Malachi woke up the next morning, a dreamy look on his face. For the first time since his best friend had passed, he'd had a dream. And not just any dream; he'd dreamt about Asha.

Maybe this is a sign that I should ask her out. He thought.
He got up from bed and headed into the shower. However, he stopped in his tracks at the bathroom door and looked up. There it was. The same pebble-like device he had seen under his table the other time. Ripping it off the wall, he checked the device and wondered why he'd never seen it before.

His heartbeat began rising and he felt an anger episode coming up. They've been recording us.

With fury, he scattered his entire room and searched everywhere for any more of the pebble-like devices. All the while, he thought of the many meetings he'd had with Simi and even with Jamal. Malachi found six pebble-like devices.

One name came into his mind when he asked himself who could have planted them in the room and as he took his shower, he thought of the million ways he could strangle her neck and make her pay.

A few minutes later, he was pounding on the door of Abby. "Abby! Open the goddamn door right now!"

He heard shuffling of feet and pounded harder on the door. Abby's roommate opened with an equal furious expression on her face.
"Nigga, I will cut you!"

Malachi was stunned momentarily and then picked himself back up. "Is Abby around?"

"No she isn't. Goodbye," she slammed the door in his face.

Malachi turned to see of a few other students staring at him like he was crazy.  He marched back into his room and prepared and calmed himself mentally before he went to see Asha at the hospital.

Asha was busy writing a patient report when she felt a figure loom over her. From the body splash, she guessed it was a guy and was about to tell him off when he spoke.

"Hey Asha."

A huge smile formed on her face and she raised her head to see Malachi standing over her with a nervous look on his face. His afro was wilder and his smile caused knots in her stomach.

"I thought you'd stand me up again."

Malachi put his hand on his heart and feigned hurt, "My heart is bruised."

She laughed heartily and after, said, "I'll be done soon. You can sit at the patient waiting area and wait for me."

"Maybe I can help," Malachi dragged a chair to sit beside her and added, "I mean I do have the nicest handwriting."

"Of course you do," Asha shook her head.

When they were done, Asha led Malachi to the hospital cafeteria. She ordered for rice with beef sauce and he just asked for juice and chips.

"You have more hair than me and now you want to become slimmer too?" Asha teased him.

"Well you're in perfect shape so I didn't hear anything," Malachi replied.

They had one playful conversation over the other until the food arrived and Asha ate. After that, she dove into the actual reason she had wanted to meet him.

"I listened in on a convo between your dean of students and Dr.James. And I heard something I think I should know."

"What is it?"

"Your friend didn't die of intentional drug overdose. He was beaten and a drug called Chill was forced into his system. The dean and Dr. James covered it up."   

Malachi rubbed his hands over his face. "I figured that out a long time ago. I just needed confirmation."

"This isn't the first time they've done this though. There've been other deaths on campus related to Chill. Dr. Blankson made Dr. James cover it up for him. I think he has something on him."

Malachi let out a low sigh and shook his head. Asha put her hand under his and he tightened his grip.

"I'm so sorry Kai," Asha caressed Malachi's hand. "Dr. Blankson asked Dr. James to cover up for him at University Board meeting and not get him fired. What are we going to do?"

"No! Asha, you have to stay as far as possible from all this. You can't get involved."

"I'm not afraid Malachi."

"The dean was beaten up two days ago Asha. It could be related to this," Malachi explained.

"I'm still not afraid Malachi," she placed her palm on Malachi's face.

"But I am. I can't risk anything happening to you. Ever. I like you too much."

Malachi realized too late that he'd just blurted out that he like Asha. "I mean yeah, I like you," he rubbed his hand at the back of his head. "and I don't know if you like me too."

Asha gave him a huge smile and responded, "I like you too."

"Good good. Please promise me you'll stay away from all this mess."

She'd never felt more relieved that she couldn't blush. "Sure Kai."

Malachi kissed her on the cheek and they got up to leave as Asha's lunch break was over.

He was at the parking lot of the hospital again after Asha saw him off when he heard raised voices behind one of the cars. Usually, he'd just go his way but he recognized one of the voices. It was Abby's.
His anger at her returned slowly and he crept behind of the cars and tried to listen to the argument.

"My father is hurt AA. Badly. I can't continue with this anymore."

"What are you trying to say?" Abby asked the male voice.

"We can't play both sides of the team. We have to choose and from what happened to my father, I think I know which side I'm picking."

"You can't be serious Peter."

Simi's crush Peter? I did not see that coming. Malachi thought.

"I'm sorry AA. I know we were in this together but I have to be careful."

"You know what? Go to hell Peter. I'm done with you," Abby brushed past Peter and would have seen Malachi if he hadn't crouched lower.

He waited for a while until he was sure that Peter had also left and got up. As he straightened his shirt, a thought hit him and he smiled.

He fished out his phone and texted Jamal, I think I just found the drug dealer at the hospital.