I was halfway into my shoes, about to leave for campus, when my father's voice cut through the morning calm.
"Morayo," he said, arms crossed, eyes sharp as daggers.
I froze, trying to keep my composure. "Yes, Baba?"
He stepped closer, his tone low but heavy. "Your mother spoke to me this morning. She says you've been… disrespectful. Bold. Arrogant. She says school is making you too forward. Do you understand what that means?"
I swallowed hard. "Baba, I… I didn't mean—"
"You may not mean it, Morayo," he interrupted, voice rising slightly, "but your behavior matters. You must remember who you are and the respect you owe your family."
"Yes, Baba," I said softly, heart hammering. I had nothing to argue with, not against his fury and my mother's complaints combined.
He studied me for a long moment, then shook his head. "Go to school. But remember, boldness without respect is dangerous. Learn that well."
I nodded again, slipping out the door with my bag over my shoulder, silently cursing the day I had to navigate both the world outside and the rules at home.
Campus was slightly brighter than my mood as I met Lia outside the lecture hall. She waved me over with her usual energy.
"Finally!" she said, looping her arm through mine. "How's my glowing girl this morning?"
I smiled faintly, letting her pull me toward our lecture hall. "It's… a morning," I said cautiously.
As we settled into our seats, Daniel appeared, sliding into the desk in front of me. My stomach tensed. I hadn't told him about the party. Not a word. And now he was here, unaware, my little secret waiting to explode.
Lia leaned forward, oblivious. "So, about the party last night… Morayo looked amazing, by the way. I mean, people could barely take their eyes off her. And you know Jeremiah? He was totally checking me out—"
My eyes widened. I froze. Daniel turned slowly, expression neutral at first, then hardening as her words sank in.
"What party?" he asked, voice tight.
I blinked, heat rushing to my cheeks. "I… I went to a party last night. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
His jaw tightened. "You… went to a party? And you didn't tell me?"
"I… I didn't want to worry you," I whispered, guilt twisting my stomach. "I just—"
"You didn't want to worry me?" Daniel's tone rose, disbelief edging his words. "Morayo, we're supposed to… I don't even know why I'm trying. You—"
"Oh I....I told her not...to tell you"Lia rushed, trying to save me from the dilemma she unknownly caused
I opened my mouth, tried to explain, apologize, but it felt like my words hit a wall. "I'm sorry, Daniel. I should've told you…"
He didn't respond. Not really. Just turned back to his notes, leaving my apology hanging in the air like it meant nothing. My chest tightened, and I felt the sting of helplessness.
By the time lectures ended, my nerves were frayed. My phone buzzed in my bag, and I fished it out almost automatically.
A text from an unknown number.
"How was your day, Morayo?"
It's Femi. I'm yet to save his number.
I exhaled, fingers trembling slightly as I typed back.
"Terrible. Don't even ask. Long story."
"Want me to take you out to ease your day?" came the next message.
I stared at the screen, a mix of amusement and hesitation curling inside me. He didn't even know me, and yet… he offered.
"Thanks, but no. We're strangers," I typed, pressing send.
As I slipped my phone back into my bag, I leaned back in the chair at the library, closing my eyes for a moment. The day had been a mess—parental scolding, a fight with Daniel, the weight of lies and secrecy pressing on my chest but somewhere, in the quiet digital connection from a man I barely knew, a small flicker of something like relief existed.
I didn't know what it meant yet. I only knew the day was over, and for a moment, that was enough.