By Wednesday morning, Kim had officially discovered that being in love came with side effects.
Loss of concentration.
Unnecessary smiling.
Checking your phone every thirty seconds.
And, most importantly, becoming suspicious of every person who looked at your girlfriend for more than three seconds.
The last one was especially dangerous.
Kim woke up at exactly 6:30 a.m., reached for his phone and checked his messages.
Nothing.
He refreshed WhatsApp.
Nothing.
He switched to Instagram.
Nothing.
He went back to WhatsApp.
Still nothing.
He frowned.
"Maybe the network is down."
His roommate, Brian, opened one eye from his bed.
"The network is fine."
Kim froze.
"You're awake?"
"I've been awake for ten minutes watching you refresh WhatsApp like a government officer waiting for salary."
Kim laughed.
"I was just checking something."
Brian sat up.
"Linet?"
Kim said nothing.
Brian nodded knowingly.
"Thought so."
Kim threw a pillow at him.
Brian caught it.
"Violence won't solve your problems."
"You talk too much."
"And you love too much."
Kim smiled.
"Shut up."
Brian stood up and stretched.
"So, what are you wearing today?"
"Why?"
"I'm helping you dress."
"You?"
"Yes. Since you've entered the relationship department, you need professional assistance."
Kim laughed.
"It's not that serious."
Brian opened Kim's wardrobe.
He stared at the clothes.
"Bro…"
"What?"
"You have three shirts."
"I know."
"And two of them are college T-shirts."
"Exactly."
"You need help."
Twenty minutes later, Kim stood in front of the mirror wearing jeans, a white shirt and sneakers.
Brian stood behind him like a fashion consultant.
"Perfect."
Kim looked at himself.
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure."
"You're the same person who wore a football jersey to a presentation."
"That was fashion."
"That was embarrassing."
"It was innovative."
Kim laughed.
Before they could leave, Brian suddenly remembered something.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Do you have money?"
Kim checked his pocket.
"Two hundred shillings."
Brian nodded.
"Excellent."
"What?"
"We are going to eat breakfast."
Kim stared at him.
"With whose money?"
Brian smiled.
"Yours."
"Absolutely not."
Brian was already walking toward the door.
"Love has made you stingy."
They reached the campus cafeteria.
The queue was already long.
Brian looked at the line.
"I'm not waiting here."
Kim looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because I value my life."
"It's just breakfast."
"You don't understand. By the time we reach the counter, they'll tell us mandazi is finished."
Kim laughed.
"You're dramatic."
Five minutes later, they reached the counter.
The cafeteria lady looked at them.
"Next!"
Brian stepped forward.
"Two chapatis, two sausages, tea and—"
"Chapati is finished."
Brian froze.
Kim burst out laughing.
Brian slowly turned toward him.
"Don't laugh."
"I told you."
"Don't."
"You predicted it."
Brian pointed at the cafeteria lady.
"Madam, why do you hate students?"
She ignored him.
"Next!"
Brian walked away looking heartbroken.
"This institution is against me."
Kim spotted Linet sitting at a table outside.
She waved.
Kim smiled and walked over.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Brian followed behind them.
Linet looked at him.
"Why do you look angry?"
Brian sat down.
"The cafeteria has personally offended me."
Linet laughed.
"How?"
"They finished chapati."
"That is your problem?"
"It is a serious problem."
Kim shook his head.
Linet smiled.
"Kim, can I talk to you?"
"Sure."
They moved a little away from Brian.
Linet lowered her voice.
"Did you get a strange message yesterday?"
Kim's expression changed.
"Why?"
"Because I got one too."
Kim stared at her.
"What did it say?"
She showed him her phone.
The message read:
"Be careful who you trust."
Kim's smile disappeared.
"Who sent it?"
"I don't know."
Kim showed her his message.
"Stay away from Linet."
They looked at each other.
"This is getting weird," Linet said.
Kim nodded.
"Very weird."
Suddenly Brian appeared beside them.
"What is weird?"
"Nothing."
Brian looked at their faces.
"Don't tell me you two are pregnant."
Kim nearly fell over.
"What?!"
Linet burst into laughter.
Brian shrugged.
"You were standing here looking serious."
Kim shook his head.
"You need a brain transplant."
"I already have one. It's just on airplane mode."
