Nora's heart plummeted as she stared at the X notification on her phone. Jae tagged @LolaVibes at some fancy rooftop bar? Her mind spiraled. Who's Lola? Why's he posting with her right after kissing me like he meant it? The kiss—oh, that kiss—still lingered on her lips, warm and electric, but now it felt like a cruel prank. She glanced at Jae, who was sprawled on her couch, sipping his Coke, oblivious to the storm brewing in her head. Did I just make a fool of myself?
"Everything okay?" Jae asked, his voice smooth as ever, those pink lips curling into a half-smile that made her want to both kiss him again and throw a pillow at his face.
"Uh, yeah, just… a notification," Nora mumbled, shoving her phone under a cushion like it was radioactive. She wasn't about to confront him. Not yet. Not when her heart was still doing backflips from that kiss.
But the doubt crept in, whispering, You're too much, Nora. Too bold. Too desperate. She pushed it away, forcing a grin. "So, um, you want some chips? I've got the spicy ones you like."
Jae chuckled, "You're always prepared, huh? Sure, hit me with the spicy." His eyes twinkled, and for a moment, she forgot about Lola whoever. But only for a moment.
The next day, Nora was a mess. She dragged Tolu and Amaka to their usual spot at the campus café, ready to dissect every detail. "Guys, I kissed him. Like, kissed him. It was magical, like I was floating in a rom-com montage. But then.." She paused for dramatic effect, clutching her iced coffee. "I saw his X post with some girl named Lola. Lola Vibes. Who even calls themselves that? Sounds like a wannabe influencer selling teeth-whitening strips."
Tolu snorted so hard she nearly choked on her croissant. "Nora, you're out here living a Nollywood drama. Did you stalk her profile yet?"
"Of course I did!" Nora admitted, unashamed. "Her bio says 'Living my best life' with a palm tree emoji. So basic. But her pictures? She's gorgeous. Like, unfairly gorgeous. And Jae's out here tagging her at a rooftop bar? Right after our kiss? I'm spiraling."
Amaka leaned forward, smirking. "So, let me get this straight. You, Miss 'I'll Never Kiss a Guy Unless We're Official,' threw your rulebook out the window, kissed Jae, and now you're jealous of some random girl? Oh, Nora, you're in deep."
"I'm not jealous!" Nora protested, then deflated. "Okay, fine, I'm jealous. But can you blame me? His lips are like… a national treasure. I'd fight a lion for another kiss."
Tolu cackled. "You'd fight a lion and lose. Girl, you need to chill. Maybe he's just friends with this Lola chick. Did you ask him?"
Nora groaned, burying her face in her hands. "No! I didn't want to seem like a clingy weirdo. But I'm dying to know. What if he's playing me? What if I'm just the silly sophomore who threw herself at him?"
Amaka patted her shoulder. "Or maybe he's into you, and you're overthinking it. You're Nora, the boldest girl we know. You literally chased him down with a pineapple joke last night. If he kissed you back, he's not that uninterested."
Bolstered by her friends' mix of teasing and encouragement, Nora decided to take matters into her own hands. She wasn't about to let some X post ruin her vibe. So, she hatched a plan; a bold, slightly unhinged plan, because that's just who she was. She found out Jae was speaking at another campus event that weekend, a mentorship panel for first years. Perfect. She'd show up, dazzle him with her charm, and subtly (or not so subtly) figure out what was up with Lola.
Saturday arrived, and Nora was a vision in a red dress that screamed "I'm confident, but also please love me." She strutted into the event, heart pounding, and spotted Jae at the front, looking like a melanin god in a crisp white shirt. Those lips should be illegal, she thought, her resolve wavering. She took a seat near the front, determined to catch his eye.
During the Q&A, Nora raised her hand, ignoring Tolu's whispered, "Oh no, what's she doing now?" She stood, flashing a grin. "Jae, what's your advice for someone who's, say, really passionate about something or someone but isn't sure if it's mutual?" The crowd tittered, and Jae's lips twitched into a knowing smile.
"Passion's great, Nora," he said, his voice warm but teasing. "But you gotta communicate. Be real. Ask questions. Don't just… assume you know the whole story."
The way he said her name sent a shiver down her spine, but the words stung. Was he calling her out again?
After the panel, she cornered him near the refreshment table, armed with her signature boldness. "So, Jae, about that advice… should I take it literally? Like, ask you straight up what's going on with you and, say, a certain rooftop bar buddy?" She tried to sound playful, but her voice betrayed a hint of nerves.
Jae raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You saw that post, huh? Lola's an old friend from high school. We were catching up. Nothing deep." He leaned closer, his voice dropping. "You're cute when you're jealous, though."
Nora's face burned. "I'm not jealous!" she lied, then laughed to cover it. "Okay, maybe a little. But can you blame me? You're out here casting spells with those lips."
He grinned, and for a moment, she thought he might kiss her again right there. But then his phone buzzed, and he glanced at it, his expression shifting something unreadable. "I gotta run, Nora. But… let's talk soon, yeah? For real this time."
She nodded, heart racing, but as he walked away, that nagging doubt returned. What did he mean by 'for real'? And why did he look so serious just now? Later that night, as she scrolled through X, she saw another post from Jae. No tags this time, just a cryptic caption: "Sometimes you don't see what's right in front of you." Her stomach twisted. Was he talking about her? Or someone else?
Then her phone pinged with a text from an unknown number. "Hey, Nora. It's Lola. We need to talk about Jae."