You’ve Been Watching Me?

“How do you know my name?”

Amara’s voice came out lower than she expected. Not loud. Not soft. Just… careful.

Tobi didn’t answer immediately.

That alone made her chest tighten.

Because if it was something normal, he would have said it fast. People like him, talkative, playful, always have something to say.

But now?

Silence.

“I asked you something,” she said, folding her arms.

Around them, Lagos was still moving like nothing happened. Conductors shouting. People rushing. A woman dragging a child across the road like life was chasing her.

But for Amara, everything had slowed down.

Tobi exhaled.

“Relax,” he said. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Then say what it is.”

He looked at her for a few seconds, like he was trying to decide how much to say.

Then he spoke.

“You work at Zennix Solutions. Third floor. Admin department.”

Amara’s heart skipped.

“What?”

“You close by 5pm most days. Sometimes 6 when your boss is in a bad mood.”

Her stomach dropped.

“You usually come out with one girl. Fair, loud, always laughing. That should be Kemi.”

Amara took a step back.

“Okay… stop.”

But he didn’t.

“You don’t like taking bike because you’re scared of accidents. So you wait for bus even when it’s stressful.”

“Stop it!” she snapped.

People nearby turned slightly, but she didn’t care.

Her heart was beating too fast now.

“How do you know all this?” she demanded.

Tobi finally raised his hands.

“Okay. Okay. I’ve said enough.”

“That’s not enough!” Amara’s voice cracked. “That’s not normal!”

He ran his hand through his hair.

“I know.”

“Do you know how crazy you sound right now?”

“I know,” he repeated, calmer this time.

Amara stared at him.

Her mind was racing.

Had he been following her? Watching her? For how long?

A stranger knowing this much about her was not funny anymore.

It was scary.

“You’ve been stalking me?” she asked slowly.

Tobi shook his head immediately.

“No.”

“Then what is this?”

He hesitated again.

That same hesitation.

Amara’s chest tightened even more.

“I don’t like this,” she said, her voice dropping. “I don’t like this at all.”

She turned, ready to walk away for real this time.

“Amara wait.”

She stopped again.

Not because she wanted to.

But because something in his voice changed.

It wasn’t playful.
It wasn’t teasing.

It was serious.

Almost urgent.

“If I explain, you won’t believe me,” he said.

“Try me.”

Tobi looked around briefly, then back at her.

“Not here.”

Amara almost laughed.

“Of course. Classic line.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I,” she replied. “You’re already sounding like a red flag. Don’t upgrade yourself to danger.”

For a second, he almost smiled.

Almost.

But it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Look,” he said quietly, “I’ve been trying to talk to you for weeks.”

That hit her again.

“Weeks?” she repeated.

He nodded.

“I just didn’t want to approach you the wrong way.”

Amara let out a short, dry laugh.

“Well congratulations. This is definitely the wrong way.”

“I didn’t plan this,” he said. “Today just… happened.”

She shook her head.

Nothing about this made sense.

Nothing.

Her phone buzzed again.

She ignored it.

Right now, this was more important.

More confusing.

More dangerous.

“You need to explain yourself,” she said firmly. “Now.”

Tobi looked at her like he was weighing something heavy in his mind.

Then he spoke slowly.

“Okay. But before I say anything, answer me one question.”

Amara frowned.

“What?”

“Femi,” he said. “That your ex.”

Her body stiffened instantly.

“What about him?”

Tobi’s gaze didn’t leave hers.

“When last did you talk to him?”

Amara blinked.

That question caught her off guard.

“Six months ago,” she said cautiously. “Why?”

Tobi nodded slowly, like he just confirmed something.

“And since then, he hasn’t called you? Messaged you? Nothing?”

Amara’s patience snapped.

“What exactly is your problem?” she burst out. “Why are you bringing him into this?”

“Because it matters.”

“How does it matter?” she demanded. “You don’t even know me!”

Tobi took a step closer.

Lowered his voice.

“I know enough.”

That line sent a chill through her.

Amara swallowed.

“Explain. Now.”

Tobi leaned in slightly.

Not too close. Just enough that she could hear him clearly over the Lagos noise.

“You didn’t find it strange?” he asked.

“Strange what?”

“That he moved on so fast.”

Amara’s chest tightened again.

Pain flashed across her face before she could hide it.

“That’s not your business,” she said quietly.

“But it is,” Tobi replied.

She looked at him, confused and angry at the same time.

“How?”

Tobi held her gaze.

Then he said the one thing she wasn’t ready for.

“Because the girl he’s getting married to…”

He paused.

Just for a second.

And that second felt too long.

“…is not who you think she is.”

Amara frowned.

“What does that even mean?”

Tobi didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he reached into his pocket.

Brought out his phone.

Unlocked it.

Then he turned the screen toward her.

“Look closely,” he said.

Amara hesitated.

Something inside her was already warning her not to look.

But curiosity?

Curiosity won.

She took the phone.

And the moment her eyes landed on the picture…

Her breath caught.

Her hands went cold.

“No way…” she whispered.

Because the girl in the engagement photo…

She knew her.

Not just knew her.

Trusted her.

Loved her.

“Impossible,” Amara said, shaking her head slowly.

But the picture didn’t change.

It stayed the same.

Clear.

Painfully clear.

Amara looked up at Tobi, her voice barely there.

“…that’s my friend.”

Tobi didn’t look surprised.

Like he had been waiting for that reaction.

“What’s her name?” he asked quietly.

Amara’s lips trembled.

“Kemi.”

And just like that…

Everything started falling apart at once.

To be continued…