HE SAID I WAS JUST A BET

Chapter 85: Unsteady Ground

Maria couldn’t sleep that night. Daniel’s words replayed in her head, haunting her like a song she didn’t ask to remember. No games, no bets. Just you.

But how could she believe him?

Lying on her bunk, she turned to the wall, squeezing her eyes shut. Everyone knew Daniel’s reputation—smooth words, careless charm, the boy who treated life like a game. Could he really mean what he said under that tree? Or was it another trick to make her fall harder?

The thought twisted her chest. She hated that her heart leapt at his presence, hated the way her defenses crumbled with just one look from him. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. She wasn’t supposed to feel weak.

By morning, her decision was clear: she had to put space between them again.

But fate didn’t seem to agree.

In Literature class, Mr. Tunde called Maria to read aloud. Nervously, she rose, only to find Daniel’s eyes locked on her from across the room. His gaze wasn’t mocking this time—it was steady, almost… proud. And when she stumbled on a word, he mouthed the correct one without hesitation.

Her pulse skipped. Why was he doing this to her?

After class, Emeka bounded up to her with his usual grin. “Maria, you looked like Shakespeare’s lost daughter out there. Even Daniel was paying attention—first time in history!”

Maria forced a laugh, brushing him off. But the truth sat heavy inside her: Daniel was breaking through every wall she built, piece by piece. And no matter how hard she tried, she wasn’t sure she could stop him.