Her name was Nadia.
She had always known how to be noticed.
Nadia walked through campus like she expected eyes to follow her—and most times, they did. She wasn't loud, wasn't dramatic. Her power was subtler than that. A laugh held a second too long. A look meant for one person but visible to many.
Joshua learned quickly that desire feels different when it is not returned.
He texted her first.
Then again.
Then with forced humor.
Where did you disappear to?
You're suddenly busy these days.
Come on, don't do me like this.
Nadia replied when she felt like it. Sometimes with a single emoji. Sometimes not at all.
And when she finally did give him attention, it was brief—just enough to keep him hoping.
Joshua hated that feeling.
He hadn't expected this. Not from her.
In his head, things were supposed to be simple. Tiana waited. Nadia wanted. He moved freely between both worlds without consequence.
But now the roles were shifting—and he didn't like the reflection staring back at him.
What Joshua didn't know was that Nadia had noticed Stephen.
She noticed him the day she found out he was on campus. The quiet confidence. The way people leaned toward him when he spoke. The fact that he never tried too hard.
And when she learned—casually, through whispers—that Stephen and Joshua used to be friends, something clicked in her mind.
Opportunity.
Nadia began showing up more often.
At the cafeteria.
Near lecture halls.
At common spots where people gathered.
And always—always—she made sure Joshua followed.
Joshua trailed her without realizing how it looked.
One afternoon, Tiana sat with Stephen outside the faculty building, notes spread between them. They were laughing softly over something unimportant when Nadia walked past—slowly.
Joshua was right behind her.
Nadia stopped.
"Joshua," she said lightly, turning with a smile that didn't belong to him alone.
She leaned in, touched his arm briefly—just enough for it to be seen.
"You still dey follow me everywhere?" she teased.
Joshua laughed awkwardly. "You know that's not true."
Nadia's eyes flicked, just for a second—toward Tiana and Stephen.
Then she smiled wider.
"Oh? Because it looks like you're the one chasing me these days."
The words landed where they were meant to.
Stephen looked up.
Tiana did too.
Joshua stiffened. "Nadia—"
She waved him off. "Relax. I'm just saying."
She turned slightly, addressing Stephen now. "Small world, yeah?"
Stephen nodded calmly. "Very small."
Nadia laughed, pleased. She had said enough.
She walked away without another glance—leaving Joshua standing there, exposed in a way he had never been before.
Tiana didn't react.
She simply returned to her notes.
That silence burned worse than any confrontation.
Joshua swallowed. "Tiana, it's not—"
She didn't look up. "You don't need to explain anything to me."
Stephen stood. "Ready to go?"
"Yes," Tiana replied.
They left together.
Joshua remained behind, heart pounding—not because he loved either girl the way he claimed—but because, for the first time, everyone could see what he had tried so hard to hide.
Nadia, walking away, smiled to herself.
She had never planned to be loyal.
She had planned to be desired.
And Joshua was only just realizing that some games change rules once everyone is watching.