But you… who are you?

But you… who are you?


“Where is Carissa, bro? Was she not just with you?”

Chaka dropped onto the bench beside Alvero like he owned the place. Without asking, he grabbed a bottled tea from the table and drank it in one go. The bottle was empty in seconds.

Frisco stared at him like he was about to start a fight. That was clearly his drink.

“Is your lecturer crazy or what?” Chaka snapped instead of answering.

Alvero frowned, confused. “Who? Sir Leon? What happened?” he asked, throwing questions one after another.

Chaka crushed the empty bottle in his hand until it bent out of shape. Just thinking about Leon made his mood worse again. He shook his head, staring ahead.

He still could not believe someone like that was even allowed to teach.

And Carissa… why the hell did she agree to be in charge of a course handled by someone like him?

“Did he not say he was giving Carissa exam guidelines?” Chaka asked.

Alvero and Marcel nodded at the same time. Frisco just listened since he was not even in their department.

“When she got to his office, he told her to type everything again. Twenty-five pages. Just because he lost the file.” Chaka’s voice rose without control. “That is crazy, right? Why not just let her photocopy it?”

His breathing turned heavy as he tried to calm down.

“So where is Carissa now?” Alvero asked.

“In his office.”

Alvero stood up right away and swung his bag over his shoulder, ready to leave, but Chaka grabbed his arm.

“Where are you going?”

“To go meet her, obviously,” Alvero said, already impatient. “I am going to help her. She should not be doing that alone when the whole class needs it.”

Marcel felt the pressure in that statement.

“I am coming too,” he said quickly. “I will help her as well.”

Chaka stood up. “I am going back too. But I will grab lunch for her first.”

He acted like he did not care, but it showed. He did not show concern to everyone, only to people who mattered to him.

“Mie ayam, bro. She said this morning she wanted chicken,” Alvero added.

Chaka turned and looked at him. His expression changed for a second. It bothered him that Alvero seemed to know what Carissa wanted better than he did.

“Fine. Wait here, I will order it,” Chaka said, then turned to Frisco. “Hey, get the mie ayam.”

He pulled out a hundred thousand naira note and handed it to him.

“I thought you said you were the one ordering?” Frisco asked, confused.

“Keep the change,” Chaka replied.

Frisco did not argue again. He took the money and walked toward the food stand.

“Separate the sauce and chili, and add more greens and dumplings!” Alvero shouted after him.

Frisco raised his hand to show he heard. Chaka looked back at Alvero. “You really know everything about Carissa, huh? What next? You know her monthly cycle too?” His tone sounded like a joke, but there was something else underneath it.



Leon glanced at his phone and checked the time. It was already lunchtime. He picked up his phone and opened a food app. He did not waste time thinking. He ordered two portions of duck rice and cold drinks. Then his attention shifted.

“Your lipstick looks too bright, Carissa.”

Carissa let out a breath through her nose. She was wearing soft pink. It was not even bold. He just liked running his mouth.

“Your shirt is too thin. I can see the color of your tank top,” Leon added.

So much for saying he would ignore her. He was the one who said he would not speak to her until she apologized. Now he would not stop talking. It looked like he wanted her attention more than silence.

Leon leaned closer, looking at her face. “Are you wearing blush?”

His hand moved toward her cheek, but Carissa slapped it away before he could touch her.

“Sir, can you just stay quiet?” she snapped, glaring at him without holding back.

Leon leaned back. He swallowed and looked away. Silence filled the room again. Carissa kept typing while Leon tried to push her out of his thoughts.



Knock. Knock.

The sound pulled Leon out of his head.

“Come in,” he said without moving.

“Excuse me, sir.”

Alvero peeked through the half-open door with a polite smile. Marcel’s face appeared right behind him, and then Chaka leaned in from above them.

Leon let out a slow breath.

He already knew why they came.

Carissa was like sugar, and these guys stuck to her like ants. Especially Alvero.

“What is it? Come in,” Leon said, not hiding his annoyance. The three of them walked in and stood in front of his desk.

Carissa frowned when she saw them. She wanted to ask what they were doing here, but she did not feel like talking with Leon around.

“I, Marcel, and Chaka want permission to help Carissa type the guidelines, sir,” Alvero said.

Leon looked at them one by one.

“You and Marcel can help. You are her classmates.” His eyes moved to Chaka. “But you… who are you?”

Chaka cleared his throat before speaking.

“My name is Chaka. I am her friend. If I can not help type because I am not in the class, then I am here to help her eat her lunch.”

He smiled like he had already decided.

“Both her hands are busy typing, right? So I will use my hands to feed her.”

He lifted the plastic food container in his hand.

“So, sir, can I stay?”

Leon’s hands curled into fists. He wanted to refuse. But Chaka did not look like someone who would back down easily. If he said no, the guy would keep pushing and drag it out. Still… the thought of Carissa being fed by that idiot made something inside him turn in a way he did not like.