In college, Ma found herself isolated after choosing to wear a mask, leading to a strained social experience. During a group assignment, Ma was unfairly rejected by her former friends and paired with Obi, a quiet and ostracized classmate. When Ma went to comfort Obi, she accidentally bumped into Ikuku, a handsome student who was Obi's brother. Ikuku later joined Ma and Obi for lunch, thanking Ma for her kindness. This interaction marked a turning point, with Ma starting to build genuine connections despite the initial challenges.