My laugh froze on my face.
Right there by the door… was her.
Rain girl.
Umbrella collision girl.
Unknown number girl.
She stepped in, hair slightly damp, long sleeves pulled over her palms, eyes scanning the hall until they met mine.
And for a solid five seconds, I forgot how to breathe.
"Guy, wetin sup you see ghost?" Robin's voice snapped me back.
Sam followed my gaze. "Bro… is that…?"
"I swear that's her," Drake leaned closer, smirking.
"shut up first ahh," I whispered, voice barely coming out.
She walked across the room, found a spot in the front row, but still perfectly in my line of sight.
And sat.
My brain: Bro, what if she actually followed you? What if she's in this department? What if she thinks you're the stalker?
Heart pounding like final boss music.
Tried to look away. Didn't work. Looked back. Eyes met.
She quickly glanced down, pretending to scroll her phone.
"nigga, your crush don upgrade from random to reality," Robin teased.
"Crush ke, I no even Sabi her name" I whispered. "I just… it's complicated shii."
Sam grinned. "She's a 10 alright "
My head: Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.
Then Drake, with that evil grin: "See werey wey get mat102 tomorrow ."
Tutor's voice faded into background static.
Every two seconds, my eyes betrayed me...quick glance.
She didn't look back.
I felt like an NPC staring at the main heroine.
Then... vibration.
Phone screen lit up.
Unknown number.
My heart nearly escaped my ribcage.
I opened it:
"You forgot this...look down."
Confused, I looked down
And there it was: my cracked acrylic Esdeath chibi keychain, dangling halfway out my backpack zip.
The same one I swore never to lose.
Relief first. Then embarrassment.
Then curiosity.
"Thanks," I typed back quickly. "But wait… how did you even get my number?"
She replied almost immediately:
"I'm also in computer science… same department. Heard there's this guy everyone calls 'Genshin guy.' 😂
Just started playing the game too, so… saved your number hoping to ask you stuff later.
Didn't expect to meet like that tho."
I paused.
Phone in hand.
Breath caught halfway.
Eyes literally shimmering with tears I'd deny to any living soul.
And in my head:
So all those sleepless nights of grinding, losing 50/50, saving pity, and simping over pixel waifus…
It was actually worth it. A literal 10/10 female noticed.
Robin, Sam and Drake stared at me, seeing my watery eyes and frozen grin.
Drake broke the silence:
"Bro… you dey get orgasm from chat? Why you dey cry?"
The others erupted.
Sam was wheezing; Robin nearly fell off his chair.
But I ignored them.
My heart was too busy screaming thanks to Celestia, Mihoyo, Esdeath, every known anime goddess for this single patch in my otherwise bug-ridden storyline.
Then… another buzz.
"Umm… what's wrong?"
I looked up —
She was peeking back at me with those big, confused eyes.
And right there, sitting in a dusty tutorial hall under flickering tube lights, surrounded by unfinished notes and failed past questions…
I realised:
This might actually be the real gacha pull of my life.
Then she stood up and quietly stepped outside.
My phone buzzed again.
"Yoo you learning anything from this tutorial?"
"Yeah, I'm slowly understanding the Chinese they're teaching."I typed, deadpan
"Lol. Would you like some fresh air then?"
Bro.
My fist shot up in the air before I could stop it. "Get in joor," I muttered, half-laughing, half-ready to cry.
Robin turned, face blank. "Yep. He's lost it."
Sam sighed, "Love na bastard."
Drake shook his head. "Naaah, this one na konji."
They all nodded solemnly, like doctors confirming a hopeless case.
But I barely heard them.
Heart racing, thumbs shaking:
"Sure… just what I needed."
I stood, planning to go out. "Guys, I'll be back," I whispered.
They pretended they didn't hear me.
But just as I stepped out from my seat…
I froze.
Some random guy had walked right up to where she stood outside.
Close. Too close.
Started talking to her like they'd known each other forever.
His body language? Confident. Like she was his.
Shame touched me in places it had no business.
Behind me, Robin and the boys exploded:
"Brooo, plot twist!"
"Sit ya ass down nigga!"
" NPC dey compete with main character!"
Tutor started scolding us again.
I swallowed hard, ready to sit back and sleep my heartbreak away.
But then…
I looked up.
She did something.
Something enough to make my jaw hang open.
Even Robin, Sam and Drake went silent — stunned mid-laugh.
Eyes wide.
Heart thudding.