THE GIRL WHO HUGGED HIM

I couldn’t move.

Daniel stood there with the girl in his arms for a few seconds before they pulled apart.

She looked like she had been crying.

He held her shoulders, saying something I couldn’t hear.

I wanted to walk closer.

I wanted to know who she was.

Instead, I stood there like someone whose feet had suddenly forgotten how to move.

“Amara?”

I turned.

It was Teni.

“What are you looking at?”

I pointed without saying a word.

She followed my eyes.

“Oh.”

Neither of us spoke.

By the time I looked back, Daniel and the girl were already walking away together.

That night, I ignored his messages.

Daniel: Did you get back safely?

I read it.

I didn’t reply.

Five minutes later.

Daniel: Are you okay?

Still nothing.

Then he called.

I watched my phone ring until it stopped.

Teni was lying on her bed scrolling through TikTok.

She looked at me.

“You don’t have to answer if you’re not ready.”

“I’m confused.”

“I know.”

“What if there’s an explanation?”

“There probably is.”

“And what if I’m overthinking?”

She locked her phone.

“Then ask him.”

“I don’t want to sound insecure.”

Teni sighed.

“Amara, asking a simple question isn’t insecurity.”

The next morning, Daniel was waiting outside my lecture hall.

The moment he saw me, he smiled.

I didn’t.

“Can we talk?”

I nodded.

We walked to a quiet part of the faculty.

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

“I saw you yesterday.”

His expression changed immediately.

“You saw…”

“You hugging a girl.”

He closed his eyes briefly.

“Oh.”

“Who is she?”

He looked relieved.

“I thought it was something worse.”

I frowned.

“Worse?”

He smiled.

“Her name is Kemi.”

“And?”

“My cousin.”

I blinked.

“Your cousin?”

“Yes.”

“Why was she crying?”

“Her mum was admitted to the hospital yesterday.”

I stared at him.

“She’s been having a hard time.”

I felt embarrassed.

“So… that’s all?”

He nodded.

“That’s all.”

I looked down.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I assumed…”

He smiled gently.

“You’re human.”

I laughed nervously.

“I feel so silly.”

He shook his head.

“No.”

He looked at me for a moment.

“Actually… I’m glad.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“Because it means you care.”

I looked away before he could see me blush.

As we walked back, he suddenly stopped.

“I have one request.”

“What?”

“Whenever something bothers you…”

He smiled.

“Ask me first.”

I nodded.

“I will.”

“And don’t let your imagination punish you before the truth does.”

I laughed.

“That’s strangely specific.”

“I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.”

Over the next two weeks, things between us became even easier.

We laughed more.

Talked more.

Prayed together after fellowship meetings.

He never pressured me.

Never asked me to define what we were.

And somehow, that made me trust him even more.

One Friday evening, after choir rehearsal, he walked me to the hostel.

“I’ll be travelling tomorrow,” he said.

“Where?”

“Ibadan.”

“For what?”

“My uncle’s birthday.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll be back Sunday evening.”

“Safe trip.”

He smiled.

“I’ll miss you.”

I felt my heart race again.

“I’ll survive.”

He laughed.

“You’re trying too hard to sound strong.”

Maybe I was.

Saturday was unusually quiet.

Without Daniel around, I realized how much he had become part of my daily routine.

I hated admitting that.

Around 8 p.m., Teni came into the room carrying suya.

She handed me one wrap.

“You’ve been moody all day.”

“I have not.”

“You have.”

She sat beside me.

“So let me ask again.”

I sighed dramatically.

“What?”

“If Daniel officially asks you to be his girlfriend…”

She looked straight into my eyes.

“…what exactly is stopping you from saying yes?”

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it.

The truth surprised even me.

“I don’t know.”

Because I didn’t.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like him.

I did.

A lot.

Maybe too much.

I was just afraid.

Afraid of disappointing my parents.

Afraid of getting hurt.

Afraid of becoming someone I no longer recognized.

On Sunday evening, Daniel returned to campus.

He called me.

“I brought something for you.”

“What?”

“Come downstairs.”

I went to the hostel entrance.

He was standing there with a small paper bag.

“I remembered you like coconut candy.”

I laughed.

“You travelled all the way to Ibadan and bought me coconut candy?”

He shrugged.

“It reminded me of you.”

I shook my head, smiling.

“Thank you.”

He watched me for a few seconds.

Then he took a slow breath.

“I’ve waited long enough.”

My smile faded.

“Amara…”

His voice was calm.

“I don’t just like you anymore.”

He reached into his backpack and brought out a small, neatly wrapped notebook.

“I’ve written every reason I admire you in here.”

I stared at it, speechless.

“I know this isn’t the usual flowers and chocolates.”

He smiled nervously.

“But this felt more like you.”

Then he looked me straight in the eyes.

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

The whole world seemed to go silent.

I looked at the notebook in my hands.

Then at Daniel.

One word sat on the tip of my tongue.

But before I could say it…

My phone started ringing.

It was my father.

And for some reason, my heart suddenly filled with fear.

If you were Amara, would you answer her father’s call first, or respond to Daniel’s question?

To be continued…