"Department of Design," Julie responded calmly, her voice carrying a hint of poise as she adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder.
Bekora nodded, clearly impressed. "Cool," he said with a small smile, then added proudly, "I’m studying medicine. I specialize in obstetrics and gynecology—OB-GYN."
Julie’s lips curved into a teasing smile. "Future gynecologist," she said with a soft laugh, her eyes glinting with amusement.
Bekora chuckled, nodding with visible pride. "Exactly."
He glanced sideways at her as they continued walking. "Future... wait. You didn’t tell me which part you want to specialize in."
Julie smiled, this time more thoughtfully, as if savoring the question. "Menswear illustrator. Couturier," she replied, her tone confident but light.
Bekora blinked in surprise, genuinely taken aback. "That’s rare," he said, turning to look at her with curiosity.
Julie tilted her head slightly, her brows lifting. "What do you mean by rare?"
"You don’t know?" he asked, his tone gentle but surprised. "In the fashion industry, most people—especially women—go into womenswear. Menswear isn’t the usual path. There are fewer people who specialize in that field, especially as illustrators and couturiers."
Julie gave a soft "Oh," her voice thoughtful, as though she was only now reflecting on how unique her path really was.
As they neared the cafeteria, Bekora glanced ahead and sighed. "The crowd is too much for today," he muttered, slowing his pace slightly.
Julie looked ahead as well. The cafeteria was buzzing with activity.
Students clustered near the entrance and spilled out onto the surrounding walkways, voices rising and mixing together like background music.
The scent of hot food—fried yam, spicy jollof rice, and freshly baked pastries—filled the air.
Bekora raised a hand to shield his eyes from the late morning sun. "Oh, I almost forgot," he said. "It’s probably because today is Tuesday. You know how, instead of Monday, our university gets way more crowded on Tuesdays?"
Julie didn’t say anything at first. She just looked up at him, her expression unreadable. f.re(e) w.e(b)nov el.c.om
Bekora caught her gaze and tilted his head, a little sheepish now. "Look at me, telling you what you already know.
Don’t think I’m taking you for someone dumb or anything, okay?" he added quickly, his tone soft and sincere.
Julie’s smile returned, and she shook her head slightly. "It’s okay. I’m new here."
His brows drew together in slight confusion. "New here... as in transferred?" he asked, leaning in a little, searching her face for confirmation.
Julie gave a simple nod.
Bekora blinked. "Ah, that explains why I haven’t seen you around before. Your face didn’t look familiar at all. I’m pretty good at remembering people, especially beautiful once like you,"
He complimented her.f
"It’s that a compliment, well thanks," she said even though it a guy complimenting her, and if it’s other girl, she may feel nice talk less of a handsome guy like Bekora complimenting her.
But Julie takes it close to nothing as what Roman does fill everything and didn’t leave a place for anyone.
Julie let out a quiet laugh, just enough to ease the moment. They both slowed their steps as the crowd thickened around the cafeteria entrance.
The sun above filtered through the tall trees lining the walkway, casting dappled shadows on the pavement.
A soft breeze passed by, carrying the sounds of chatter and laughter with it.
Someone’s music played faintly from a Bluetooth speaker nearby—Afrobeat, rhythmic and upbeat.
Bekora looked at her again, a little more gently this time. "Well then... welcome," he said with a warm smile.
Julie nodded. "Thanks."
And with that, they continued into the crowded cafeteria, side by side, moving at an easy pace through the sea of students.
"Well, you mind if I show you around?" Bekora asked, flashing her a friendly smile.
Julie returned the smile with a nod. "Yeah, but after we eat, right?" Her stomach let out a soft, audible growl that made her wince.
She placed a hand over it as if to silence it.
It was embarrassing. Definitely not something she wanted to happen again mid-conversation.
Bekora laughed lightly, clearly amused, and they continued talking as they stepped into the food line.
Fortunately, the queue moved quickly, thanks to the multiple attendants behind the counter. S
tudents ahead of them made their choices with practiced ease, and the line shuffled forward in rhythm.
"Thank you," they both murmured as they received their trays, each now carrying a balanced meal.
The smell of hot food filled the air—fried potatoes, grilled meats, jollof rice, and spicy sauces blended with the buzz of student chatter and clinking trays.
