CAMPUS LOVE
By Dewale Pen
CHAPTER ONE: THE FIRST DAY, THE FIRST LOOK
The university gate stood tall and proud, painted in fading white and blue, welcoming thousands of dreams—and crushing a few along the way. For Aderinsola "Rin" Adeyemi, it was the beginning of everything she had prayed for… and everything she feared.
She adjusted the strap of her backpack as she stepped down from the bus, her heart beating faster than the honk of impatient drivers behind her. The sun was already high, casting a golden glow over the bustling campus. Voices filled the air—laughter, arguments, excitement, confusion. Freshers everywhere.
"So this is it," she whispered to herself. "University."
Rin had imagined this moment a thousand times: walking confidently through campus, stylish, fearless, unstoppable. But reality had other plans. Her palms were sweaty, her stomach twisted with nerves, and she felt terribly out of place.
She pulled out her phone and reread the message from her mother for the tenth time.
Remember who you are. Focus. No distractions. Especially boys.
Rin sighed and slipped the phone back into her pocket. Boys were the least of her worries. She just wanted to survive her first day without getting lost—or embarrassed.
As she dragged her small box of belongings toward the hostel area, her foot caught on a stone.
"Ah—!"
The box slipped from her hands, books spilling across the walkway.
"Great," she muttered, crouching down in panic.
"Hey—careful."
The voice was calm. Deep. Close.
Before Rin could look up, strong hands were already helping her gather her books. One of them slipped from her fingers, but the stranger caught it mid-air effortlessly.
She froze.
"Here," he said, handing it to her.
Their eyes met.
And for a second—just one dangerous second—the noise of the campus faded.
He was tall, with warm brown skin kissed by the sun. His hair was slightly messy, like he didn't try too hard to look good—and somehow that made him look even better. His eyes held something unreadable… confidence, maybe. Or kindness. Or trouble.
"Th-thank you," Rin said, her voice softer than she intended.
"No problem," he replied, smiling slightly. "First day?"
"Is it that obvious?" she asked, embarrassed.
He chuckled. "Only freshers look like they're about to run back home."
She laughed before she could stop herself.
"I'm Rin," she said.
"Kai," he replied. "Computer Science. Final year."
Final year.
Her heart skipped.
"Oh. Senior," she said quickly, standing up and brushing dirt off her jeans. "I should—uh—get going."
Kai nodded but didn't move away immediately. "Which hostel?"
"Queen Moremi."
He raised an eyebrow. "You're walking in the wrong direction."
Rin's face flushed. "I am?"
"Yeah," he said, pointing behind her. "That way leads to the sports complex."
She groaned. "This day keeps getting better."
Kai laughed again, then lifted her box with ease. "Come on. I'll take you there."
"That's okay, I don't want to stress you—"
"It's fine," he interrupted gently. "I remember my first day too."
Reluctantly, Rin followed him.
As they walked side by side, she felt something strange—comfort. Like she had known him longer than five minutes. And that scared her.
Because she promised herself she wouldn't get distracted.
Because her mother warned her.
Because boys like Kai didn't come into your life for no reason.
And Rin had no idea that this simple act of kindness would change her entire university life.
She didn't know that meeting Kai wasn't an accident.
It was the beginning of a love story the campus would never forget.
CHAPTER TWO COMING SOON!!
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