ACCIDENTAL LOVE

EPISODE 3 :THE UNEXPECTED MESSAGE

The next morning, Amara woke up earlier than usual. She had barely slept the previous night. Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered Daniel standing in front of her in the rain, the way he had looked at her, and the strange feeling that had suddenly appeared in her heart.

She quickly pushed the thought away.

“This is getting ridiculous,” she whispered.

After getting ready for school, Amara picked up her phone. There was one new message from an unknown number.

“Good morning. I hope you got home safely yesterday.”

She stared at the screen for a few seconds.

Her heart skipped.

She knew exactly who it was.

“Daniel?”

The reply came almost immediately.

“So you saved my number? 😂”

Amara smiled despite herself.

“I didn't save it. You just told me your name yesterday.”

“Oh. I thought I was already important enough to be saved.”

She rolled her eyes.

“i***t,” she whispered, smiling.

Before she could reply, her best friend, Tessa, walked into the room.

“Who are you chatting with?”

“Nobody.”

Tessa immediately became suspicious.

“Nobody that is making you smile like that?”

Amara quickly locked her phone.

“Let's just go to school.”

Tessa followed her out of the room, still wearing a suspicious smile.

At school, Amara tried to concentrate during the first lesson, but Daniel's message kept distracting her. She found herself checking her phone repeatedly, even though she knew he had not sent another message.

Then something unexpected happened.

Their teacher walked into the classroom with a young boy carrying a backpack.

“Everyone, we have a new student joining us today.”

Amara looked up.

Her smile disappeared.

It was Daniel.

The same Daniel she had met the previous day.

He looked around the classroom until his eyes landed on her.

He smiled.

Amara quickly looked away.

Tessa leaned closer to her.

“You have got to be kidding me,” she whispered.

Daniel walked toward them.

The teacher pointed toward the empty seat beside Amara.

“Daniel, you can sit there.”

Amara's eyes widened.

Daniel sat down beside her and placed his books on the desk.

“Good morning, seatmate.”

Amara sighed.

“Don't start.”

He laughed quietly.

“You know, I think fate is trying to tell us something.”

“Or maybe there's just an empty chair.”

“Same thing.”

Amara tried not to smile.

The teacher began the lesson, and everyone became quiet. Daniel opened his notebook and started writing.

After a few minutes, he leaned closer.

“Can I borrow your pen?”

“You came to school without a pen?”

“I forgot.”

Amara handed him one.

“Thanks.”

“You're welcome.”

Their fingers touched for a brief moment when he took it.

Both of them immediately pulled their hands back.

Amara stared at her notebook, pretending nothing happened.

Daniel smiled to himself.

For the rest of the lesson, they barely spoke. But every now and then, their eyes met.

And every time they did, Amara felt something she couldn't explain.

During lunch break, Tessa dragged Amara outside.

“Okay, tell me everything.”

“There is nothing to tell.”

“Really? The boy you met yesterday suddenly becomes your classmate and sits beside you?”

“It's just a coincidence.”

Tessa laughed.

“Maybe. But you like him.”

Amara shook her head quickly.

“I barely know him.”

“That wasn't a no.”

Before Amara could answer, Daniel approached them.

“Can I talk to Amara for a minute?”

Tessa looked at Amara, smiled knowingly, and walked away.

Amara folded her arms.

“What is it?”

Daniel's playful expression disappeared.

“I need to tell you something.”

She noticed the change immediately.

“What happened?”

Daniel looked around to make sure nobody was listening.

“My reason for coming to this school isn't exactly what everyone thinks.”

Amara frowned.

“What do you mean?”

He hesitated.

“There are some things about my past that I haven't told anyone here.”

Amara became curious.

“Like what?”

Daniel opened his mouth to answer, but someone suddenly called his name from across the hallway.

He turned around.

His expression changed instantly.

“Who is that?” Amara asked.

Daniel looked worried.

“I'll tell you later.”

“Daniel, wait!”

But he was already walking away.

Amara watched him disappear into the crowd.

For the first time, she wondered who Daniel really was, why he had transferred to her school, and what secret he was hiding.

She looked down at the pen he had borrowed.

He had forgotten to return it.

Amara smiled faintly.

Maybe it was only a pen.

Or maybe it was another reason for him to come back.