THE CALL I COULDN’T IGNORE

My phone kept ringing.

Dad.

Daniel looked at the screen, then back at me.

“You should answer it.”

I nodded quickly.

“Hello, Daddy.”

“Amara.”

His voice sounded normal, but something about it made me stand straighter.

“How are you?”

“I’m fine, sir.”

“How is school?”

“Everything is okay.”

There was a brief silence.

Then he laughed.

“Your mother has been disturbing me since morning.”

I smiled.

“What happened?”

“She said I should call and remind you not to forget why we sent you to university.”

I laughed softly.

“Mummy worries too much.”

“That’s her job.”

He paused.

“And mine is to trust the daughter we raised.”

Those words hit me harder than he could have imagined.

“I trust your decisions, Amara.”

My throat tightened.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“We’re praying for you every day.”

“I know.”

“Alright. Let me allow you to go.”

“Goodnight, sir.”

“Goodnight, my daughter.”

The call ended.

I stood there staring at my phone.

“I trust your decisions.”

I closed my eyes for a second.

Daniel hadn’t said a word.

He simply waited.

When I looked up, he smiled gently.

“I’ll ask you again another day.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“I don’t want you answering because you’re under pressure.”

He took the notebook from my hand and placed it back in his bag.

“When you’re ready, you’ll tell me.”

I was surprised.

Most guys I knew would have insisted.

Or acted offended.

Daniel did neither.

He smiled.

“Go upstairs.”

I looked at him.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For understanding.”

He shrugged.

“I told you before.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to lose someone like you.”

As I watched him walk away, I couldn’t stop smiling.

When I entered the room, Teni immediately noticed.

“He asked, didn’t he?”

I dropped my bag.

“How did you know?”

She laughed.

“Your face is shining like NEPA just restored light.”

I burst into laughter.

“He did.”

“And?”

“My dad called.”

She sat up immediately.

“Wait… your father interrupted your first relationship proposal?”

I nodded.

She laughed so hard that tears formed in her eyes.

“Only you, Amara.”

“It wasn’t funny.”

“It is now.”

I threw a pillow at her.

She caught it easily.

“So… what did you tell Daniel?”

“I didn’t.”

Her smile disappeared.

“You didn’t answer?”

“He said he’ll ask again.”

She stared at me.

“Hmm.”

“What?”

“I’ve been watching him.”

I frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“I think he genuinely likes you.”

I smiled without meaning to.

For the first time since I’d known Teni, she wasn’t warning me.

That alone made me feel lighter.

The following week flew by.

Tests.

Assignments.

Choir rehearsals.

Departmental meetings.

Life became busy again.

One Wednesday after fellowship, Daniel found me arranging chairs.

“You always stay back to help.”

I smiled.

“I can’t pretend not to see work.”

He laughed.

“I know.”

He helped me stack the remaining chairs.

When we finished, we sat outside the hall.

The campus was unusually peaceful.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said.

“About what?”

“You.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You really know how to flatter someone.”

“I’m serious.”

He looked at me.

“I don’t want to rush you.”

I nodded.

“But I also don’t want to pretend we’re just friends anymore.”

I took a deep breath.

“I’ve been thinking too.”

“And?”

“I like you.”

His face lit up.

“But…”

He laughed.

“There’s always a but.”

“I’m scared.”

“Of me?”

I shook my head.

“Of making a mistake.”

He was quiet.

Then he asked softly,

“What if loving someone isn’t the mistake?”

I looked into his eyes.

“What if never allowing yourself to love is?”

I didn’t have an answer.

A few days later, he officially asked again.

This time there was no interruption.

No phone call.

No distraction.

Just the two of us sitting on a bench behind the faculty.

“Amara Okafor.”

I smiled.

“Yes?”

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

I took a long breath.

Every warning I’d heard echoed in my mind.

My mother’s prayers.

My father’s trust.

Teni’s advice.

Sandra’s words.

Then I looked at Daniel.

“I will.”

He smiled so widely that I couldn’t help laughing.

“Really?”

I nodded.

“Really.”

He gently held my hand.

“I promise I’ll never intentionally hurt you.”

I believed him.

With all my heart.

I had no idea that people could make sincere promises…

And still break them.

That evening, as I returned to the hostel, my phone buzzed.

It was a message from an unknown number.

I opened it.

“Congratulations on saying yes to Daniel.”

My heart skipped.

The next message came immediately.

“I hope he told you everything he did last semester.”

I froze.

Then the sender sent one last message.

“If he didn’t… maybe it’s time someone did.”

I stared at the screen.

I had never seen the number before.

But somehow…

Whoever sent those messages knew exactly who I was.

If you were Amara, would you confront Daniel immediately or try to find out who sent the messages first?

To be continued…