Chapter 3:The Conversations That Shouldn’t Matter

It started with small things.

A question about an assignment.

A comment about a lecturer.

A casual “Did you understand that topic?”

Amara told herself it meant nothing.

But days turned into weeks, and Daniel became… consistent.

He would save her a seat.

Wait for her after class.

Walk beside her like it was already a routine.

At first, she resisted.

She kept her answers short. Avoided eye contact. Focused on her phone when he talked too much.

But Daniel didn’t push.

He simply stayed.

One afternoon, they sat under a quiet tree near the faculty building, the sun casting soft shadows around them. For once, Amara wasn’t rushing anywhere.

“You know,” Daniel said, leaning back slightly, “you’re not as closed off as you think.”

Amara frowned. “You don’t know me.”

“I know enough,” he replied calmly. “You listen more than you talk. You think before you speak. And you pretend not to care… but you do.”

She looked at him then—really looked at him.

“Why are you so interested?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Maybe I like figuring people out.”

Amara shook her head slightly. “I’m not a puzzle.”

“No,” Daniel said softly. “You’re more like a book no one has taken time to read.”

Her heart skipped.

She didn’t know why that affected her.

But it did.