Admin building, Mae stood, staring down at the campus grounds. His eyes followed the familiar bounce of Eliana's curls as she walked beside Derrick, laughing at something he said.
She looked… happy.
And it stung more than he expected.
He scoffed, turning away.
She could've texted again.
She could've tried harder.
At least, that's what he told himself.
But for the first time in a long while, Mae didn't feel in control.