Saturday finally comes after dealing with tests during the week. I spent most of my free time with Scott studying hard for them while Karen and I barely see each other.

It was test period and distraction is the last thing she would wish for likewise me because I can't imagine having an extra year. I do not pray for such a thing.

That was the reason I put my game aside and focused on passing my tests. It had been a stressful week, studying until daybreak.

There was a time I had two papers, the other third-year course I carried over, and one of my final-year courses on the same day. Thankfully It was not fixed at the same time.

It's now over as I am leaving the hall after submitting my last test. The only thing that could make me study the way I did this week is when preparing for my final exam.

I got outside to observe the solar noon which is right above me at the farthest distance. I dare not stare at it for more than a second.

I look around for Scott who is leaning on my bike before approaching him. He had left the hall before I did.

"Hey, how was the test," I ask as I move close to him. He raises his head to look at me.

"Fine, I'm glad we are done with it," He answers with a smile. This makes me think if anyone likes writing an exam or test no matter how brilliant the person is.

"Sure," I agree with him.

"There is this game I just discover on my PS 5, we should try it," He suggests.

"I have to go home," I say.

"Why? We should have some fun," He lets out, reading my face while I am just staring into nothing less. I don't know if I should tell him the truth about wanting to meet Karen.

"Wait, do not tell me you are hanging out with his girl again," He guesses with a sneering face. I give him a look, gesturing a yes and he shakes his head in disappointment.

"And you said you do not like her," He bursts out and I can see how mad he is.

"Of course," I reply and he scoffs.

"But you keep spending more time with her except this week that you had to study with me," He retorts and I let out a sigh. Why would he even be angry or jealous? He has friends in his dorm who he can play the PS5 with.

"I'm just trying to play my game," I say reasonably, he nods okay.

"Of course, I can see that," He replies sarcastically. "Just give me a ride to my hostel," He adds. We both climb on the bike one after the other and I start the engine.

"Are you even seeing anyone else since you started this so-called game?" He asks as I am whizzing down in the direction of the main gate

Exactly what Tracy asked me.

"You know I can't," I answer.

"Hmm," That is only what he can say and I chuckle in disbelief. All I just need is to be quick with it so that they can see that I am still me. I do not fall in love.

*********
Getting home, I stop by the kitchen to see Karen already gathering some ingredients on the table. We had planned on making Nigerian pancakes this afternoon and I can't wait to get started.

She is not wearing her toque this time and I can see she has styled her natural hair into spiced-up space buns. Damn! The hairstyle wholly suits her and she looks extraordinary.

"Hey, how was your test?" She lets out the moment she lay her eyes on me.

Her dazzling smile is having a spectacular effect on me to kiss her as I am walking towards her.

"You are so beautiful," I commend from the depth of my heart which has been melted by her beauty.

"Thanks," She blushes. Now it's just a distance between us while I look deeply into her eyes. "But that was not the answer to the question I asked." She adds and I gulp as I take my eyes off her so as not to be distracted again.

"Of course," I retort, clearing my throat. "The test was okay. I'm finally done with them."

"Wow! That's great," She says, turning around, we both facing the table. I can see a half crate of eggs, carrots, a bowl of flour, red and green peppers, and so on.

"What about you?" I asked.

"I have one left but no one knows the date," She answers me. I could relate to what she is trying to say, I have even experienced such on Thursday.

Some lecturers would never tell you the date of their test. You will just attend the normal lecture and everyone will be shocked when asked to get ready for the test.

I do wonder if these professors want their students to fail because how could you pass a test you are not prepared for? It hardly for students to study what they are being taught in class unless tests or examinations are quite ahead of them.

"That means you shouldn't skip any of his classes till you write the test," I suggest.

"Exactly," She smiles. "Now back to why we are here," She adds, glancing at me.

"Go on master," I tease and she chuckles, shaking her head in disbelief. She hands me the Maggi apron I wore that night we prepared boiled plantain and bitter leaf soup.

I put on the apron and she asks me to sift the flour while she goes to wash the veggies and comes back beside me to dice them.

Standing still with the bowl of flour and a sifter in front of me, I can't help but watch her dicing the veggies. She is so perfect with it, her eyes focus on them.

