Shimmer Between Us (Rebirth)

Chapter 6 : Roses and Rollercoasters

There are moments in life you never see coming. Moments that feel like someone pressed pause on your ordinary routine and dropped you into the middle of a romance drama. That morning was one of them.

I walked into class the same way I always did half-tired, slightly late, praying the lecturer hadn’t arrived yet and praying that I won't be noticed cos I have being seen. My bag hung loosely on my shoulder, and all I wanted was to slide into my usual seat unnoticed.

But today, something was different.

The instant I stepped through the doorway, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations stilled, eyes turned toward me, and a ripple of whispers followed. I froze, unsure what I had done wrong.

Then I saw it.

Right there on my seat,a place I always claimed without thinking was a bouquet. Not just any bouquet, but a large, stunning arrangement of roses. Deep red and soft white, tied together with a delicate white satin ribbon and wrapped in gold paper that shimmered under the fluorescent lights.

For a second, I thought I was imagining it. My heart thumped so loud it almost drowned out the murmurs around me. But no, the flowers were very real.

And on top of them lay a small envelope. Cream-colored. Smooth. With one bold word written across the front in elegant handwriting.

ZORA.

My name. My name in ink, written like it meant something.

A collective gasp went around the classroom.

“Oh my God,” Clara squealed behind me, nudging Becky so hard she nearly dropped her notebook. “Zora, you have a secret admirer!”

“See packaging, o,” Becky muttered, half-joking but clearly impressed. “This one no be ordinary toasting.”

I stood frozen in the doorway, my cheeks burning. I wasn’t used to attention. Especially not the kind that made people’s eyes dart between me and a bouquet like they were watching a live drama.

Whispers swirled louder.

“Who sent it?”

“Check the note, na!”

“Zora, abeg gist us later o.”

My legs moved before my brain caught up. I walked to my seat, trying to keep my face neutral even though my heart felt like it might burst. With trembling fingers, I picked up the bouquet. It was heavier than I expected, the roses lush and fresh, their fragrance already filling the room.

I slid into my seat, my bag dropping quietly beside me, and carefully opened the envelope. Inside was just one line, written in the same neat script:

🌹 For the girl who made yesterday unforgettable. 🌹

My lips parted in surprise. Heat rushed to my face again, and this time I couldn’t stop the small, private smile tugging at my lips.

I pressed the note against my chest for a second, trying to hide it. But inside, I already knew who it was from.

Kamari.

The memory of last night flashed through me,his quiet confidence, the way he looked at me like he could see past all my walls, the unexpected text he had sent after. And now this?

Class that day was a blur. I hardly heard a single word the lecturer said. The roses sat neatly in the bag, their fragrance distracting me more than any textbook could. I kept glancing at the envelope, rereading the single line over and over until I could hear his voice in it.

When the lecture finally ended, I exhaled in relief. Clara and Becky were buzzing with theories, but I kept my answers vague. Some things weren’t meant for a crowd.

I left the building, hugging my bag a little tighter. The afternoon sun hit my face, warm and blinding. My only thought was to hurry back to the hostel before more questions came until I saw him.

He was there.

Leaning against his sleek black car like he belonged in a K-drama. Sunglasses on, one hand holding his phone, the other tucked into his pocket, one leg casually crossed over the other. Effortlessly composed. Effortlessly magnetic.

The moment I stepped outside, he looked up.

“You like the flowers?” His voice was casual, smooth, as though he hadn’t just hijacked my entire morning.

I raised a brow, trying not to give him the satisfaction of my smile. “Maybe.”

His lips curved. “A ‘maybe’ means yes.”

I rolled my eyes, walking toward him with my hands clutching the Bag of Roses . “You’ve got a bold way of saying hi.”

“I figured I had to make up for yesterday’s ending,” he said simply.

“And today’s beginning,” I shot back.

He chuckled softly and straightened, opening the passenger door. “Then let’s start again. Lunch?”

I hesitated. Clara and Tina were with me, and I wasn’t about to ditch them. But before I could form an excuse, Clara caught on instantly.

