HE SAID I WAS JUST A BET

Chapter 91: Whispers And Fire

The whispers didn’t die down in Literature class—they only grew louder. Every time Maria raised her head, she caught pairs of eyes darting away, pretending not to stare. She gripped her pen so tightly her knuckles turned pale, willing herself to focus on the text in front of her.

But Daniel wasn’t helping.

From the back row, his gaze burned into her like a secret flame. He wasn’t ashamed, not even trying to hide it. He looked at her like she was the only person in the room, and somehow, that made the whispers sting even more.

Emeka, sitting beside her, leaned over and whispered, “You know they’re all just jealous, right? If Daniel ever looked at them the way he looks at you, they’d faint.”

Maria shot him a glare, but her cheeks betrayed her, warming with heat. “Stop talking nonsense.”

Emeka grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “Nonsense? Please. Even Mr. Tunde has noticed.”

And as if on cue, Mr. Tunde’s voice cut through the room. “Maria, eyes on the text, please. Read from where we stopped yesterday.”

Her heart jumped. She stood slowly, the book trembling slightly in her hands. Every syllable felt heavier than it should, each pause echoing in the silent classroom. And though she tried to keep her focus on the words, she felt Daniel’s silent encouragement with every line.

When she finished, the room erupted in soft applause—something Mr. Tunde hadn’t asked for. Maria froze, eyes darting between her classmates. Some clapped out of genuine admiration, others with mocking smirks.

And in the middle of it all, Daniel leaned forward, clapping too—slow, deliberate, unbothered by the judgmental stares.

Maria sat down quickly, her heart racing. Something inside her burned—part fear, part thrill. It was as if the ground beneath her was shifting, pulling her toward something she wasn’t ready for… but couldn’t resist either.