The Untainted
Chapter One
Plagiarism is not allowed.
Rihannat lives a simple life.
Not loud.
Not flashy.
Not complicated.
Simple — but intentional.
Her self-contained apartment sits quietly in a modest building just outside the university campus. It isn't luxurious, but it is peaceful. And if there is one thing anyone would notice immediately upon stepping inside, it is this:
Everything shines.
The tiles are spotless. The curtains are neatly folded to the sides. Her books are arranged according to size and subject. Her shoes are aligned perfectly near the door. The bed is always laid before sunrise. No plates sleep in the sink. No clothes hang carelessly on chairs.
Rihannat is not just clean — she is disciplined.
Some might call her a neat freak.
She simply calls it "proper upbringing."
As the only child of two retired teachers, structure was not optional in her home — it was law. Her father believed that discipline builds destiny. Her mother believed that character outlives beauty. Together, they raised her with firm love, strict morals, and unwavering religious principles.
Being an only child never meant being overpampered.
If anything, it meant expectations were doubled.
Respect elders.
Pray on time.
Study hard.
Speak wisely.
Guard your dignity.
Protect your name.
These rules were not just spoken — they were lived.
Now that she lives alone, miles away from home, nothing has changed. No rebellion. No secret lifestyle. No hidden habits.
She still wakes early.
She still prays before stepping into her day.
She still avoids unnecessary outings.
She still dislikes eating outside unless absolutely necessary. She prefers cooking herself.
And staying out late?
That is not even an option.
After preparing her simple breakfast that morning, she washed her dishes immediately, wiped down the counter, and swept the tiny kitchen floor.
Her routine! Order before departure!
She carried her bag to the small table and carefully checked its contents.
Notebook?
Laptop?
Assignment file?
Pen pouch?
Water bottle?
Satisfied, she zipped it closed.
Before stepping out, she paused briefly near the right corner of her door where two plants sit in modest clay pots — a bright sunflower stretching toward the sun and a resilient cactus standing firm beside it.
She crouched slightly, touching the soil gently.
"You two behave yourselves," she murmured with a soft smile.
Rihannat loves nature. Plants calm her. They remind her of growth — slow, patient, intentional.
She locked her door carefully and, out of habit, slipped the spare key into a small hidden space beneath the sunflower pot — a place only she knew about.
Then she stepped out.
And just like always…
Heads turned.
Conversations paused.
Eyes followed.
It was almost as if someone had announced her arrival with a silent trumpet.
She walked with natural elegance — not exaggerated, not rehearsed. Her beauty wasn't loud. It was effortless. She wore no makeup, yet her skin glowed under the sunlight. Her modest outfit complemented her frame without revealing too much. Her posture was straight, her gaze forward.
If there was a beauty parade, she would win without trying.
But she did not walk for attention.
She walked with purpose.
She had grown accustomed to the stares — the whispers, the nudges, the subtle comparisons. Some girls admired her silently. Others masked their envy behind fake smiles. She had learned long ago that beauty is both a gift and a test.
And she refused to let it define her.
When she arrived at school, she headed straight to her lecture room. The professor hadn't arrived yet. The class buzzed with scattered conversations, laughter, and last-minute gossip.
Rihannat ignored it all.
She sat down, opened her notebook, and began revising.
Level Three.
Final stretch.
First class or nothing.
She did not come this far to settle for less.
A few minutes later, two familiar voices approached.
"As-salamu alaykum," Rayyan greeted warmly.
"Wa alaykum salam," Rihannat replied, smiling faintly.
Balkis followed closely behind, adjusting her bag. "You've started reading already? Ah, Rihannat, you won't let us rest."
"If we rest now," Rihannat replied calmly, "results will not rest later."
They laughed softly and took their seats beside her.
Rayyan and Balkis were her only close friends in school. Not because others hadn't tried — but because Rihannat believed friendship required depth, not noise.
Rayyan was thoughtful and observant. Balkis was lively but sharp-minded. Together, they balanced one another.
They exchanged pleasantries, then joined her in revising. Their voices lowered as they discussed key points from previous lectures, correcting one another gently.
Moments later, the professor entered.
Chairs shifted....,
Voices dropped.....,
The lecture began.
Hours passed quickly — one class flowing into another. Rihannat took detailed notes, asked intelligent questions when necessary, and listened more than she spoke.
When the final lecture ended, the three friends walked toward the cafeteria.
The aroma of food wrapped around them as students crowded the space. They found a quieter corner and settled with their trays. Rihannat has her own food which she brought from home, she doesn't eat out.
As they ate, their conversation remained academic.
"Today's marketing model…" Rayyan began thoughtfully.
"It has flaws," Balkis interrupted. "Especially in emerging markets."
Rihannat nodded. "Unless adapted to local culture. That's where most businesses fail."
Even their lunch break was productive.
They fed both their hungry stomachs and their ambitious minds.
Exams were approaching quickly.
And Rihannat could almost feel the pressure rising in the air.
After finishing their meals, Rayyan checked the time. "I need to go home and revise further."
"Same here," Rihannat agreed, packing her things. "Early sleep, early rise."
Balkis hesitated.
"I'll stay back," she said casually. "I have a few things to sort out in school."
Rihannat glanced at her briefly. "Don't stay too late."
"I won't," Balkis replied with a reassuring smile.
The two friends walked out together while Balkis remained seated, watching them leave.
As Rihannat stepped outside the cafeteria, the familiar feeling returned — eyes following her every movement.
But today, she felt something else too.
A gaze different from the rest.
Not admiring.
Not envious.
Intentional.
She didn't turn to confirm.
She simply continued walking beside Rayyan, unaware that somewhere within the crowd, someone had been quietly observing her — not just her beauty…
But her discipline.
And her distance.
The journey had just begun.
**********
@OlukoyaZainab