Later that afternoon, the three friends attended another lecture.
The lecturer walked in carrying a stack of assignments.
Everyone became quiet.
"I hope everyone completed the assignment."
Silence.
The lecturer looked around.
"Where are your assignments?"
Brian slowly raised his hand.
"Yes?"
"Sir, I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"What was the assignment?"
The whole class burst into laughter.
The lecturer stared at him.
"You're joking."
"No, sir. I'm genuinely confused."
"You've been in this class for three weeks."
Brian nodded.
"Exactly, sir. That's why I'm concerned."
Even the lecturer laughed.
"Get out."
Brian stood up.
"Sir, where am I going?"
"Outside."
Brian picked up his bag.
"Can I come back after the lesson?"
"No."
Brian looked at Kim.
"Tell my story."
Kim was laughing too hard to respond.
During the afternoon break, Kim and Linet went to sit under a tree.
They talked about everything—classes, family, friends and their future.
Kim suddenly became serious.
"Linet."
"Yes?"
"About those messages…"
She looked at him.
"I don't want you to worry."
"I'm already worried."
"I'll find out who's behind them."
"How?"
Kim paused.
"I don't know yet."
She laughed.
"So you have a plan without a plan?"
"Exactly."
"That makes no sense."
"It makes perfect sense."
"No, it doesn't."
Kim smiled.
"I'll figure it out."
Linet rested her head against his shoulder.
For a moment, everything became quiet.
Kim smiled.
Then his stomach growled loudly.
Linet lifted her head.
"What was that?"
Kim looked embarrassed.
"Nothing."
"That was not nothing."
"My stomach is just saying hello."
She laughed.
"Let's get food."
They went to a small food kiosk near campus.
Kim ordered chips and chicken.
Linet ordered fries.
As they waited, Brian suddenly appeared.
"Ah!"
Kim sighed.
"What now?"
Brian pointed at their food.
"You didn't tell me you're eating."
"We just arrived."
Brian pulled a chair.
"Good. I'm joining."
Kim looked at him.
"Did you bring money?"
Brian smiled.
"No."
"Then why are you sitting?"
"Friendship."
Linet laughed.
Brian looked at her.
"You see? She understands me."
Kim shook his head.
"You're impossible."
The food arrived.
Brian immediately reached for Kim's chips.
Kim slapped his hand away.
"Touch my food again and you'll lose a finger."
Brian looked shocked.
"Since when did you become protective?"
"Since you started stealing my food."
Brian nodded.
"Fair."
They ate while laughing and telling stories.
For a while, the mysterious messages were forgotten.
That evening, Kim returned to the hostel.
Brian was already lying on his bed.
Kim checked his phone.
There was a new message.
This time, there was a photograph attached.
Kim opened it.
His heart stopped.
The picture showed him and Linet sitting together under the tree earlier that afternoon.
Someone had taken the photograph from a distance.
Below it was a message:
"I warned you."
Kim stared at the screen.
Brian noticed his expression.
"What happened?"
Kim handed him the phone.
Brian looked at the photograph.
His smile disappeared.
"Bro…"
"Yeah."
"Someone is following you."
Kim nodded.
Brian sat up.
"This isn't funny anymore."
"I know."
Suddenly, another message arrived.
"Tomorrow. 8 p.m. Come alone."
Kim stared at the screen.
Brian shook his head.
"Don't go."
Kim looked at him.
"I have to know who's doing this."
"No. You don't have to become a movie hero."
Kim stood up.
"I'll be careful."
Brian grabbed his arm.
"Kim, listen to me. Campus has enough problems. Don't add kidnapping to your timetable."
Kim laughed despite himself.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Kim looked at the photograph again.
For the first time, he realized that whatever had started as a simple college romance was becoming something much bigger.
And somewhere on campus, someone was watching them.
Someone who knew where they went.
Someone who knew when they met.
And someone who clearly didn't want Kim and Linet together.
Kim looked at Brian.
"Whatever happens tomorrow…"
Brian interrupted.
"Don't say something dramatic like, 'Take care of Linet.'"
Kim laughed.
"Why?"
"Because if you disappear, I'm not becoming your girlfriend's emotional support system."
Kim threw a pillow at him.
Brian laughed.
But when the room became quiet again, both of them knew the truth.
Tomorrow night could change everything.
To be continued…