CHAPTER FIVE
Aisha barely touched her dinner that night.
Her mother's strange reaction had unsettled her more than she wanted to admit. Grace had always been the person she trusted most, the one who answered her questions and comforted her whenever life became difficult.
But now, Aisha couldn't stop wondering why her mother had hidden Daniel's visits from her.
And what had she meant when she mentioned her father?
Aisha's father had died when she was young. At least, that was what she had always been told about him. She had only a few memories of his face and even fewer details about his life.
She shook her head, trying to push the thought aside.
One mystery at a time.
The following morning, she arrived at work determined to concentrate. Unfortunately, her phone began ringing just as she opened her laptop.
Amaka's name appeared on the screen.
"Good morning to you too," Aisha answered.
"Don't good morning me. Why didn't you tell me Daniel came to your office?"
Aisha sighed. "How did you hear about that?"
"Vanessa told me."
"Of course she did."
"So? What happened?"
Aisha hesitated. "He explained some things about graduation night."
"And?"
"And nothing. I'm still trying to understand everything."
Amaka became quiet for a moment.
"Aisha, you know what I think?"
"I'm sure you're about to tell me."
"I think you and Daniel deserve one honest conversation without anger, assumptions, or running away."
"I'm not running away."
"Then stop acting like a woman who is afraid of what she'll hear."
Aisha opened her mouth to protest, but Amaka ended the call before she could respond.
She stared at her phone, annoyed by how easily her friend could read her.
Later that afternoon, Tolu knocked on her office door.
"Ma, someone dropped this for you."
She placed a small package on Aisha's desk.
Aisha frowned. "Who brought it?"
"I don't know, ma. The security officer said a delivery man left it at reception."
There was no sender's name on the package, only a small card attached to the top.
Aisha opened it carefully.
Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a tiny blue stone hanging from its centre.
Her breath caught.
She remembered that bracelet.
Six years ago, during their final year in school, Daniel had once stopped beside a jewellery shop while they were walking home.
He had pointed at a bracelet in the window and asked whether she liked it.
Aisha had laughed at him.
"Why would you buy me jewellery? People will think we're dating."
Daniel had smiled.
"And would that be such a bad thing?"
She had pretended not to hear him, but the memory had stayed with her.
Now she stared at the bracelet in her palm, unable to believe what she was seeing.
There was another card inside the package.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she unfolded it.
I bought this for you six years ago. I wanted to give it to you on graduation night, but I never got the chance. I kept it because I couldn't bring myself to throw away something I chose for you.
I don't expect this to change anything between us. I only wanted you to have it.
Daniel.
Aisha lowered herself into her chair.
He had bought her a gift.
He had planned to confess his feelings.
And she had walked away believing she meant nothing to him.
She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the memories flooding her mind.
Their late-night conversations. The way he always saved her a seat in class. The times he had defended her when other students mocked her. The way he looked at her whenever he thought she wasn't paying attention.
Had she misunderstood everything?
Or had fear made her believe the worst because it was easier than risking the truth?
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel appeared.
Daniel: I hope the bracelet reached you safely.
Aisha stared at the screen for a long time.
She typed a reply, deleted it, and typed another.
Finally, she sent three words.
Aisha: Why now, Daniel?
His response came a few minutes later.
Daniel: Because I spent six years regretting not giving it to you.
Aisha swallowed the lump in her throat.
Aisha: You should have told me the truth that night.
Daniel: I know. I should have found a way to make you listen. But I can't change what happened. All I can do is tell you the truth now.
She read his message twice.
For the first time, she wondered whether she had spent six years punishing him for something neither of them had fully understood.
That evening, she returned home and found her mother sitting in the living room with an old photo album open on her lap.
Grace quickly closed it when Aisha entered.
Too quickly.
"Mum, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing important."
Aisha placed her handbag on the sofa.
"Can I see?"
Grace shook her head. "Not tonight, darling. I'm tired."
Aisha stared at the album.
She had seen that one before. It contained photographs from her childhood, including pictures of her parents before her father died.
But why was her mother hiding it now?
"Mum, I need you to be honest with me about something."
Grace looked up.
"What is it?"
"Is there a reason you don't want me to know more about my father?"
The colour slowly drained from Grace's face.
"Aisha, where is this coming from?"
"Every time I ask you a question, you change the subject. You hid Daniel's visits from me, and now you're hiding photographs. I deserve to know what's going on."
Grace stood abruptly.
"Some things are better left in the past."
Aisha felt her chest tighten.
"That's not an answer."
"Please, Aisha. Not tonight."
Her mother picked up the album and walked toward her bedroom.
Aisha remained in the living room, staring after her.
She had come home that evening thinking about Daniel and the possibility that she had misunderstood him.
Now she had something else to worry about.
Her father's past.
And the growing feeling that the two mysteries might be connected in ways she could never have imagined.