Chapter Six: Choice Between Hearts (Part Two)
1459 Words
Chapter Six: The Choice Between Hearts (Part Two)
The rain continued through the night.
By morning, the school courtyard was dotted with puddles that reflected the gray sky above. Students hurried between classrooms, lifting their uniforms to avoid the muddy water, laughing whenever someone slipped.
Normally, Amina would have joined in.
Today, her mind was somewhere else.
She had replayed her mother’s words all night.
We’re only entrusted with people for a little while.
She understood the wisdom behind them.
She simply wasn’t ready to accept it.
As she entered the classroom, she immediately noticed Idris sitting quietly at his desk. He looked as though he hadn’t slept at all.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes.
His usually neat hair was slightly untidy.
Something wasn’t right.
When the first lesson ended, she walked over to him.
“Idris.”
He looked up and forced a smile.
“Morning.”
“You look exhausted.”
“I’m fine.”
She folded her arms.
“You know I don’t believe that.”
For a moment, he considered telling her about the anonymous message.
Instead, he slipped his phone deeper into his pocket.
“I just couldn’t sleep.”
Amina studied his face.
She knew he was hiding something.
But she also knew better than to force answers from someone who wasn’t ready to give them.
“Whenever you’re ready,” she said softly, “I’ll listen.”
His eyes met hers.
“Thank you.”
Those two words carried more weight than either of them realized.
⸻
During lunch break, Bashir dropped onto the bench beside Idris with his usual carefree grin.
“So…”
Idris sighed.
“So?”
“I heard you’re leaving.”
News traveled quickly.
“Yeah.”
“When?”
“Two weeks.”
Bashir’s smile faded.
“We’re going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you guys too.”
There was a brief silence before Bashir leaned closer.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Depends.”
“Are the rumors true?”
Idris frowned.
“What rumors?”
“You and Amina.”
He looked away.
“We’re friends.”
Bashir nodded slowly.
“That’s not what everyone thinks.”
“I don’t care what everyone thinks.”
“I know.”
Bashir smiled faintly.
“I’m just saying… people can be cruel.”
Idris looked toward the courtyard where Amina was laughing with two girls from her class.
“I’ve noticed.”
“Then be careful.”
Before Idris could respond, the bell rang.
Neither of them realized that someone standing nearby had overheard every word.
⸻
That afternoon, Amina stayed behind after class to return a library book.
The corridors were unusually quiet.
As she walked toward the library, she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned.
No one.
She shook her head.
You’re imagining things.
She continued walking.
Again…
Footsteps.
This time they sounded closer.
Her heartbeat quickened.
“Amina.”
She spun around.
Relief washed over her.
It was Idris.
“You scared me.”
“I’m sorry.”
He noticed the tension on her face.
“Are you okay?”
She laughed nervously.
“I thought someone was following me.”
He looked down the empty corridor.
“There isn’t anyone.”
“I know.”
She smiled sheepishly.
“I’ve been overthinking lately.”
He wanted to tell her about the text message.
He wanted to tell her everything.
Instead, he simply said,
“I’ll walk you home.”
She smiled.
“I’d like that.”
⸻
The road home was quieter than usual after the rain.
The scent of wet earth filled the air.
Children splashed happily through puddles while traders reopened their roadside stalls.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Idris broke the silence.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“Are you afraid?”
She thought for a moment.
“Yes.”
“Of what?”
“Losing people.”
He looked down.
“Me too.”
She stopped walking.
“You know something, don’t you?”
His heart skipped.
“What makes you say that?”
“Because every time I mention you leaving…”
She searched his face.
“…you look like you’re carrying something much heavier.”
He almost told her.
His hand even tightened around the phone in his pocket.
But then he remembered the message.
If you really care about Amina, stay away from her before it’s too late.
What if telling her put her in danger?
“I’m just worried,” he said quietly.
She wasn’t convinced.
But she nodded anyway.
⸻
That evening, Idris finally replied to the anonymous number.
Who are you?
A minute passed.
Then another.
No reply.
Just as he was about to put the phone away, another message appeared.
You’re asking the wrong question.
His breathing slowed.
He typed again.
Then what’s the right question?
The reply came almost instantly.
Ask your father what happened seventeen years ago.
Idris stared at the screen.
Seventeen years ago?
That was before he could remember anything.
He rushed downstairs.
His father was reading in the sitting room.
“Baba?”
His father looked up.
“Yes?”
“I need to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
Idris hesitated.
“What happened… seventeen years ago?”
His father’s expression changed immediately.
The color drained from his face.
“Why are you asking that?”
“So something did happen.”
His father stood abruptly.
“Who told you to ask me that?”
“No one.”
“Idris.”
His voice was firmer now.
“Tell me.”
Idris couldn’t lie.
“I got a message.”
“What message?”
He handed over the phone.
His father read the words in silence.
When he finished, his hands trembled almost imperceptibly.
“Delete this.”
“What?”
“Delete it.”
“Baba…”
“I said delete it.”
“I deserve an explanation.”
“No.”
His father’s voice hardened.
“You deserve peace.”
“How can I have peace when I don’t even know what’s happening?”
His father looked away.
“There are things better left buried.”
“Not if they’re affecting my life.”
A long silence followed.
Finally, his father spoke.
“Stay away from whoever sent these messages.”
“What about Amina?”
At the mention of her name, his father’s eyes widened.
“How do you know her?”
Idris froze.
“You know her?”
His father didn’t answer.
Instead, he quietly walked out of the room.
Leaving Idris with far more questions than answers.
⸻
The following morning, Idris arrived at school earlier than usual.
He found Amina sitting alone beneath the mango tree, reading.
“You always come here when you need to think,” he said.
She looked up and smiled.
“And you always know where to find me.”
He sat beside her.
For a while, they simply watched students arriving through the school gate.
Then Amina closed her book.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“That’s dangerous.”
She laughed.
“I learned that joke from you.”
“I’m proud.”
Her smile slowly faded.
“When you leave…”
He looked at her.
“…promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t disappear.”
“I won’t.”
“I mean it.”
She met his eyes.
“People always say they’ll keep in touch.”
“They call for a few weeks.”
“They send messages for a month.”
“And then…”
“They become strangers.”
Idris shook his head.
“That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because…”
He paused.
“…some people become part of your life.”
“And once they do…”
“They never really leave.”
Amina felt tears threatening to escape.
She quickly blinked them away.
“You always know the right thing to say.”
“No.”
He smiled sadly.
“I’ve just finally learned what’s worth saying.”
The first school bell rang.
Neither of them moved.
For one more minute, they sat together beneath the old mango tree.
Neither realizing that, from the second-floor balcony of the administration block, someone was secretly taking photographs of them.
One picture.
Then another.
And another.
Each photograph was immediately sent to the same anonymous number that had contacted Idris.
Within seconds, a reply arrived.
Keep watching them. We move tomorrow.
This ends Part Two. Part Three will conclude the full Chapter Six with the identity of the mysterious watcher, the truth behind Idris’s father’s fear, and a major cliffhanger leading into Chapter Seven.
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