“Oh, Zora,” she said, looping her arm through Tina’s, “we’ll go meet Kevin and the others at the field.”

“Yeah,” Tina added, smirking knowingly. “You go. We’ll be fine.”

Traitors.

I sighed, glaring at their retreating figures. Then I looked back at him. His eyes gleamed, half amusement, half expectation.

“You’re lucky I skipped breakfast,” I muttered.

His grin widened. “Then let’s fix that.”

🏵️🏵️🏵️

He didn’t take me to a restaurant. Instead, we drove out of town until the streets opened up into wide skies and distant laughter. When we finally stopped, my jaw dropped.

An amusement park.

Bright banners waved at the entrance, the smell of popcorn and fried snacks wafted through the air, and music spilled from speakers. Kids ran past holding balloons. Couples strolled hand in hand. Everything buzzed with life.

“You brought me here?” I asked, half shocked, half impressed.

“Yeah,” he replied, sliding on his sunglasses. “Everyone does restaurants. This is more… us.”

“Us?” I raised a brow.

“Don’t worry. You’ll see.”

We played games first. He challenged me to basketball shots, grinning when I lost miserably. “You’re not even trying, Zora.”

“Excuse me? The hoop is obviously rigged.”

“Or maybe you just like losing to me.”

I smacked his arm, but he laughed, the sound rich and boyish in a way that softened him.

At the ring toss, he surprised me by actually winning. The prize was a massive teddy bear almost as big as me. He carried it proudly before handing it over with a playful bow.

“Your majesty.”

I burst out laughing, hugging the teddy close. “You’re ridiculous.”

We wandered the stalls, sharing cotton candy until it got stuck in my hair. He leaned close, carefully picking it out with his fingers, his touch lingering just long enough to make my pulse race.

When we reached the Ferris wheel, I froze.

“No way,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m not doing that.”

“Scared?”

“I don’t like heights.”

He gave me a small, confident smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

Against my better judgment, I followed him into the carriage. The moment it lifted, my stomach flipped. I grabbed the bar tightly, probably looking like I was bracing for death.

He chuckled softly. “Relax. Look.”

I risked a glance. The view was stunning—the city stretched far below, the horizon painted in warm oranges and pinks.

Still, I couldn’t relax. My nerves had me clutching the bar until he gently pried one of my hands free and held it in his.

“Better?” he asked.

I glared at him, but the truth was yes. Much better.

“You’re enjoying this,” I muttered.

“Because your scream is cute.”

“Liar.”

He only laughed, his thumb brushing lightly across my knuckles until the ride finally slowed.

We ate hot dogs afterward, then shared a slushy with two straws. He kept looking at me across the rim of his straw, smirking like he could read every thought in my head.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, finally exasperated.

“Because you’re… refreshing,” he said simply.

And somehow, I couldn’t find a comeback.

🍃🍃🌥️🌥️🌥️

As the sun dipped lower, we found a bench near the carousel, the lights flickering on one by one. I hugged the teddy bear against me, warmth spreading through my chest.

“Today was fun,” I admitted softly.

He nodded. “I like being around you, Zora.”

“You barely know me.”

“I’m trying to fix that.”

Something in his tone made my heart stutter. He wasn’t playing games. He was serious in a way that unsettled me, but also made me want to believe him.

When he drove me back later, his phone rang. His tone shifted instantly as he answered, slipping into business mode.

“Yes, I’ll review the deck. Let me check with Tunde before signing off. We can present it next Friday.”

I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I caught enough to realize he wasn’t just some guy with charm and a car. He was building something. Focused. Ambitious. Grounded in a way most boys his age weren’t.

And for some reason, he had noticed me.

By the time we reached the hostel, my heart was warm, nervous, and confused all at once. I stepped out, clutching the teddy bear, trying to keep my composure.

“Goodnight, Zora,” he said, his gaze lingering.

“Goodnight,” I whispered.

And as I walked away, I couldn’t stop the smile that broke free.