THE QUESTION I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT

“Do you trust me?”

Daniel’s question hung in the air.

I looked at him, confused.

“Of course… I think I do.”

“You think?”

I laughed softly.

“Nobody can know everything about another person.”

He smiled.

“Fair enough.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Students walked past us, laughing and discussing an upcoming departmental party.

The security man at the hostel gate was already asking visitors to leave.

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.

“I just wanted to know.”

“Why?”

“Because trust means more to me than anything.”

I nodded.

“I understand.”

He smiled again.

“Goodnight, Amara.”

“Goodnight.”

As I entered the hostel, I kept thinking about that question.

Why did he ask it?

The next few days were unusually busy.

Assignments.

Continuous assessments.

Group presentations.

For the first time since resumption, I barely had time to breathe.

Daniel and I still talked, but not as often.

Oddly enough, I missed him.

One afternoon, while I was waiting outside a lecture hall, my phone buzzed.

Daniel: Lunch?

I smiled.

Me: Only if you’re buying.

His reply came almost immediately.

I already know that’s the only way you’ll agree.

I laughed to myself.

When I got to the cafeteria, he’d already ordered jollof rice and chicken.

“You remembered my favourite.”

He shrugged.

“I pay attention.”

That simple sentence warmed my heart more than it should have.

As we ate, Daniel suddenly became serious.

“Can I tell you something I’ve never told anyone here?”

“You can.”

He took a deep breath.

“My parents separated when I was in secondary school.”

I looked at him quietly.

“I used to think it was my fault.”

“Why?”

“They fought about money all the time. One day my dad left, and everything changed.”

He looked down at his plate.

“I promised myself that if I ever loved someone, I’d never make them feel abandoned.”

Something inside me broke for him.

Without thinking, I reached across the table and held his hand.

“It’s not your fault.”

He looked at our hands but didn’t move away.

Instead, he held mine a little tighter.

Neither of us said anything for a few seconds.

Then I slowly pulled my hand back.

For the rest of the day, I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment.

That evening, Teni returned to the room carrying a nylon bag filled with snacks.

She looked at me.

“You’ve been smiling at your phone too much these days.”

“I haven’t.”

“You have.”

She threw a packet of chin chin at me.

“Catch.”

I caught it, laughing.

She sat opposite me.

“So… has Mr. Fellowship finally asked you out?”

“No.”

“But you want him to.”

I looked away.

“I don’t know.”

“Amara.”

“Hmm?”

“Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“If you ever start dating him, don’t lose yourself trying to keep him.”

I frowned.

“What kind of advice is that?”

“The kind girls don’t hear until it’s too late.”

I didn’t reply.

Later that night, Daniel called.

“I have good news.”

“What happened?”

“I got shortlisted for an internship in Abuja.”

“That’s amazing!”

“I know. I’m really happy.”

“But?”

He laughed.

“You know me too well.”

“What is it?”

“If I get it, I’ll be leaving campus for a while.”

For some reason, my excitement disappeared.

“Oh.”

“You’ll miss me?”

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me.

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

He laughed loudly.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

After the call ended, I realized something that scared me.

The thought of him leaving made me uncomfortable.

Very uncomfortable.

When did that happen?

How had one person become this important to me?

The following Friday, fellowship held its usual prayer meeting.

Halfway through the service, the pastor said something that made my chest tighten.

“Not everyone who enters your life is sent by God. Some people come to test your heart.”

I lowered my head.

His words echoed inside me.

After the meeting ended, Daniel offered to walk me back.

The campus was unusually quiet.

The night breeze was cool.

We walked side by side without saying much.

Then, just before we reached my hostel, he stopped.

“Amara.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been trying to ignore this.”

I looked at him.

“But I can’t anymore.”

My heartbeat quickened.

He took one step closer.

“I like you.”

Everything around me suddenly felt still.

“I don’t mean as a friend.”

He swallowed.

“I’ve tried pretending that’s enough, but it isn’t.”

I couldn’t speak.

“I know you’re different,” he continued softly.

“And I don’t want to pressure you.”

“I just needed you to know how I feel.”

Before I could respond…

Someone behind us clapped slowly.

We both turned.

Standing a few metres away was Sandra.

She wasn’t smiling.

She looked straight at me before saying words that made my blood run cold.

“Amara… before you answer him, don’t you think you deserve to know why we really broke up?”

What do you think Sandra is about to reveal? Should Amara hear her out before making any decision?

To be continued…