THE MESSAGE THAT WOULDN’T LEAVE ME ALONE

EPISODE 9: THE MESSAGE THAT WOULDN’T LEAVE ME ALONE

I read the messages again.

And again.

My fingers hovered over the keypad.

Who are you?

I typed it.

Then I deleted it.

If this was someone trying to cause trouble, replying would only encourage them.

I locked my phone and slipped it into my bag.

But my mind refused to lock the messages away.

That night, Daniel called.

“My girlfriend.”

I smiled before I could stop myself.

“I’ve been promoted already?”

He laughed.

“Of course.”

We talked for almost an hour.

He told me about a lecturer who mistakenly entered the wrong class and taught for twenty minutes before realizing it.

I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

For a while, I forgot about the messages.

Then, just before ending the call, he said,

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Sleep well.”

“You too.”

The call ended.

I stared at his name on my screen.

Should I ask him?

Should I tell him about the messages?

Instead, I placed the phone beside my pillow and turned off the light.

Sleep never came easily.

The next morning, I woke up to another text from the same number.

“You look happy today.”

My heart dropped.

How did this person know?

Another message followed.

“Be careful who you trust.”

I immediately looked around.

Students were everywhere, rushing to lectures.

Was someone watching me?

“Amara!”

I turned.

It was Daniel.

He jogged towards me with two cups of coffee.

“I bought one for you.”

I forced a smile.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t look okay.”

“I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

I nodded.

“I’m just tired.”

He didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t push.

We walked to class together.

The whole time, I felt like someone was watching us.

After lectures, Teni found me sitting alone behind the library.

“You’ve disappeared since morning.”

I showed her the messages.

She read them twice.

“This is creepy.”

“I know.”

“Did you tell Daniel?”

I shook my head.

“Not yet.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

She handed my phone back.

“Either someone is playing games…”

She paused.

“…or someone actually knows something.”

Those words stayed with me.

That evening, I finally gathered the courage to tell Daniel.

He read the messages quietly.

When he finished, he frowned.

“This isn’t funny.”

“You don’t know who it could be?”

He thought for a moment.

“No.”

“Think carefully.”

“I am.”

He handed me the phone.

“I honestly don’t know.”

I searched his face.

He looked confused.

Or maybe he was just good at hiding things.

“I’ll change my number if this continues,” I said.

He nodded.

“I’ll help you report it if we have to.”

His response sounded genuine.

Still…

Something inside me wouldn’t settle.

Three days passed without another message.

Life slowly returned to normal.

I convinced myself it was over.

Then Saturday afternoon arrived.

I was doing laundry behind the hostel when my phone rang.

Unknown number.

This time, I answered.

“Hello?”

For a few seconds, nobody spoke.

Then a female voice whispered,

“You’re making the same mistake I made.”

My grip tightened around the phone.

“Who is this?”

“You don’t know me.”

“What do you want?”

“I just don’t want another girl to cry because of Daniel.”

My heartbeat quickened.

“What did he do?”

The woman laughed softly.

“You still believe the only woman in his past is Sandra?”

I felt the blood drain from my face.

“Who are you?”

There was silence.

Then she spoke again.

“Ask him about Grace.”

The line went dead.

I stood there staring at the phone.

“Grace?”

I’d never heard that name before.

Not once.

Not from Daniel.

Not from Sandra.

Not from anyone.

That evening, Daniel came to see me.

The moment he smiled, I remembered the voice on the phone.

“Ask him about Grace.”

He noticed my expression immediately.

“What happened?”

I looked straight at him.

“I want to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

I swallowed.

“Who is Grace?”

The smile disappeared from his face.

Not gradually.

Immediately.

And for the first time since I met him…

Daniel looked afraid.

Who do you think Grace is, and why did Daniel react that way?

To be continued…