Favour stood outside Samuel's door, her heart beating faster than she wanted to admit. She had been thinking about this moment all day, wondering how he was and—if she was honest with herself—wondering what he really felt for her. She knocked softly.
The door swung open almost instantly, and Samuel appeared, looking pale but smiling faintly.
"Favour," he said, his voice warm even though he looked tired. "You came."
"You look weak," she frowned, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "How are you feeling? You don't look okay."
"I'm better now," he reassured her, closing the door behind them. "Just a cold. Nothing serious."
They sat down together, the quiet between them stretching for a few seconds. Samuel's eyes stayed on her, searching.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked at last, his tone gentle but direct.
Favour shifted uncomfortably, her fingers twisting in the hem of her sleeve. "I… didn't know if I should tell you again. But maybe I should just be honest."
He leaned forward slightly, watching her carefully. "Tell me."
She met his gaze, her voice trembling just a little. "I like you, Samuel. I told you before, and when you said you liked me too, I thought… I thought something would change. But you just stayed quiet, so I didn't know what to do."
Samuel's expression softened, almost guilty. Then, without a word, he reached for her, pulling her a little closer, and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
Favour froze, eyes wide. "Samuel…"
"I like you too," he said, his voice low and sincere. "So much. I was stupid to make you wait. I guess I wanted to be sure… but I'm sure now. Favour, will you be my girlfriend?"
Her mouth opened, but no words came out for a second. It felt like her brain had short-circuited. "Are you serious?" she asked in disbelief.
His smile widened. "Do I look like I'm joking?" placing his lips on hers.
The warmth of his second kiss erased all her doubts.
"Yes!" she laughed, throwing her arms around him. "Yes, Samuel!"
They both laughed, the tension breaking, before sharing a longer, sweeter kiss that left her cheeks hot and her heart pounding.
---
Later that evening, Favour stepped into the room, unable to stop smiling. Ariel was curled up on her bed with her phone but looked up immediately.
"You're smiling way too much for someone who 'just visited a sick friend,'" Ariel teased, setting her phone down.
Favour giggled and flopped onto the bed beside her. "I was waiting for you to ask. Samuel… kissed me." She clutched her cheeks dramatically. "And he asked me to be his girlfriend!"
Ariel's eyes went wide, and she let out a happy gasp. "Favour! Finally!"
"I know," Favour beamed. "It feels so unreal. We just… talked, and then everything fell into place."
Ariel smiled warmly but tilted her head. "What about you and Divine? You've been spending more time with him lately…"
A faint blush crept up Ariel's cheeks. "We're hanging out tonight. And… I've decided—I'm going to tell him how I feel. I want to be with him."
Favour grinned and grabbed her friend's hands. "Ariel, that's huge! You have to tell me how it goes."
They squealed like teenagers sharing secrets, but as Ariel pulled away, the excitement dimmed just a little. In the back of her mind, a shadow of David's unpredictable moods lingered. What if Divine is just like him? What if I'm wrong again?
She pushed the thought aside and got ready.
---
Ariel stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down her hair. She added a touch of lip gloss and dabbed perfume on her wrists. Her phone buzzed.
Divine: I'll be outside in 10 minutes.
Ariel's lips curled into a smile, but her stomach tightened. She grabbed her small purse, stepped outside, and waited by the gate.
When Divine's car pulled up, he stepped out briefly, his eyes sweeping over her. "Wow… you look amazing tonight," he said, his voice tinged with genuine admiration.
Her blush deepened. "Thank you."
As he drives toward the restaurant, the conversation light at first—about school, mutual friends, little jokes. But every now and then, Ariel's smile faltered as she thought about what she was about to say.
Divine noticed. "You're quiet. Something on your mind?"
She hesitated, then said softly, "There's something I want to tell you… but I'll wait until we get to the restaurant."
When they arrived, he pulled out a chair for her, then sat down across from her, one eyebrow raised. "Now you've got me curious."
Ariel took a deep breath, reaching across the table to hold both his hands. Her smile was nervous but sincere. "Divine… there's something I've been meaning to tell you."