The morning sun hit the hostel window. It was hot. The fan was spinning slowly, making a click-click-click sound.
On the top bunk, Tobi was snoring like a broken generator. The room smelled like yesterday's beans and body spray. To anyone else, this was just a messy student room.
But to Stan, this was his kingdom.
Stan woke up. He didn't stretch. Lions don't stretch; they just rise.
He walked to the small mirror hanging on the wall. This was the most important meeting of the day.
He looked at his reflection. He tightened his stomach. The abs appeared. He frowned, making his face look dangerous and mysterious.
"Stan," he whispered to the glass. "You are not a student. You are an experience."
"Who are you talking to?" Tobi groaned from the bed, rubbing his eyes.
Stan didn't turn around. "Go back to sleep, Tobi. Greatness is loading."
Stan picked up his phone. 15% battery. No light to charge. A normal person would panic. Stan just smirked. The battery dies when I say it dies.
He put on his shirt. It was a simple polo, but on Stan, it looked like designer wear. He grabbed his keys and walked out.
The corridor was noisy. Guys were shouting about football. Someone was cooking noodles in the hallway. Stan walked through the chaos like he was in slow motion.
He reached the campus gate.
There she was. Amaka.
Amaka was the kind of girl who made guys trip over their own legs. She was standing by the fruit seller, looking annoyed. The sun was in her eyes.
Three guys were already rushing to help her.
"Amaka, let me hold your bag!" one shouted.
"Amaka, take my umbrella!" shouted another.
They were begging. Stan shook his head. Amateurs.
Stan walked past them. He didn't look at Amaka. He walked straight to the fruit seller.
"Give me one orange," Stan said. His voice was deep. Serious.
The seller gave him the orange. Stan peeled it slowly.
Amaka looked at him. She was tired of the noisy boys. She looked at this guy who was just... peeling an orange with intense focus.
She stepped closer to him to escape the noise of the other boys.
"You're not going to offer to carry my bag?" she asked, half-joking.
Stan chewed a slice of orange. He swallowed. He turned his head slowly to look at her.
"Do you look weak?" Stan asked.
Amaka blinked. "What?"
"Your arms," Stan said, pointing at her. "They look strong. You look capable. Why should I insult you by carrying a small bag?"
Amaka was shocked. Guys always treated her like a baby. This guy treated her like a warrior.
"I... I guess I am strong," she smiled, flexing her arm a little.
"Exactly," Stan said. "The bag suits you."
He finished his orange. He wiped his hands on a tissue from his pocket.
"I'm Stan," he said.
"I'm Amaka."
"I know," Stan replied. "Hard to miss."
He checked his phone. 14%.
"I have to go, Amaka. I have a meeting." (The meeting was actually just him going to buy data so he could watch TikTok).
"Wait," she said. "Take my number. In case... I get weak."
Stan didn't smile. He just handed her his phone. She typed it in.
"See you around, Strong Woman," Stan said.
He walked away. He didn't look back.
Behind him, the three other boys were still arguing about who would buy her water. They had the money. But Stan? Stan had the Rizz.