Chapter 5 — The First Text
624 Words
Daniel had stared at his phone for thirty minutes.
Not because it was new — but because it contained the most dangerous number in the world.
Amelia’s number.
He had saved it as “Miss Umbrella ” — because somehow, that name felt sacred.
Now, he just needed to do one thing: text her.
But how do you talk to a girl whose smile can reset your brain?
He typed:
> “Hi Amelia, it’s Daniel. The bread guy.”
Then he deleted it.
He typed again:
> “Hey beautiful, do you miss me?”
He deleted that too. “Ah no, that one sounds too desperate,” he muttered.
He sighed and decided to be “natural.”
So he typed:
> “Hi Amelia, hope your mother’s umbrella is fine?”
Then, before his courage could disappear again, he pressed SEND.
---
Five minutes later, no reply.
Ten minutes later, still nothing.
He began pacing around like a man waiting for exam results.
Then his phone beeped. 💬
> Amelia: “Who is this?”
Daniel smiled, typing fast.
> Daniel: “It’s me. Daniel. The one that shared your roof under the rain.”
There was a pause. Then she replied:
> Amelia: “Oh, bread guy 😄”
Daniel frowned. “Bread guy again?” he muttered.
> Daniel: “Yes 😅. How are you doing?”
> Amelia: “I’m fine. My mum almost killed me because of that umbrella.”
> Daniel: “Ah! I can explain 😭.”
> Amelia: “Don’t worry. She likes shouting. It’s her cardio exercise 😂.”
Daniel laughed so hard that even his father in the next room asked,
“What’s funny there? Did bread turn to jollof rice?”
He coughed. “Nothing, Papa. Just… business message.”
---
Then Daniel decided to be romantic — a little.
> Daniel: “You know, since that rain, I’ve not stopped thinking about you.”
He smiled proudly and hit send.
But autocorrect betrayed him.
It sent:
> Daniel: “You know, since that rain, I’ve not stopped stinking about you.”
He froze. “WHAT?! ”
Before he could correct it, her reply came:
> Amelia: “So you’re stinking about me? That’s new 😆.”
Daniel quickly typed:
> Daniel: “Thinking! I meant THINKING! This phone is possessed 😭.”
> Amelia: “😂😂 Sure, blame your phone. But don’t worry, I’m glad you stinked— I mean, thought about me.”
He smiled shyly. She was teasing him already. That was a good sign.
Then she added:
> Amelia: “By the way, Aunt Brenda said she likes you.”
Daniel blinked. “That woman again?”
> Daniel: “Please tell her I’m not ready for bride price yet 😅.”
> Amelia: “Too late. She said she’s already saving yam for the wedding 😂.”
Daniel shook his head, laughing. “This family will not kill me.”
---
They kept texting for hours.
Jokes. Small talk. Dreams. Silly things.
Daniel told her about his bakery life, how his father shouts every morning.
Amelia told him about school stress and how Aunt Brenda acts like a detective.
By the time the clock struck 11 p.m., their hearts were already connecting in quiet, innocent ways.
> Daniel: “Goodnight, Miss Umbrella.”
Amelia: “Goodnight, Bread Guy. Don’t dream about me.”
Daniel: “Too late. I already started.”
She sent a laughing emoji. Then silence.
Daniel placed his phone on his chest and smiled in the dark.
Outside, the night breeze whispered softly,
and for the first time in a long while —
his heart felt like home.
---
To be continued… 💞😂
- Writer
