Chapter 2: Stranger No More

David woke up earlier than usual the next morning.

As he reached for his phone to turn off the alarm, he noticed a new message.

It was from Amanda.

Amanda: Good morning... and thanks again for not being rude last night. 😊

A smile crept onto his face.

David: Good morning. You're welcome. Did your "baby" forgive you?

She replied almost immediately.

Amanda: 😂 He's not my boyfriend.

David raised an eyebrow.

David: Really?

Amanda: Really. He's my cousin. He came to surprise me at my hostel, and I accidentally texted you instead.

David laughed at himself.

David: Well... I almost started feeling sorry for the poor guy.

Amanda: 😂 You're funny.

The conversation continued until David had to leave for work.

Around noon, David's friend and colleague, Tobi, leaned over his desk.

"Guy, who dey make you smile like this?" he asked.

David quickly locked his phone.

"Nobody."

Tobi folded his arms.

"Abeg leave story. Since morning, you don check your phone pass twenty times."

David laughed.

"It's just someone I met."

"A lady?"

David hesitated.

"...Maybe."

Tobi grinned.

"I knew it!"

David shook his head.

"Relax. We haven't even met."

"That one no matter. Just make sure say she no be scammer."

David laughed again.

"I'll survive."

Meanwhile, at her hostel, Amanda tossed her phone onto her bed.

Her roommate, Chioma, looked up from her laptop.

"Who are you smiling at?"

Amanda tried to act casual.

"No one."

Chioma narrowed her eyes.

"No one doesn't make people blush."

Amanda picked up a pillow and threw it at her.

"It's just someone I accidentally texted."

Chioma caught the pillow and burst into laughter.

"You mean a wrong number?"

Amanda nodded.

"I apologized, and we just... kept talking."

Chioma smiled knowingly.

"Sometimes life likes introducing people in strange ways."

Amanda didn't reply.

Deep down, she was beginning to think her roommate might be right.

That evening, David stopped at Crown Supermarket, as he usually did after work, to buy a loaf of bread and a carton of milk.

The cashier politely handed him his receipt.

"Thank you, sir."

"Thank you."

He barely looked up before leaving.

It was just another ordinary stop on his way home.

Or so he thought.

Later that night, Amanda sent another message.

Amanda: So... are we still strangers?

David smiled before typing.

David: I don't think so.

Amanda: Friends?

He paused for a second.

Then he replied.

David: Friends.

Amanda stared at the screen and smiled.

Neither of them realized they had just taken the first step toward a story neither could have imagined.