Chapter 18: The Echo In Silence
211 Words
Maria couldn’t sleep.
Daniel’s message replayed in her mind like a song stuck on loop:
“Thanks… for seeing me.”
It was a simple sentence, but it carried weight—heavy, emotional weight that tugged at something deep inside her.
The next day at school, Daniel was unusually quiet. He didn’t meet her eyes when she entered the classroom. He didn’t join Emeka’s usual morning banter or smirk at Mr. Tunde’s sarcastic jokes. It was as though he had retreated into himself again.
During Literature class, Mr. Tunde assigned a presentation for pairs. “You have 10 minutes to choose your partners. I don’t want chaos,” he warned.
Maria turned toward Daniel, but he was already pairing with someone else—a quiet girl named Ruth.
Maria blinked, stunned. It wasn’t about jealousy. It was confusion. After all the late-night chats, the laughter, the softness... why did he suddenly pull away?
She partnered with Emeka, who noticed her unease. “Guy’s weird,” Emeka said. “Maybe he’s scared he’s actually catching feelings.”
Maria forced a smile, but inside, she felt something shifting.
At lunch, she saw Daniel sitting under the mango tree—their tree. Alone.
She walked past him without stopping.
Two could play this game.
- Writer