They moved toward the quieter section of the cafeteria and settled at a table tucked in a corner, away from the crowd.
The spot offered a bit of peace, perfect for conversation.
Julie began slowly dipping her fresh fries into ketchup, sprinkling just a bit more salt before taking a bite.
Bekora, on the other hand, wasted no time digging into his freshly roasted meat, savoring every tender chew.
This was, after all, one of the country’s most prestigious universities.
Everything, from the food to the facilities, reflected its elite status.
Students here had access to nearly everything they could need—though not everyone dined in the cafeteria.
Still, the quality was undeniable.
Unbeknownst to Julie, the two men Roman had assigned to quietly follow her were watching from a nearby table.
They blended in seamlessly, dressed like other students, eyes moving discreetly but alertly as they observed her every move.
"You think we should tell the boss his wife’s been talking to that male student this whole time?" one of the guards muttered under his breath, his eyes flicking toward Julie.
"Yeah, why not? He told us to follow and report everything she does, right?" the other man replied, not taking his eyes off them.
The first man frowned slightly. "Still... he might get angry.
You know how he gets. The last thing I want is to be fired—or worse—just for passing along something that ruins his mood."
He shivered just at the thought. Getting fired by Roman wouldn’t just be a job loss—it could be a personal disaster.
"Don’t worry," the second man said casually, scooping food onto his fork. "Master knows what he’s doing."
Back at Julie and Bekora’s table, conversation flowed naturally.
"By the way, what’s your full name?" Bekora asked as he tossed another piece of meat into his mouth.
"Julienne Wilson," Julie replied, her voice calm but confident.
Bekora nodded. "Before you ask, I’m Bekora Devis," he said with a friendly tone, offering his full name in return.
Julie nodded politely, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Good to hear that," she said, continuing to eat without adding anything further.
As he chewed thoughtfully, Bekora’s brows pinched slightly. Julienne Wilson.
The name rang a faint bell. Was she someone of importance? Perhaps from a well-known family? After all, to be enrolled here meant she was definitely among the wealthiest.
He tried to think harder, but nothing specific came to mind. He eventually shrugged it off, deciding not to press the matter further.
They still had an hour before their next class, so there was no need to rush.
Once they finished eating, Julie wiped her fingers clean and looked up. "Now that we’re done, what do we do?"
Bekora leaned back slightly and grinned. "Well, I can offer you two choices. Either we head back to study, or I take you on a little tour around the school."
Julie didn’t reply immediately, her eyes drifting as she considered the options.
"So? Which one do you choose?" he asked again, this time more playfully.
Julie smiled thoughtfully. "I think I’ll go for the tour. I still need to know my way around. It’s my first day, after all."
"Alright then! Let’s get going—time won’t wait for us," Bekora said, rising from his seat and motioning for her to follow.
They carried their trays to the return counter and then stepped out into the sunlit walkway.
"This is my faculty," Bekora said, pointing proudly at a large building ahead. "The Science Faculty. Hope you don’t forget how to get here—because if you ever need me, I’ll most likely be here."
Julie chuckled, nodding. "Noted."
They walked side by side as he took her through the different parts of the university.
Bekora pointed out lecture halls, labs, studios, and even the restrooms, introducing each one like a proud tour guide.
He described their purpose and quirks with humor and enthusiasm that made Julie laugh more than once.
As they strolled past the administration building, Bekora’s sharp gaze caught sight of the same two men trailing them. Again.
He recognized them immediately—they were the same ones he had spotted by the library earlier, and again during lunch.
Their act was subtle, but not invisible.
He didn’t say anything to Julie. No need to cause concern. He simply made a mental note of it and continued the tour, his expression neutral.
They rounded another corner and passed a group of students seated beneath the shade of a large tree.
The sound of laughter mixed with soft music from a portable speaker gave the atmosphere a relaxed, vibrant feel.
But among the students, one pair of eyes froze—watching closely.
Miranda’s eyes widened in shock when she spotted Julie walking ahead with a guy beside her. Surprise turned to disbelief, and then quickly burned into hatred.
"Do you know them, Miranda?" one of her friends asked, noticing how fixated she’d become.
"No. But I kinda know of them," Miranda muttered, her eyes still locked on Julie like a hawk.
"The guy or the girl?" another girl asked, also curious.