Chapter 17
Chiamaka's morning started with the usual rush—lectures, notes, and the subtle anxiety that clung to her every step. But today felt different. Every glance, every whisper on campus seemed loaded with meaning, even when none existed.
Tunde met her at the library, holding two cups of coffee with his trademark smile. "Thought you might need a pick-me-up," he said, handing one to her.
She smiled, taking the cup with slightly trembling hands. "Thanks," she murmured. Her eyes flicked to his, warm and trusting, and guilt stabbed her like a sharp knife.
"How was your evening yesterday?" he asked, tilting his head, eyes searching hers.
Chiamaka froze. How do I explain the truth? she thought, swallowing hard. "Quiet… just catching up on some reading," she lied. Her voice sounded too forced, and she knew he noticed.
"You're lying," he said softly, a frown tugging at his brow. "Something's going on. You've been… different."
She forced a laugh. "I'm just stressed about exams." The words tasted hollow even to her, but she had no choice. Confessing would shatter the fragile balance she'd maintained between desire and loyalty.
After lectures, she walked toward the office, her thoughts consumed by the forbidden. Professor Eze's presence had become a need she could no longer ignore. The thought of last night, their intimacy, lingered like a burning brand on her skin. She knew the danger, knew the consequences, yet the pull was undeniable.
Inside the office, he waited, eyes dark and knowing. "You seem distracted," he murmured, stepping closer. The heat of his gaze pressed against her skin, and her breath caught.
"I… I'm fine," she said, though her voice trembled.
He studied her silently for a long moment. "Your heart lies," he said finally, his tone soft but firm. "It knows what it wants… and it wants me."
Chiamaka swallowed, torn between guilt and desire. "I… I don't know," she admitted.
"You do," he whispered, closing the distance until their faces were inches apart. "And tonight, you'll stop denying it."
Her pulse thundered in her chest. Every part of her screamed to resist, to be loyal to Tunde, but every nerve begged to give in, to surrender to the temptation she had been struggling with for weeks.
That evening, Tunde texted her:
"Dinner at my place tonight. I want us to talk."
Chiamaka's stomach twisted. The timing was cruel, almost deliberate. She wanted to stay loyal, to be the girlfriend he trusted, but the thought of Professor Eze's hands, his lips, his touch lingered in her mind like a persistent shadow.
By the time she arrived at Tunde's apartment, her mind was in turmoil. He greeted her with warmth, laughter, and familiarity—the safe love she had known for years. Yet, as they sat across from each other, the conversation simple but laden with subtext, Chiamaka felt herself drifting. Her thoughts kept straying to Eze—the intensity, the danger, the undeniable passion.
"You've been distant," Tunde said finally, concern etched into his features. "Talk to me, Chia. Please."
She looked into his eyes, so full of trust and love, and her chest ached. She wanted to confess, to pour out everything, but the truth was too raw, too dangerous. "I'm just… tired," she murmured, forcing a smile.
The evening continued, laughter mingling with tension, warmth blending with longing. Chiamaka felt herself trapped between two worlds—the comfort of Tunde's love and the intoxicating pull of Professor Eze's desire.
Later that night, as she lay in bed, her phone buzzed with a message:
"You can run, Chia… but desire always finds its way."
Her fingers trembled. She knew it was him. And she knew, deep down, that no matter how much she wanted to stay loyal, the magnetic pull between them would never fade.
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Cliffhanger: Chiamaka is now caught between her loyal boyfriend and the consuming desire she feels for Professor Eze, heightening emotional tension and leaving readers desperate to see which path she chooses.
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