HE SAID I WAS JUST A BET

Chapter 77: The Library Encounter

Maria thought the library would be the one place she could finally breathe without Daniel lurking around. It was quiet, calm, filled with nothing but the scratching of pens and the occasional shuffle of feet. She tucked herself into a corner table, hoping to lose herself in her notes.

She had barely opened her notebook when a familiar shadow fell across the pages.

“Skipping out on me again?” Daniel’s voice was low, teasing, but softer than usual, almost careful.

Maria looked up, exasperated. “Do you have to follow me everywhere?”

He smirked and dropped into the seat across from her. “Maybe. Or maybe I just like seeing the way you pretend you’re annoyed.”

She rolled her eyes. “This isn’t the cafeteria, Daniel. People actually study here.”

“Then study,” he replied simply, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll be quiet.”

But he wasn’t. Every few seconds, he tapped the table lightly with his pen, watching her with that maddening half-smile. Maria tried to ignore him, but the weight of his stare made every line in her notebook blur.

Finally, she snapped. “What do you want from me?” she whispered, harsher than she intended.

For the first time, Daniel didn’t smile. His gaze softened, serious in a way that caught her off guard. “You,” he said simply.

The word hung between them like a live wire. Maria’s breath hitched, her heart hammering in her chest. She opened her mouth to respond, but before anything could leave her lips, footsteps approached.

“Maria,” Emeka’s voice cut through the tension. He appeared with an armful of books, his grin wide. “Ah, see you’re hiding from the world. Smart girl.”

Maria nearly sagged with relief, though part of her hated how disappointed she felt too. Daniel leaned back, expression unreadable now, but his eyes never left hers.

And she realized—this was far from over.