Some promises fall silently

Chapter two: The name in the Notebook

CHAPTER TWO

The Name in the Notebook

The next morning, something felt different.

The moment I entered the classroom, I noticed Mmesoma was already there.

She was sitting at my desk, staring down at a notebook.

But she wasn't simply reading it.

She was admiring it.

The way she looked at it made it seem almost as though the notebook were alive.

Normally, she would have noticed me the moment I entered the classroom.

Sometimes, she noticed me even before I reached my seat.

But that morning, she didn't.

I quietly dropped my bag.

"Good morning."

She turned around.

For a brief moment, her expression changed.

She looked surprised.

Almost frightened.

Then it disappeared.

"Morning."

I studied her face.

"Are you okay? Is there a problem?"

"No. Not at all. Why are you asking?"

"Nothing. It's just that you look like something is wrong."

"No. You just frightened me, that's all."

I nodded.

Then my eyes returned to the notebook.

"You bought a new notebook?"

She immediately closed it.

"Can I see it?"

"No."

"What is in it?"

"Nothing."

"What did you write?"

"Nothing important."

"Can I see?"

I reached toward it.

She pulled it away.

"It's nothing. Just leave it. And don't touch it."

I frowned.

"Why?"

"It's not your business. Mind your business."

The words hit me harder than they should have.

That was the first time she had ever spoken to me like that.

My friend.

The person I had spent weeks talking to.

The person I thought understood me.

And suddenly, she was being rude to me over a notebook.

"Okay. Fine. I won't."

"Good."

That was the last thing we said to each other for the rest of the morning.

We barely spoke throughout our classes.

When break finally came, I went to the library as usual.

Mmesoma came later.

She walked over to me and stood beside my table.

"So you're giving me the silent treatment because of a small misunderstanding?"

I looked up.

"Who said I'm giving you the silent treatment?"

"I did."

"Why do you think I'm giving you the silent treatment?"

"Because you are."

"You've done nothing wrong to me."

"Then why haven't you talked to me?"

"I am talking to you now."

She stared at me.

"Yes, but what are you talking about?"

I picked up my book.

"Nothing."

She sighed.

"So you're angry with me because of the way I reacted to the notebook."

"Who said I'm angry?"

"I did."

I looked at her.

"Fine. I'm not angry. I'm not mad at you either."

I paused.

"But am I disappointed?"

She waited.

"Yes. Completely."

Her expression softened.

"Okay. I'm sorry for the way I reacted."

I looked at her.

Her face somehow made it difficult to stay angry.

"It's fine."

"Good."

She smiled.

That smile instantly made my heart feel lighter.

But it didn't make my curiosity disappear.

"So what's in the book?"

She stared at me.

"It's nothing important."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So you're keeping secrets from me?"

"No. It's not like that."

"Then what is it like?"

She looked away.

"You wouldn't understand."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"Then make me understand. Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're hiding something."

She was quiet for a moment.

Then she said,

"See, there are things that are better kept hidden."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Such as?"

"Some truths aren't meant to be told."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She looked at me.

"When the time is right, you'll know."

I didn't know what to say to that.

So I simply nodded.

"Okay."

Then she looked directly at me.

"Promise me you won't go looking through the book for any reason."

I hesitated.

Then I nodded.

"Okay. I promise."

"Thank you."

"Yeah. Sure. Anytime."

We went on with our usual routine after that.

But if I was being completely honest with myself, I wasn't sure how long I could keep that promise.

I wanted to respect her privacy.

I really did.

But curiosity had always been one of my biggest weaknesses.

And once a question entered my mind, it refused to leave until I found an answer.

The notebook had become one of those questions.

And even though I had promised not to open it, I couldn't stop wondering what was inside.

How long could I really keep that promise?

I didn't know.

What I did know was that I was going to break it much sooner than I expected.