The night air was cool, thick with the scent of roadside suya and dust. Streetlights flickered weakly overhead as Stephen and I strolled toward the bus stop, dodging patches of muddy water from an earlier rain.
"That movie was mad," I said, stretching my arms. "Testimony carried the whole thing. That girl was too funny."
Stephen smirked. "You liked her, huh?"
"Of course. She was the only one with sense. And she actually loved that guy."
He gave a small laugh. "Yeah. Ride or die."
I turned to him. "Why'd you say it like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you don't believe in it."
He shrugged. "I just think sometimes people ride for the wrong ones."
I rolled my eyes. "Here we go. What, you think she should have abandoned him?"
Stephen tilted his head. "I think she should have seen things for what they were."
I scoffed. "Abeg. Not everything is deep."
He smiled, shaking his head. "Maybe not."
The conversation moved on. But something about his tone lingered.
At the bus stop, we leaned against a kiosk, waiting. Stephen reached into the nearly empty popcorn bag and pulled out a piece. Instead of eating it, he held it out to me between two fingers.
Without thinking, I took it and tossed it into my mouth.
He smirked. "No hesitation."
I frowned, licking sugar from my lips. "What?"
"Nothing." His voice was amused. "Just interesting."
A bus pulled up, and I let it go.
Inside the bus, we squeezed into a row near the window. Stephen stretched, shifting to get comfortable.
"Today was nice," I said. "I needed this."
He smiled. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Good movie, good company. No stress."
Stephen studied me for a second, then said casually, "You should do this more often."
I frowned. "Do what?"
"Go out. Have fun. Let your guard down." He leaned back. "I feel like you don't do that much."
I scoffed. "You just met me. How would you know?"
He grinned. "I notice things."
There was something about the way he said it. Like he knew more than he should.
I shifted in my seat. "I have fun," I said, almost defensive.
Stephen lifted a hand in surrender. "Of course. Just saying—you should do it more."
I looked away, watching the blur of streetlights outside.
When the bus dropped us near my street, we started walking. The air smelled like wet earth and distant firewood smoke.
"You had fun, right?" Stephen glanced at me.
"Yeah." I smiled. "Thanks for today."
"No stress." He slipped his hands into his pockets. "I figured you'd like the movie."
I gave him a side-eye. "And how did you 'figure' that?"
He smirked. "I just have good instincts."
I chuckled. "Or maybe you're just lucky."
"Maybe." He let the word hang for a second before adding, "Or maybe I just pay attention."
Something about that made me pause. But before I could unpack it, he stretched.
"Anyway, see you Monday?"
"Yeah. See you."
I turned toward my street, the weight of the night settling in my chest.
Stephen really was different.
He listened. He paid attention.
I smiled to myself.
Maybe… maybe we just fit.