"You won't believe what I saw yesterday!" Zinny blurted as soon as they all sat in their corner of the class, a mischievous grin lighting up her face.
Ella raised a brow. "If this is about the snack vendor giving you extra puff-puff again, I swear—"
"No! Way better!" Zinny leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I came back to school yesterday to look for my headphones—you know, the black ones I left in class. Anyway, I sneak in and guess what I saw? Mr. James, our math teacher, and Miss Veronica, the economics teacher, all cuddled up in the back of the classroom like it was their honeymoon suite!"
A gasp rippled through the circle. Even Ella's mouth dropped open.
"You're joking!" Kosi choked, her voice just a pitch too high.
"Swear on Dayo's annoying robot voice. I had to hide behind the window so they wouldn't see me. My heart nearly burst out of my chest. I escaped like a spy in one of those action movies."
The girls were still laughing and replaying the scene when Mr. James walked in. The room immediately shifted into a hush.
"Quiet down," he barked, but Zinny couldn't resist throwing a side glance, mouthing, Back of the class!
Ella tried not to giggle. Her cheeks ached from holding it in.
Later that day, at home, she slipped a small folded paper into Dayo's backpack.
"If Michael ever asks for my number," she said, catching her ten-year-old brother's eye, "just give him this. But only if he asks."
Dayo rolled his eyes. "You people and your secrets."
"Just do it, pwease," she teased, pinching his cheeks. He swatted her hand away with a scowl.
The next morning, her phone buzzed. A message. Unknown number.
Hey. – Michael
Ella blinked. As if on cue. She typed a one-word reply.
Hey.
Simple. Nonchalant. But her heart fluttered. If he wanted her attention, he'd have to earn it. She wasn't the type to fall for a weak chase.
Later that day, after class, she and her friends decided to walk home together. Tari offered to escort her and the twins to their school.
The afternoon sun was warm, the breeze light. Tari walked beside her, brushing her hand gently once, then twice. She didn't say anything. Finally, he slipped his fingers into hers, hesitant like a boy unsure if it was okay. She let him. Just for a while. His smile—shy, genuine—almost made her stomach flip.
But just as they reached the school gates, she let go. In case Michael was watching. She didn't want to ruin her other options.
After saying goodbye to Tari and her friends, she walked home with her siblings. Dayo nudged her halfway.
"He came to drop his sister today," he said casually.
Ella turned. "Michael?"
He nodded. "I gave him your number like you said."
She ruffled his hair. "Good boy."
"Eww, stop that! I'm not a baby."
That night, their mum made their favorite meal—jollof rice, fried plantain, and grilled chicken with beef stew. She even added goat meat. Everyone knew what that meant.
"Enjoy this food well," she laughed, plating the last of the meat. "Your father's coming back next week. Might be the last peaceful dinner for a while."
They all laughed awkwardly.
After dinner, Ella saw Dayo grinning at his phone.
"You and your girlfriend again?"
He blushed. "She's not my girlfriend!"
She laughed. "Sure, sure. So what's this I hear about you joining the choir?"
He straightened. "I want to. Dara says I can sing better than her."
"Wow. Big dreams, superstar. You better don't make us wear dark shades at church."
She went to bed early, exhausted. Just before sleep pulled her under, her phone buzzed.
Tari: I love you.
She stared at the message. Blinking.
No emojis. No overthinking. Just three words that settled over her like a cloak she wasn't sure she wanted to wear.
She didn't reply. Her heart thudded in her chest. Not because she was scared. But because… she didn't feel the same. Not really.
She turned to the wall, closed her eyes—and saw Michael's face.
She hissed and turned back. "No. No way. Don't fall. Not again."
But the war had already started in her heart.