He will not try anything with you

He will not try anything with you
Chaka could not take his eyes off the girl sitting in the corner. The same girl Alvero had just pulled away from the seat beside him. Alvero caught him looking and gave him a look that carried warning. Chaka only smiled and let out a short breath. Why did Alvero look annoyed? Carissa was just his friend.

“Why are you sitting here, Ka? Where is Carissa?” Dinne asked as she walked over, scratching the side of her head. She looked confused seeing her seat taken.

Chaka tilted his chin toward Carissa. She was now talking with Frisco, her lips curved into a wide smile like something funny had just been said. That guy had managed to change her quiet face into something bright. Chaka found himself watching her longer than he should. Her smile kept pulling his attention.

“Why did she move?” Dinne asked again as she sat beside him and picked up her iced coffee.

“Alvero told her to move,” Chaka replied before bringing the cigarette between his fingers to his lips. “Are they dating?” he added while letting the smoke leave his mouth.

Dinne followed his gaze. “They say they are not, but it does not look like that,” she said.

Chaka gave a small nod. The way Alvero looked at Carissa and acted around her felt different. Anyone could see it.

“Help me get close to Carissa, Nne,” Chaka said.

Dinne turned to him right away, eyes wide. “Ka?” she said, not believing what she heard. Then she suddenly stood up and shouted, “CarissaAA! CHAKA WANTS TO…”

Before she could finish, Chaka covered her mouth and pushed her back into her seat.

“That is not how you do it, Dinne. Are you stupid?” he said under his breath, his hand still holding her jaw before letting go.

Dinne wiped her lips with a disgusted look. “Then how? Carissa is literally looking for a boyfriend right now, and you are right here offering yourself.”

One of Chaka’s brows lifted. “Are you sure she is not with Al?” he asked again. He still did not believe they were just friends.

“If she was really with Al, she would not be looking for a boyfriend,” Dinne said.

Chaka nodded slowly. He took another drag from his cigarette, then pressed the end against the ashtray before dropping it inside.

“I am going to the toilet,” he said as he got up and walked away.

“Mahen,” Dinne called.

Mahen was still focused on the brown guitar resting on his lap. “Damn, I forgot a lot,” he muttered in frustration as he strummed it, then looked up. “What is it, Nne?”

Dinne leaned forward, folding her arms on the table. “Between Jeffrey and Chaka, who changes girls more often?”

Mahen paused, thinking, his eyes shifting toward Jeffrey, who was busy with his phone. His earphones were in, and he looked serious, probably playing a game.

Even though they were from different majors and years, they were in the same circle. That was why Dinne asked Mahen about Chaka.

“Chaka is loyal, as long as his girl is loyal too,” Dio said suddenly.

Dinne turned to him. There was always something distant about him.

“Tell your friend that if she is only looking to play around, she should not go for Chaka. He takes things seriously,” Dio added.

Dinne frowned slightly.

“Jamal is also a good boy. His mother does not allow him to date. But his mouth can be a bit harsh because of Bima,” Mahen added.

“Fuck, what the… What the hell…?” Jeffrey suddenly cursed, throwing his phone and earphones onto the table.

Everyone looked at him.

“Why are you all staring at me?” he asked.

“Your mom is calling,” Mahen said, pointing at the phone. The screen showed an incoming call from “My Lovely Mom” with a red heart emoji.

Jeffrey’s eyes widened. He grabbed his phone and quickly answered. “Peace be upon you, Mom. Sorry, it is noisy here. I am at a religious gathering.”



“I will call Jovan so he can take you home. I will go to the workshop,” Alvero said when he saw both his tires flat, pierced by a large nail. Someone clearly had a problem with him.

“I can wait with you at the workshop, Al,” Carissa said as she pulled her sweater closer around her body. The night air felt cold against her skin.

Alvero shook his head while looking at his phone. “No. You will get home too late,” he said.

“What is going on?” Chaka walked over, looking at both of them.

“My bike tires are flat,” Alvero answered.

Chaka scratched the back of his neck. “I want to help push it, but I came with my car,” he said.

Alvero let out a small laugh and tapped his shoulder. “It is fine. You can go.”

Chaka nodded and was about to leave, but then he noticed Carissa holding her sweater tighter.

“You are going home with Al?” he asked.

Carissa looked around for a second before realizing the question was meant for her. “Oh… yes. I am with Al,” she said softly, giving a small smile.

Chaka went quiet for a second. Her smile pulled him in again. He cleared his throat and glanced at his watch. “It is late. I can take you home instead,” he said, taking the chance he had already planned.

Because he was the one who put that nail in Alvero’s tires.

Carissa looked at Alvero, asking for his opinion.

“I do not know…” she said. She did not want to accept, but refusing also felt awkward. She was still annoyed with how he acted earlier.

Alvero let out a long breath. “It is fine, Car. Go with Chaka. Jovan is not answering his phone.”

“Come on, just go with me,” Chaka said as he grabbed her wrist.

Carissa paused, then tried to pull away, but his grip was strong.

“But, Al..” she tried to protest. She did not want to go with that annoying guy.

Alvero stepped closer and held her shoulders. “Chaka is a good guy. He will not try anything with you,” he said.

Even though Chaka acted wild sometimes, Alvero knew he was not like the others. He trusted that Chaka would take Carissa home safely.