What are the Odds?

Royalty College was massive, grand, and intimidating—like a palace. My uncle parked, reversed, and gave me a look.

“Find your way around. I can’t help you do everything,” he said.

I wanted him to stay, but I knew he’d only tease me. “You only brought me here. I’ll figure it out myself,” I said, hiding my uncertainty.

“Suit yourself.” He drove off.

Using the school’s app, I found the registration office, finished quickly, and headed toward my first lecture. The app said “Lecture Hall,” but when I arrived, three towering halls stood before me. Which one? The app wasn’t clear.

That’s when I spotted a tall, stylish white guy nearby, looking just as lost.

“This guy will definitely have girls lining up for him,” I muttered under my breath before approaching.

“Hello,” I said.

“Hi?” he replied, squinting at me.

“Freshman too?” I asked.

“Yeah. How’d you guess?”

“Wild guess,” I said.

“I’m waiting for my friend—she knows where the hall is.”

“She?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah. We were in high school together.”

We waited a few minutes before he pointed. “There she is.”

I turned—and my heart stopped.

It was her.

Same height, same hijab, same graceful stride. The girl from the arena.

She walked toward us, hands full of snacks, the same calm confidence in her steps.

“Who’s this?” she asked.

“Someone I just met. He’s a freshman too,” the guy replied.

“My name’s Collins,” I said, extending my hand.

“I don’t shake guys, sorry,” she said casually.

"Nonchalant and rude, can't you be nice even for once " I spoke internally, I smiled to cover my embarrassment, retracting my hand, as if she could hear my thoughts, she handed me a smoothie and a cupcake before slightly extending her arm again.

I hesitated.

“Shake me,” she said with a smirk. “I was joking earlier. My hands were just full.”

what, whattt, I swas surprised at the sudden change in attitude, a wide contrast in the character she displayed earlier.

I took her hand—and that same strange current from the arena shot through me. Her skin was impossibly soft, like silk spun from heaven. I held on a moment too long before she pulled away.

“I’m Aaliah,” she said.

“I’m Jeffrey,” the white guy introduced himself to me too

“What am I supposed to do with these?” I asked, holding up the snacks.

“They were for me and Jeffrey. He’s not hungry, so… you looked famished.”

Jeffrey looked mildly annoyed but said nothing.

“Let’s go to class,” Aaliah said. “We’re a bit late.”

We entered one of the halls, buzzing with students and energy. We found seats in the third row.

As I sipped the smoothie, I stole a glance at her.

The fight-night memory burned fresh in my mind.

And now, here she was—across the aisle, in my life again.

This wasn’t coincidence.

This was the beginning of something.