ADDICTED TO MAYBE PART TWO: CAMPUS CHANGES PEOPLE

Campus Changes People

The transition into the University of Port Harcourt brings an overwhelming shift for Minah. The campus moves at a frantic, chaotic pace, filled with the aggressive shouts of food vendors, blasting music, and confident students who seem to already understand a secret she has not yet learned. Alongside her spirited friend Boma, Minah steps into this unfamiliar environment feeling exposed, knowing that while nobody here knows her history or her loneliness, the freedom of university life carries a sharp, invisible pressure.

Hostel Realities and Hidden Lives

Settling into Queens Hall, Minah is introduced to the intense, fast-paced world of hostel politics. She and Boma share Room B12 with Bisola, a beautiful and effortlessly intimidating Business Administration student. Bisola quickly notes Minah’s quiet charm and warns her about the shifting nature of university life. Minah immediately notices a desperate hunger around her—not for food, but for status, luxury, and validation. As girls compare relationships and rely on rich older men to survive comfortably, Minah struggles with the overwhelming weight of superficial expectations and the realization that university freedom often disguises a deeper loneliness.

The Presence of Kabiru

Amidst the social exhaustion of her Mass Communication lectures, Minah finds her thoughts increasingly occupied by Kabiru Bright Bello, a Political Science student. What began as late-night text messages transitions into real-life encounters that disrupt her carefully guarded defenses. Kabiru is calm, observant, and effortlessly noticeable on campus. Unlike anyone else, he pays attention to Minah’s subtle speech patterns, her habit of saying "maybe," and her tendency to look overwhelmed in crowded spaces. This deep level of emotional observation makes her feel seen, pulling her into an intense routine of random check-ins and shared moments.

Softness and Certainty

As the weeks progress, Minah finds herself unconsciously searching for Kabiru across campus, a dangerous attachment that does not slip past Boma or Bisola. Her roommates frequently warn her that soft girls who seek genuine emotions are the ones who struggle most, vulnerable to the calculated charm of emotionally intelligent men. Even as her protective boundaries blur and a minor lie to her guardian, Aunty Grace-Ann, sparks a flicker of guilt, Minah realizes she feels a profound sense of safety in Kabiru's presence. The terrifying, intoxicating realization settles in: she is becoming addicted to his attention, building an emotional home in someone whose calm exterior remains entirely unreadable.