His Ascension

Just a nerd, coming for you!

Ken lowered his head and held the ropes attached to his backpack with both hands. He was walking out of the hostel. 

He hurried into the lecture hall and settled at his favourite row; the first row. He could still sense the eyes of some students all over him. 

The young lecturer walked onto the hall and wrote an equation on the board. He flipped his marker. "So who is going to solve this problem for us?" 

There was pin drop silence.

The lecturer began moving around the hall waving his blue marker. "You guys can't solve a mathematical problem? This is just the basics. Next semester, you'll be advancing to Medicine courses proper."

No one spoke. The newbies kept exchanging blank glances. The lecturer returned to the front row. 

"Finally, we have a hand up. Come over here."

Ken stood up and took the marker from the lecturer. He walked to the board and in less than two minutes, the equation was solved. Ken slowly turned around to face the class who were staring at him like an appetising meal.

"What's your name?" the lecturer demanded.

Ken shifted his gaze from the class to the lecturer's face. "Ken."

The lecturer turned to the class. "Well, Ken just solved the problem."

Murmurs erupt followed by applause. Ken lowered his head, wondering why he had solved the mathematical problem in the first place. Now, everyone in the class will be talking about him.

After the lecturer went out, A Chinese girl walked up to the first row to meet Ken. Behind her were her friends, smiling at Ken, their arms folded across their chests.

Ken was slipping his notebook inside his bag, getting ready to leave. "Hello, I'm Kim." she introduced herself, extending her right hand to Ken.

Ken stared at her hand which lingered in the air. He didn't even look at her face. Students were hurrying out of the hall.

A boy walked up to the scene and placed a hand on Kim's shoulder. "Back off Kim. He's not into you."

Kim gasped and left the hall with her friends fuming. The students who were still lingering inside the hall broke into a laugh after the boy's comment. 

He snatched his bag from the table and dashed out. Ken had concluded that if he is bent on keeping a low profile, he must be careful with the people he mingles with. 

Ken was about to get into his hostel when he lifted his head and saw Miranda striding toward him. He sighed and turned away hoping that she doesn't mock him again.

"Hi!" she waved 

Ken was still looking away. There was no way he was going to stare into those deceitful hazel eyes.

"I've been trailing you" she spat.

Ken turned around to look at her. She was pressing a book to herself, clothed in one of her red maxis and was wearing her favourite black sandal.

Ken arched his brow. "Trailing me?"

Miranda sighed and took more steps toward him. Male students were hurrying into the hostel while others were speaking in groups.

"Can we talk for a moment?" Miranda requested and turned to stare at the canteen by the right.

Ken folded his arms across his chest. "I don't have time to talk Miranda. The last time we crossed paths, you humiliated me. Why do you want to talk now?"

Miranda sighed and pressed her book to her chest. "Just a few minutes Ken. I promise I won't take much of your time."

"Say all you have to say to me right here, right now. I have a lot of things to attend to." Ken replied with his gaze fixed on her, determined to prove that he is not interested in the so-called conversation

"Okay how about we talk later maybe tonight when we are both free? You can call me then I'll come to meet you up." Miranda suggested.

Ken stared at her in astonishment. Why is she suddenly seeking his attention? Wasn't she the one who mocked him just yesterday? Why does she suddenly want to talk? he couldn't help but wonder.

"I don't have your number anymore Miranda." Ken blurted.

Miranda flashed an impish grin. She was in class when Ken solved that mathematical problem and right now, it didn't matter whether he was her ex or not. Having him on her good side will be of great advantage to her in this institution.

Ken curled his lips in irritation.  Didn't you want me out of her life?

Miranda stared at him intently wishing she could scream out to him that she wasn't ready to get back with him but will appreciate it if they become close  now that he's starting to get famous. 

"Oh come on Ken. People break up right? That's by the way. We can still be friends." she maintained.

Ken broke into a dry laugh. "come on Miranda. You kicked me out of your life. Now you suddenly want to be friends with me?"

There was silence from Miranda's end.

"Fine. If you want me to apologise for what I did to you the other day then I will."

Ken sighed and gave his forehead a delicate scratch. "That's by the way. I have no memory of that day the same way I have no memory of you now," he said, staring directly into her eyes.

Miranda nodded repeatedly. "How's your girl? Cassie right?"

Ken quirked his brow. Did Miranda approach him to talk about his girl or apologise? What does she really want?

"I saw her at the third gate the other day." Miranda sharply added.

"Yea. With her limo right? She's my girlfriend and can come to visit me anytime. Do you have a problem with that?"

Miranda shook her head in disagreement. "Of course, I don't have a problem with that. I still believe she's acting."

"Whatever." Ken fired.

Miranda sighed and was about to speak when two boys from their class walked up to them.

"That was great, man." one of them gave Ken a soft pat on the back. "That equation was cumbersome. You solved it in seconds. Damn, you're a genius."

Ken smiled at the boy "Thanks."

The other boy spoke. "I thought you were just the boy with the hot girl. I saw you and your girl the other day. I stay in this hostel too. Damn, I'm jealous buddy. You have the brains and a hot girl."

Ken smiled. "I guess I'm lucky."

"Fucking lucky. That girl is hot."

The boys waved at Miranda and walked away.

"Who do we have here?" Charlie's voice came ringing from behind. 

Ken sighed and turned to face the blonde-haired. Now Charlie is in Harvard too. What a coincidence! he thought.

"Looks like you are still begging my girl for a reunion huh?" Charlie commented after a smirk.

"Why don't you ask your girl?" Ken fired back. He turned around and walked inside the hostel.

Charlie walked up to Miranda and grabbed her hands. "What was that rascal talking about?"

"Let go of me," she yelled and forced her hand out of his grip. Oh, come on Charlie. You can't just grab me like that in public."

"Miranda!" 

She ignored Charlie's call and continued walking away after a long hiss.

Charlie clenched his fist. He concluded that Ken was messing with Miranda's head and it resulted in her outburst.  

"I'm coming for you, Ken." Charlie declared with bloodshot eyes.