I notice I do feel different whenever I'm with her and this makes me want to always be with her.

"Are you sure you want to learn how to make this or learn my face," She breaks the silence, and I snap out of my thought.

"Both," I answer and I begin to sift the flour.

"You can't learn both at the same time, so you need to focus on the pancakes first," She lectures.

"I don't know how to focus, baby, teach me how to," I sing in my high tone to sound like Tatiana Manaois.

She bursts out laughing while I know she is making fun of me trying to sing in a high pitch.

"Is it that bad?" I ask in my normal deep voice.

"Very bad," She replies without hesitation and I roll my eyes.

"So tell me, why do you choose to study business admin?" She inquires in concern.

"It's my parents' idea, my father particularly. He wants me to follow in his footsteps, in politics and business," I explain and her brows raised in concern.

"That is not what you want," She furrows her brows to say that.

"Sure, but what is the point when they do not believe in what I love doing?" I express and she lets out a deep sigh.

"Well I believe in you," She says clearly and calmly. I look into her eyes which meet her gaze. I wonder if she even knows what I love doing.

"I could see a great coach, instructor, or trainer that day at the gym. You are so good at it," She adds and I scoff a little.

I can't believe she gets exactly what I was trying to bring out. She is the first person to say this to me other than my boss Michael. Even Scott wants me to do as my dad says.

He would say whenever I complain. Guy, face this course and graduate for once. I'm sure a job position awaited you in your dad's hotel & suite, what about him showing you the ways to real estate and other businesses, even politics?

"You do believe me in?" I say.

"Of course,"

"So are you saying I should drop out?" I tease and she chuckles a little.

"No knowledge is a waste," She implores. "Graduate with the degree, then you figure out what next to do, something you love and will always make you happy,"

"Hmm, I'm lucky to have you," That is all I can say.

"You can say that again," She replies, smiling.

"Even though I went to an extreme length to get you," I reply recalling how she turned me down and made me drunk and apologized for my action, how she hit me, how I went to her neighborhood and convinced her to take her job back. Something I have never done before till I met her.

Ladies do approach me and not the other way round, but the reverse is the case with her.

"Something good does not come easily," She justifies.

"Where did you get that from?" I inquire and she laughs.

At this moment I'm done sifting the flours while she is done dicing the veggies. I request to allow me to do the remaining processes while she watches and directs me.

As instructed by her, I begin to break open some eggs into the bowl. I whisk them until it foamy before adding a tin of evaporated milk, water, and the diced veggies.

I add the dry ingredients which include 1/4 teaspoon of salts, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 leveled tablespoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg to the flour. I stir them together before adding them to the egg mixture till the flour mixture dissolves completely, then I add some water to run it consistency.

I veer to the stove to turn it on, placing a frying pan on it. I add a little vegetable oil to the pan and leave it to heat before adding some little batter to it at a time. I move the pan to make the batter go around the pan and it starts to pop up.

Not sticky underneath, I flip to the other side and remove it after some minutes. I admit cooking is so much fun.

We take some bites one after the other.

"Hmm, yummy," She reacts and I nod in agreement. She moves away from me and comes back to rub some baking powder all over my face.

"Why this?" I react, closing my eyes.

"Congratulations on making your first pancake," She answers, grinning. I shake my head in disbelief and I reach for her arm, holding firm to get the baking powder from her.

Right in my arms, I finally snatch the tin away from her and rub some on her face too, not releasing her as she is trying to let go of herself.

"Thanks for teaching me how to make pancakes," I back up and we both giggle.

Someone's clearing throat draws our attention and I gently let go of Karen while we both turn around to see the HM standing still in the kitchen entrance with her arms folded around her chest. Her brows are full of uncertainty.

"How long have you been standing there?" I inquire in confusion.

"Long enough," She answers briefly. Karen and I both look into each other's eyes in shock.

" Before stressing myself to talk about you guys wasting the baking powder, I would like to have some pancakes," She adds.

"Sure, give us some moment," I reply and she starts leaving our presence. I look at Karen and it meets her gaze, we suddenly burst out laughing for no reason.