"LOOK AT YOUR boyfriend," Temi said from beside Nora, prompting her to turn and see who it was. It was Yinka, or Yinks as he called himself, strutting into the classroom like he owned the place while others laughed at his antics.

Nora playfully hit Temi on the arm, causing her to whine. "You're very stupid," she replied, which only made Temi laugh harder. Nora couldn't stand loud and obnoxious people like Yinks, who tried far too hard to be funny.

Temi and Nora had bonded over their shared dislike for him during their first year, and even in their second year, those feelings remained strong. Nora often wondered why people found his boring jokes amusing.

Temi was Nora's departmental friend. They sat together in class all the time, and sometimes they even went to Relish together. They shared many inside jokes, and Nora appreciated Temi's ability to relate to humor effortlessly.

When the lecturer entered the classroom, a hush fell over the students. Spotting him, both girls quickly covered their mouths to suppress their laughter. The man's sense of style was out of this world, and it only got worse when he spoke.

Nora occasionally felt a pang of guilt for the way the class laughed at him, especially Temi and herself. However, the situation was simply too hilarious to ignore. She elbowed Temi, warning her to quiet down, but Temi had a knack for extending her laughter far longer than appropriate. On several occasions, Temi had been sent out of class for her laughter, and Nora had found herself being sent out with her a few times.

"I'm just... I'm ju–bhueee heee," Temi managed to say between fits of laughter, resting her head on the desk to avoid drawing the lecturer's attention.

Nora endured her for two hours, and when the class finally ended, her stomach growled in protest. "Relish?" Temi asked, a hopeful glint in her eyes, and Nora smiled as she linked her arm with hers. "Yeah, baby."

They walked the short distance to Relish, and Nora inhaled the myriads of delicious aromas wafting through the air. Her hunger drove her to order pounded yam and vegetable soup, while Temi opted for rice and two pieces of chicken.

"Another day closer to becoming a chicken. You can do it, girl," Nora teased, making Temi laugh. She often joked that if Temi didn't cut back on her chicken consumption, she would eventually turn into one. "Whenever I see a chicken anywhere, do you know who I think about?"

Temi's laughter rang out loudly, drawing the attention of nearby diners before they returned to their meals, conversations, or the TV screen above. Just then, movement at the door caught Nora's eye. She turned to see Graig entering first, followed closely by Nate—and wait, it wasn't Dave with him; it was a girl. Nora's gaze sharpened as she fixed her glare on Nate, hoping he would sense her annoyance. But he didn't; he walked past her without a glance as they made their way to their table.

Nora frowned, turning back to her food in an attempt to focus on what Temi was laughing about now. However, her concentration slipped as she caught sight of the girl seated beside Nate, with Graig sitting opposite them. The knot of jealousy tightened in her stomach as she struggled to push the unwelcome thoughts aside.

"When will you stop glaring at the poor guy?" Temi asked, her voice teasing as she observed Nora's unwavering focus on Nate. Nora responded with a dramatic eye roll, knowing full well that Temi was one of his many fangirls.

Nate and the girl shared animated conversation, punctuated by her laughter, while he simply smirked in return. Was that his girlfriend? Surely, she would know if he had a girlfriend; after all, he was one of the most talked-about guys on campus.

Nora's glare intensified, fueled by jealousy. She hoped he would look over, but he didn't spare her a glance. She tried to convince herself that it didn't matter whether the girl was his girlfriend or not; she didn't give a flying fuck about who he dated or ate with. He could kiss her right then and there, and she still wouldn't care. But couldn't he at least wave, smile, or even acknowledge her presence for once? It wasn't like she expected him to come over or anything.

What did she expect? That they'd be friends? Yeah, right! Just because he had sat at her table a couple of times and dropped her off at her hostel—before kicking her out of his car—didn't mean he'd suddenly care about her. Or that he liked her? Puh-lease!

"Nor, you're not eating your food. You keep glaring at this guy. I know you don't like him, but spare him the dagger stare. He doesn't even know you exist," Temi pointed out, shaking her head in exasperation.

Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped as she stared at Temi, as if she had just announced that she killed Plush, her beloved dog. Nora couldn't blame Temi for her comment; she hadn't mentioned that she and Nate had talked. Still, it felt harsh, like a punch to the gut.

Temi was wrong, though. Nate knew she existed; he simply didn't care about her existence. Admitting that hurt—a little? Who was she kidding? The fact that he was seated just across the room and didn't even acknowledge her was painful.

They were barely acquaintances, yet disappointment washed over her. Perhaps it was because she hadn't had the chance to let him know that she was mad at him. Yes, that had to be it. She hated his guts, remember? She couldn't even stand the guy. Watching him smile and chat made her want to vomit.

Graig glanced her way and smiled, but she quickly looked away. If he was smart—which she really doubted—he would get the message.

Temi began laughing at something only she understood, and Nora joined in, laughing loudly for the entire room to hear. Only then did Nate glance her way. She made sure to give him the iciest look she could muster, but he seemed unaffected, simply returning to the conversation he was having with the girl beside him.

What!?

***

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