Welcome to Hell, University Edition
Jade Kosoko didn't believe in omens.
But if she did, the broken heel on her left stiletto, the bird shit on her suitcase, and the girl who literally elbowed her in the tit at registration all screamed one thing loud and clear:
This school year is about to be straight from hell.
"Sorry," the girl muttered without looking back.
Jade rolled her eyes, muttering a sharp, "Witch," under her breath before adjusting her oversized sunglasses. Her locs were tied up in a pineapple bun, and her crop top said "Soft, not stupid." She'd picked it for the first day on purpose.
Let them know. Let them dare.
She wasn't here to blend in.
This was Saint Augustine University — a very white, very expensive, very scandal-infested campus sitting pretty somewhere in Western Europe. Jade's late father had studied here. So had his enemies. And now… so would she.
As she wheeled her pink luggage through the courtyard, sweat beading on her glowing skin, a familiar voice made her freeze mid-step.
"You always this loud, Kosoko? Are you seeking attention as usual?"
Her stomach dropped.
No. Effing. Way.
She turned slowly. And there he was.
Brian Payne.
Leaning against a tree like a walking Calvin Klein ad with zero joy.
Plain black tee, ripped jeans, sunglasses, smug energy.
His arms were crossed, his mouth twisted into that same cruel half-smirk she remembered from the masquerade party of doom.
Jade blinked, stunned for a second too long.
"Wow," she said. " I see you're still a prick. Some things never change."
He looked her up and down — slowly, deliberately. "Neither do you. Still trying too hard."
"Still watching, though," she fired back. "Is this what you do for fun? Lurk around campus trees and harass women?"
He smirked. "Only the loud ones."
Her blood boiled. "Touch me and I'll castrate you."
"No touching necessary." He pushed off the tree and walked away, tossing one last line over his shoulder. "Try not to get kicked out this time."
Jade stood frozen, fingers curling around her suitcase handle.
What the hell was he doing here?
Why didn't anyone tell her he went to this damn university?
Her phone buzzed. A text from her cousin:
Forgot to mention… the Paynes donated a wing. So yeah. He's there. Sorry babe.
Jade screamed internally.
Just her luck.
The door creaked open to the sound of trap music and a loud voice ranting on the phone."—I told him I'm not the one, not the two, not even the damn three! He cheats *once*, and suddenly he's shocked Pikachu that I blocked him on everything—"
Jade froze.
The dorm room was already half-lived in — a tapestry hung over the bed on the left, sneakers in neat rows by the wardrobe, the faint smell of vanilla and hair products in the air.
The girl pacing in front of the window was tall, Black, and carried herself like she paid rent in hell and didn't fear fire. She noticed Jade and hung up without a word.
"You Jade?" she asked, arms folded.
Jade nodded, suddenly hyper-aware of how Nigerian she looked — braided wig, ironed jeans, a cardigan her aunt said made her look 'sensible.'
The girl's eyes narrowed just enough to be noticed. "You look like you cry before presentations."
"I—what?" Jade blinked.
"I said," the girl drawled, "I'm Aisha. You're late."
She moved to her bed and flopped onto it, reaching for a bag of chips like Jade's presence was a mild inconvenience. Jade stood there, gripping her suitcase handle, processing the very real possibility that her university roommate might be the reason she dropped out before midterms.
"Are you always this… intense?" Jade asked cautiously.
Aisha side-eyed her. "Are you always this… shy?"
Jade frowned. "I'm not shy."
"Then sit down and breathe. You're radiating *freshman panic*."
Jade rolled her suitcase to the empty bed without another word. She'd faced worse. She once got chased by a goat in her estate. This was just a roommate. A very intimidating, beautiful, no-nonsense roommate.
Jade started unpacking in silence.
After a few minutes, Aisha spoke again — casual, like they hadn't just exchanged passive-aggressive vibes.
"So. Where you from?"
"Nigeria."
Aisha nodded. "Cool. I'm from Spain. Madrid."
"Oh. Nice."
Another pause.
Then, Aisha looked up. "You got that *vibe*."
"What vibe?"
"Like someone told you this school would be the start of your dream, and you just found out it's actually the prologue to your villain origin story."
Jade laughed, surprised. "That's... weirdly accurate."
Aisha smirked. "Yeah. I'm gifted."
She tossed a mini water bottle in Jade's direction. Jade caught it.
"Word of advice? Don't trust the hot ones. Especially the tall, broody, white boys who think they own the world."
Jade stiffened.
Aisha raised a brow. "What? Did I hit a nerve?"
"Not exactly. Just—uh... what's the name of the broody one you're talking about?"
"Brian Payne," Aisha said like the name physically offended her. "British-American. Thinks he's a walking Greek tragedy. Real pain in the ass."
Jade dropped the bottle.
"Shit—sorry!" she scrambled to pick it up. "Sorey about that, Wait! You know that bastard?"
Aisha blinked. "Dont tell me you know him"
"You could say that." Jade's voice was quiet. Cold.
Aisha sat up, suddenly interested. "Tell me you're not into him."
"I'd rather eat glass."
A slow grin spread across Aisha's face. "You might just survive here after all."
Jade looked at her. Really looked. Maybe the girl wasn't the devil. Maybe she was the devil's ex who walked away with her edges intact.
"We'll see," Jade said, cracking a smile.
"Come on," Aisha said suddenly, standing up. "You need a campus tour before this place eats you alive. I'll show you the café, the best bathrooms, and the library where people go to pretend they're not on Reddit."
Jade blinked. "Now?"
"Yes, now. This is me being nice. I don't do it often. Come."
Jade followed her out the door, legs dragging but grateful.
Three hours later...
They stumbled back into the room — exhausted, looking like they ran a marathon.
"Why is this campus so damn big?" Jade groaned, flopping face-first onto her bed.
"Colonizers and their love for wide spaces," Aisha muttered, peeling off her jacket. "If I didn't know better, I'd swear they built this school as punishment."
"I'm starting to believe it."
Aisha grabbed her water bottle and took a long sip. "Alright. I've done my good deed for the month. Don't ask me for anything till October."
Jade sat up. "Thanks, though. Seriously."
Aisha looked at her for a beat, then shrugged. "Don't get soft on me, Miss Naija. I still don't like people before midterms."
Jade chuckled. Then glanced at the time. "Shit. I should sleep. I have a morning class and I still haven't finished my registration forms."
"Oof. Rookie mistake."
"Shut up."
"Goodnight, kosókó," Aisha teased, collapsing onto her bed.
"It's Kosoko," Jade corrected, curling into her blanket. "But sure, butcher it."
"Girl, I'm Spanish. Be grateful I'm even trying."
Jade smiled in the dark, sleep tugging at her limbs.
Maybe this woul
dn't be hell after all.
But then again… Brian Payne was here.
And hell always had its demons.