I Said I’m Not Interested

“I’m not interested.”

Amara didn’t even look up when she said it.

She was standing under the hot Lagos sun, sweating inside her black office gown, one hand holding her phone, the other clutching a nearly empty bottle of water. The danfo drivers were shouting, horns blaring, and somebody nearby was arguing like their life depended on it.

Normal Lagos afternoon chaos.

“I never even talk wetin I want say,” the guy replied.

That was when she looked up.

Tall. Dark. Slightly annoying smile. Clean shirt. Too clean for Lagos heat. Like he didn’t sweat like the rest of them.

“Oga abeg,” Amara said, already irritated. “Whatever you want to say, I’m not interested.”

She turned back to her phone.

Network was misbehaving. Of course. Perfect timing.

“Ah-ah,” he stepped closer. “You just used one sentence cancel my destiny like that?”

She sighed.

This was exactly the kind of nonsense she didn’t have energy for.

“See ehn,” she said, now facing him fully, “if you’re trying to toast me, save your data. I’m not buying.”

He blinked. Then laughed.

Not a small laugh. A full, genuine laugh like she had just told the funniest joke in Lagos.

And for a split second, Amara was confused.

“You funny,” he said. “I like that.”

She rolled her eyes.

“God when,” she muttered under her breath.

“Okay, let me start again,” he said, straightening up like he was about to give a presentation. “Hi. My name is Tobi”

“I didn’t ask.”

“and I’m not trying to toast you.”

Amara paused.

That got her attention.

“Good,” she said. “Because it won’t work.”

“I just want to know why you’re about to enter the wrong bus.”

Silence.

Amara frowned. “What?”

Tobi pointed behind her.

She turned.

The bus she had been waiting for, the one she was literally about to enter, had “Yaba” scribbled on the front with chalk.

Her office was in Lekki.

Her eyes widened.

“Wait”

The conductor shouted, “Yaba! Yaba straight!”

Amara stepped back quickly.

“Jesus,” she whispered. “I for don go wrong side.”

She turned slowly to look at him.

Tobi folded his arms, smiling like someone who just passed an exam without reading.

“You’re welcome,” he said.

Amara stared at him.

“…okay. Thank you.”

“Ah-ah, small gratitude like that?” he teased. “After I just saved your destiny?”

She shook her head, fighting a smile.

“Don’t push it.”

“Too late,” he grinned.

For a moment, they just stood there, surrounded by noise, heat, and movement.

Then her phone buzzed.

She checked it and her chest tightened.

Kemi (Best Friend):
Have you seen it?

Amara frowned.

Seen what?

Three dots appeared immediately.

Then a screenshot.

Amara opened it.

And just like that, the world around her went silent.

It was her ex.

Femi.

And he wasn’t alone.

He was engaged.

ENGAGED.

To someone else.

The caption read: “She said yes ❤️💍”

Amara felt something drop inside her chest.

Hard.

Fast.

Painful.

“Omo…” she whispered.

Her throat went dry.

She hadn’t spoken to Femi in six months. Six long, painful months of picking herself back together after everything he did.

After the lies.
After the cheating.
After the way he made her feel like she wasn’t enough.

And now

He was proposing to another girl like she never existed.

Just like that.

“Are you okay?” Tobi’s voice came, softer now.

Amara didn’t answer.

Her eyes were still fixed on the screen.

Her fingers trembled slightly.

That familiar pain, the one she thought she had buried, came rushing back like Lagos flood.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, locking her phone.

But her voice betrayed her.

Tobi studied her.

“Hmm,” he said quietly. “You don’t look fine.”

“I said I’m fine,” she snapped.

A bit too sharply.

He raised his hands. “Alright, no vex.”

Amara looked away.

She hated this feeling.

Hated it.

That weak, helpless, stupid feeling.

“I have to go,” she said suddenly.

“But you’ve not even entered”

“I said I have to go.”

She turned and started walking fast, not caring where exactly she was going.

She just needed to move.

To escape.

To breathe.

“Hey!” Tobi called after her.

She didn’t stop.

“Amara!”

She froze.

Slowly she turned back.

“How do you know my name?” she asked, her voice low.

Tobi hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then he smiled again, but this time it wasn’t as playful as before.

“Because,” he said, scratching the back of his neck, “this is not the first time I’m seeing you.”

Amara’s heart skipped.

“What?”

He stepped a little closer.

“I’ve been looking for the right moment to talk to you,” he continued. “But clearly Lagos decided today was the day.”

Her brows furrowed.

Something about this suddenly didn’t feel funny anymore.

“Who are you?” she asked slowly.

Tobi held her gaze.

And for the first time since they met, he wasn’t smiling.

“That,” he said, “is a long story.”

Amara felt a strange chill run down her spine.

Because somehow

She had a feeling this wasn’t just coincidence.

And whatever this was

It was about to change everything.

To be continued…