The morning sun touched the tall buildings of Johannesburg as Pamela stood outside the university gate, breathing in deeply. The smell of fresh coffee and car exhaust filled the air. Students rushed past her with backpacks and books in hand. Some laughed with their friends; others hurried to class.

She stood still for a moment, her eyes glistening. It had been a full year since she last walked these halls.

“I’m really back,” she whispered to herself.

Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Felix.

Felix: “You’ve got this, Pam. Go make me proud.”

Pamela: “Thank you for everything. I won’t let you down ❤️.”

She smiled, tucking her phone away as she headed to her first lecture.

The first few weeks were difficult. Pamela had to adjust again to long study hours, group projects, and endless assignments. But she was determined. She spent most of her time in the library or her small student apartment, which Felix had helped her rent near campus.

Felix visited her every weekend. He would bring her food, check her notes, and sometimes help her revise.

“You know, I was a terrible student,” Felix joked one evening while she studied. “I only passed because I was scared of failing.”

Pamela laughed. “You’re lying. You’re one of the smartest people I know.”

Felix grinned. “Only when I’m trying to impress a beautiful woman.”

She rolled her eyes, but her heart melted a little each time he said things like that.

Three months into the semester, Pamela began noticing a certain boy who always sat near her in the library. He was tall, light-skinned, with neatly combed hair and a charming smile. Every time she looked up, he seemed to be looking at her.

His name was Renaldo Gallardo — a final-year student studying Business Management too. He was known across campus for his looks and charisma. Girls whispered about him all the time, calling him “Mr. Perfect.”

Pamela, however, didn’t pay him much attention. She was focused on her books and didn’t want distractions.

But fate had a way of pushing people together.

One rainy afternoon, Pamela left the lecture hall just as the rain started pouring. She had no umbrella and was about to run through the rain when a voice called out behind her.

“Hey! You’ll get soaked. Come here.”

She turned around — it was Renaldo. He was holding a black umbrella.

“Let’s share,” he said with a smile.

Pamela hesitated but finally stepped under the umbrella.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“No problem,” he replied. “I’m Renaldo, by the way.”

“Pamela.”

“Nice to finally meet you,” he said, grinning.

Pamela raised an eyebrow. “Finally?”

“Well, I’ve seen you around for weeks. You’re always studying. I thought I’d never get the chance to talk to you.”

Pamela laughed softly. “Maybe because I’m always busy.”

“Busy is good,” he said. “But sometimes you need to breathe too.”

Something about his confidence made her uncomfortable and curious at the same time. When they reached the student residence entrance, she thanked him again and hurried inside.

That night, she told Tumi over the phone about the encounter.

“Oh my word, that’s the Renaldo everyone talks about!” Tumi shouted. “He’s so hot! Girl, don’t tell me you didn’t feel something.”

Pamela chuckled. “Tumi, please. I have Felix. I’m not interested.”

“You’re strong, cousin,” Tumi said playfully. “Because that man could make a nun sin.”

Pamela laughed until tears rolled down her face. “You’re crazy!”

As weeks went by, Renaldo began greeting her often. He was always polite — sometimes he’d hold the library door open or offer to carry her books.

Pamela kept things friendly and distant, but inside she started noticing something: Renaldo made her laugh in ways Felix didn’t. He was her age, understood her academic struggles, and shared the same dreams.

Still, she always reminded herself:

“I have a man who believed in me when no one else did. Felix deserves my loyalty.”

So, she pushed all thoughts about Renaldo away.

While Pamela was fighting silent temptation, Felix was preparing for something big.

He had spent months saving up for a diamond ring. He had already spoken to Martha, Pamela’s mother, and asked for her blessing.

“You’ve been good to my daughter, Felix,” Martha said with a smile. “If you make her happy, then you have my blessing.”

Felix smiled proudly. “Thank you, Mama. I promise I’ll never hurt her.”

He planned a surprise proposal for Pamela’s birthday. He invited a few of her close friends and her mother to a beautiful rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.

When the evening came, Pamela walked in wearing a long white dress. She didn’t know what the night was about, but she could feel something special in the air.

As the soft music played, Felix walked to the center of the room and held her hand.

“Pamela Jackson,” he began, his voice slightly shaking. “You came into my life when I least expected it. You taught me kindness, humility, and love. I want to spend the rest of my life proving to you that love still exists.”

He knelt down and opened a small box. Inside was a silver ring with a shining diamond.

“Will you marry me?” he asked, his eyes locked on hers.

Pamela’s hands trembled. Tears filled her eyes. Everyone around them clapped and cheered, shouting, “Say yes!”

Through her tears, she whispered, “Yes, Felix. I’ll marry you.”

Felix stood and hugged her tightly as the crowd erupted in joy.

Martha cried happily. “That’s my baby girl,” she said softly.

Pamela looked at Felix’s face and felt warmth rush through her heart. She loved him — or at least she thought she did.

But deep down, a tiny voice whispered something she didn’t want to hear:

“If you really love Felix, why do you still think about Renaldo’s smile?”

After that night, Felix and Pamela were officially engaged. He called her his “future Mrs. Mathers,” and she wore the ring with pride.

But life at university continued — and so did her contact with Renaldo. He had started joining her study group and sometimes helped her prepare for tests.

He never flirted openly, but his presence made her heart beat faster.

“You study too much,” Renaldo teased one afternoon in the library.

“That’s the point,” Pamela replied, laughing.

“You’re going to make every guy here look bad.”

“Good,” she said with a smirk.

They both laughed, and in that laughter, something unspoken passed between them — something that scared her.

By mid-year, Pamela was juggling between being a fiancée and a full-time student. Felix trusted her completely, often texting her sweet messages:

“I miss you already.”

“Don’t forget to eat lunch.”

“One more year, and you’ll be Mrs. Mathers.”

Pamela would smile but sometimes stare at her phone for minutes, thinking about the life ahead of her. She loved Felix’s stability, but she missed the fun and excitement she had with Renaldo.

Still, she convinced herself she was doing the right thing. Felix had changed her life — she couldn’t betray him.

What she didn’t know was that the storm she tried to ignore was slowly building — and soon, it would destroy everything she thought she loved.

End of Chapter 3