CHAPTER THREE
Aisha spent the entire drive home trying to convince herself that seeing Daniel again meant nothing.
It was just a coincidence. Lagos was a big city, but people crossed paths all the time. She had no reason to let one unexpected encounter ruin her evening.
Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop remembering the way he had looked at her.
Six years had passed, but his eyes still had the power to make her feel like the seventeen-year-old girl who once believed he could never hurt her.
"You're awfully quiet," Amaka said from the driver's seat.
"I'm tired."
"You're lying."
Aisha turned toward the window. "Must you always investigate everything?"
"When it concerns my best friend, yes. Especially when my best friend suddenly becomes quiet after seeing her first love."
"Daniel is not my first love."
Amaka glanced at her.
Aisha sighed. "Fine. He was. Happy now?"
"Very."
"You're impossible."
"And you're still in love with him."
Aisha turned sharply. "I'm not!"
"Okay."
"I mean it, Amaka."
"Then why are you shouting?"
Aisha opened her mouth but couldn't find an answer.
Amaka's expression softened. "Listen, I'm not saying you should forgive him or start anything with him. I'm only saying you should be honest with yourself about what you feel."
Aisha looked away.
Feelings were dangerous. She had learned that lesson the hard way.
By the time they arrived at her apartment, she had decided that Daniel would remain exactly where he belonged—in her past.
She would not answer his calls if he tried to contact her. She would not entertain explanations she had waited six years to hear. And she certainly would not allow him to disturb the life she had worked so hard to build.
Unfortunately, Daniel had other plans.
The following morning, Aisha arrived at her office shortly before nine. She greeted her colleagues, settled behind her desk, and opened her laptop.
She had barely started working when her assistant, Tolu, appeared at the door.
"Good morning, ma. Someone is here to see you."
"Did he book an appointment?"
"No, ma."
"Then tell him to book one."
Tolu hesitated.
Aisha looked up. "Is there a problem?"
"The man says his name is Daniel."
Her fingers stopped moving across the keyboard.
Of course.
She closed her eyes briefly before looking at Tolu again.
"Tell him I'm busy."
"He's already in the reception area, ma."
Aisha stared at her assistant.
"How did he get past reception?"
"He said it was important."
Aisha leaned back in her chair and released a slow breath.
"Fine. Send him in."
A few moments later, the door opened.
Daniel stepped inside carrying a small paper bag and looking slightly nervous.
Aisha hated that she noticed.
"Good morning," he said.
"You're not supposed to be here."
"I know."
"Then why are you here?"
He placed the paper bag on her desk.
"I brought you breakfast."
She stared at it.
"Daniel, I'm not a child you can buy over with food."
"I never said you were."
"Then stop acting like you can walk into my life whenever you want."
His expression changed.
"I know I don't have that right anymore, Aisha. But I need to talk to you."
"About what happened six years ago?"
"Yes."
She laughed bitterly.
"You're six years too late."
"I know that."
"Then what exactly do you want me to say? That I forgive you? That everything is fine? Because it isn't, Daniel."
"I never asked you to forgive me."
"Then what are you asking for?"
He looked directly into her eyes.
"Five minutes. Just five minutes to explain what you saw that night."
Aisha's heart began to beat faster.
For years, she had imagined hearing those words. She had imagined confronting him, asking him why he had let her walk away, and demanding to know whether their friendship had ever meant as much to him as it had to her.
Now that he was standing before her, she discovered that she was afraid of the answers.
"What difference would it make?" she whispered.
"Because you believed something that wasn't true."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And you expect me to believe you now?"
"No," he answered quietly. "I expect you to hear me."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Aisha stood.
"You have three minutes."
Daniel nodded and took a deep breath.
"That girl you saw me with that night was Vanessa. She had come to the school because she knew someone on the organizing committee. We were talking because she had asked me for help with something."
"And the way she was touching you?"
"I didn't know you were watching us."
"That doesn't answer my question."
He swallowed.
"She had just told me something personal. I was trying to comfort her."
Aisha folded her arms.
"And you couldn't have explained that when I was standing right there?"
"I tried to follow you, but you wouldn't stop. I called you several times."
"You should have tried harder."
Pain crossed his face.
"You're right. I should have."
His answer surprised her.
She had expected excuses. Instead, he stood there accepting the blame without trying to defend himself.
Daniel continued, "I called you the next day, but you didn't answer. I sent messages, and you blocked my number. I even tried reaching you through Amaka, but you told her you didn't want to hear from me."
Aisha remembered those messages. She remembered seeing his name on her phone and refusing to open them because she was too hurt to face him.
For a brief moment, guilt threatened to rise inside her.
She pushed it away.
"You could have come to my house."
"I did."
Aisha froze.
"What?"
"I came to your house twice. Your mother told me you didn't want to see me."
She stared at him, struggling to process his words.
He had come to see her?
Why had her mother never mentioned it?
Before she could ask, Daniel glanced at his watch.
"My five minutes are almost over."
He picked up his jacket from the chair.
"I'm not asking you to forget what happened. I just wanted you to know that I never stopped caring about you."
Aisha's throat tightened.
"Daniel..."
He paused at the door.
"For what it's worth, I looked for you after we graduated. I wanted to know if you were okay. I wanted to explain everything. But eventually, I thought you were happier without me."
He gave her a sad smile.
"Maybe I was wrong to stop trying."
Then he walked out.
Aisha remained standing behind her desk, staring at the closed door.
The paper bag sat untouched in front of her.
Slowly, she opened it.
Inside was a meat pie and a bottle of her favourite juice.
He still remembered.
That small discovery hurt more than she expected.
She sat down and covered her face with her hands.
Six years ago, she had believed Daniel had chosen another girl over her.
Now she wasn't sure what to believe.
Her phone vibrated on the desk.
A message from Amaka appeared.
Amaka: Did Daniel come to your office?
Aisha typed a reply.
Aisha: Yes.
Amaka: And?
Aisha stared at the screen for several seconds before answering.
Aisha: I don't know what to think anymore.
She put the phone down and looked toward the door.
For the first time in six years, she wondered whether the story she had told herself about Daniel was incomplete.
And somewhere across Lagos, Daniel was hoping that three minutes had been enough to open a door he had spent six years believing was permanently closed.