Chapter Two — The Message That Changed Everything
Suwanee Jameson lay stretched across her bed, her cheek pressed into a pillow as she scrolled through her cracked Tecno Pop 2. WhatsApp was still refusing to open. Instagram hadn't worked in weeks. But Facebook? Facebook was the last survivor in her social media village.
Bored and daydreaming, her thumb hovered over the search bar. She didn't even think before typing it.
Michael Delanie.
His profile appeared almost instantly. His picture was cool and casual — him behind the drums in church, one hand mid-air, frozen in motion. He looked... confident. Focused. Effortlessly fine.
She smiled to herself and hit "Add Friend."
Then immediately screamed into her pillow.
"What am I doingggg?!"
But less than two minutes later, her phone buzzed again.
Notification: Michael Delanie accepted your friend request.
Her heart skipped. She sat up so fast, the pillow fell to the floor.
Before she could second-guess herself, she clicked on Message and typed:
Suwanee:
Hi 🙈 I hope you don't mind me messaging. I saw your drumming last Sunday — it was 🔥
She tossed the phone away like it was on fire.
Then… ding.
Michael Delanie:
Hey. Thanks. Appreciate it.
Short. Simple. Sweet. But not exactly warm.
Still, she smiled. He replied. That was something.
Suwanee:
I've actually been watching you drum since I was little. You're really talented.
Michael Delanie:
Oh wow. That's cool. Didn't know anyone paid that much attention to the drums 😅
He wasn't flirty. Not teasing. Just... casual. Like he was replying to a fan.
Which kind of stung — but also made sense.
He was Michael Delanie.
Church's golden boy. Reserved. Confident. Always in his own space.
And she was loud, funny Suwanee who cracked jokes and didn't know how to stay still.
She updated the girlies on the group chat:
Group Chat: Girlies 💅💖🔥
Suwanee: "He replied but he's acting like customer service 😭"
Ruth: "He what? Send screenshot abeg."
Titi: "Customer service 😭😭😭 girl pls."
Ada: "Still better than being left on read 😌 Stay focused."
Back in the chat, she kept trying — not too much, just being herself.
Suwanee:
Yeah, I'm in the choir too. I sing backup. Mostly laugh and distract everyone though 😂
Michael Delanie:
Lol. I think I've heard you talk in practice before.
Suwanee:
Yesss that was probably me arguing with Titi about jollof vs fried rice.
Michael Delanie:
😂 Sounds about right.
His messages were never too long. He laughed sometimes, reacted to her jokes, replied politely — but he didn't ask questions back. He didn't steer the convo. And definitely didn't flirt.
But he wasn't rude.
He wasn't dry.
He was just... Michael. Chill. Kind. In his own world.
Still, every reply felt like a little win.
That night, Suwanee Jameson lay in bed with her phone pressed to her chest. She knew Michael wasn't crushing on her. Not even close. But he didn't ignore her. He didn't shut her out.
He saw her.
And for now... that was enough.