CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN: A QUESTION I WASN'T READY FOR
The problem with uncertainty is that it follows you everywhere.
Into class.
Into prep.
Into the dining hall.
Even into the hostel when you're trying to sleep.
No matter how hard I tried to focus on other things, the same question kept returning.
Does Samuel like me?
Simple question.
Impossible answer.
By Monday morning, I had already decided I was done thinking about it.
Completely done.
Finished.
Over it.
At least, that was the plan.
The plan lasted until first period.
"Floral."
I looked up from my notebook.
Samuel was standing beside my desk.
I immediately became suspicious.
"Why are you standing there like a teacher?"
He laughed.
"I wanted to ask something."
"What?"
"Can I borrow your Mathematics note after school?"
I stared at him.
"That's all?"
"Yes."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're behaving as if you're planning something."
Samuel looked offended.
"Wow."
"I'm serious."
"I only asked for a note."
"You could have asked during break."
"You could have simply said yes."
I sighed.
"Fine."
"Thank you."
Then he left.
Just like that.
Leaving me feeling slightly foolish.
Tolu, my seat partner, looked up from her book.
"Are you two dating?"
I nearly choked.
"What?"
She blinked.
"What?"
"Where did that come from?"
"You talk like people that are dating."
I immediately shook my head.
"No."
"Oh."
She returned to her book.
Meanwhile, I spent the next five minutes wondering if everybody in the school had collectively decided to stress me.
...
Break period arrived.
The classroom became noisy almost immediately.
Students moved around exchanging food, stories, assignments and gossip.
I was halfway through a meat pie when Victoria appeared.
Bad sign.
Whenever Victoria approached with that expression on her face, trouble usually followed.
"Good afternoon."
"What do you want?"
She placed a hand on her chest dramatically.
"Why are you attacking me?"
"Because you're smiling."
"So?"
"Your smile always means trouble."
Morayo appeared beside her.
Another bad sign.
"Omo, she knows you too well."
Victoria ignored her.
Then she turned back to me.
"We have information."
I immediately lost interest.
"No."
"You haven't even heard it."
"No."
"It's about Samuel."
I hated myself for paying attention instantly.
Victoria smiled victoriously.
"I knew it."
"Just say it."
She leaned closer.
"Someone asked him out."
My hand froze.
"What?"
Morayo nodded.
"We heard it this morning."
I stared at both of them.
Trying to determine whether they were lying.
Because honestly?
They enjoyed drama too much.
"Who?"
Victoria shrugged.
"We don't know."
That annoyed me immediately.
"You don't know?"
"We only heard part of it."
"Then how do you know it happened?"
Morayo laughed.
"Because half the boys' hostel is discussing it."
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
I suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.
Victoria noticed immediately.
And unfortunately, she smiled.
"Your face changed."
"It didn't."
"It did."
"It didn't."
"It did."
I stood up.
Taking my meat pie with me.
"I'm leaving."
Victoria laughed loudly behind me.
"You're jealous!"
I refused to answer.
Because if I did, I might accidentally confess something.
...
The rest of the day felt unusually long.
And the worst part?
I couldn't stop thinking about what Victoria said.
Someone asked him out.
Who?
When?
What did he say?
Did he reject her?
Did he accept?
Was it Gift?
The last thought hit me immediately.
Because honestly?
If there was one girl bold enough to ask a boy out directly, it would definitely be Gift.
Unfortunately, my imagination refused to stop there.
By evening prep, I had already created seventeen different scenarios.
None of which were helping my sanity.
I was pretending to read my Chemistry note when Daniel suddenly appeared.
"Why do you look like somebody that failed an exam she hasn't written?"
I looked up.
"Please go away."
"No."
I sighed.
Daniel sat on an empty chair.
Then looked at me carefully.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Hm."
"What?"
"Hm."
I rolled my eyes.
"You copied that from Samuel."
Daniel smiled.
"Maybe."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then unexpectedly—
"Did somebody ask Samuel out?"
The question left my mouth before I could stop it.
Daniel blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then slowly—
A grin appeared.
A dangerous grin.
A very dangerous grin.
"Oho."
I immediately regretted everything.
"Forget I asked."
"Impossible."
"Daniel."
"No."
I groaned.
"Please."
"No."
"Daniel."
He laughed.
"Floral, you're finished."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You just asked me whether somebody asked Samuel out."
I placed my head on the desk.
This was embarrassing.
Very embarrassing.
"Answer the question."
Daniel continued laughing.
Then finally—
"Yes."
My stomach dropped.
Immediately.
"What?"
His grin widened.
"Someone did."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't breathe properly.
Then finally—
"Who?"
Daniel shrugged.
"I don't know."
I sat up immediately.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I only heard about it."
I stared at him.
Trying to determine if he was lying.
Unfortunately, Daniel looked genuinely serious.
For once.
Which meant he probably wasn't joking.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
The bell rang before I could ask anything else.
Students immediately began packing their books.
Daniel stood up.
Still looking amused.
"Why are you smiling?" I asked suspiciously.
"Nothing."
"You're lying."
"Maybe."
Then he walked away.
Leaving me even more confused than before.
...
That night in the hostel, the rain started again.
The sound of droplets hitting the roof filled the room.
Some girls were already asleep.
Others whispered beneath their mosquito nets.
Gift was lying on her bed below mine.
Surprisingly quiet.
Which was unusual for her.
I was staring at the ceiling when she suddenly spoke.
"Floral."
"Hm?"
There was a brief pause.
Then—
"Can I ask you something?"
Immediately suspicious.
"What?"
The silence stretched.
Long enough for me to wonder if she had changed her mind.
Then finally—
"If a boy rejects one girl..."
I frowned.
"What?"
Gift hesitated.
As if choosing her words carefully.
"If a boy rejects one girl..."
Another pause.
Then she finished softly.
"Does it mean he already likes somebody else?"
My heart stopped.
Just for a second.
But enough.
Because suddenly—
Very suddenly—
I remembered what Victoria and Daniel had told me earlier.
Someone had asked Samuel out.
And for reasons I couldn't explain...
I had a terrible feeling that Gift knew exactly who that someone was.
Or worse.
Maybe she was that someone.