Morning didn't feel like morning anymore.
It felt like consequence.
Mia Michaelson lay in bed staring at her ceiling, her body still, but her mind loud in ways she couldn't escape. Every second replayed itself in fragments she didn't know how to stop his voice, his eyes, the silence inside the car, the moment she stopped thinking and started feeling.
And then nothing after that made sense anymore.
Her phone vibrated.
She flinched before even looking at it.
Khloe calling…
Mia let it ring once.
Twice.
Then answered.
"Where are you?" Khloe's voice was sharp immediately. "I was looking everywhere yesterday Mia."
"I came back," Mia said quickly, too quickly.
A pause.
"You sound weird," Khloe replied.
"I'm fine."
Another pause but this one longer.
Then Khloe said slowly, "Did you go somewhere with that guy?"
Mia's grip tightened on the phone.
"What guy?"
"Mia."
Mia sat up slowly. "Khloe, I just needed air. That's all."
Khloe didn't sound convinced.
"You're not the type to disappear with strangers," she said. "So I'm asking again. Did something happen with him?"
Mia swallowed.
David's face flashed in her mind.
Calm. Quiet. Too knowing.
"No," Mia said finally.
But her voice betrayed her.
And Khloe heard it.
Across campus, David Richard hadn't slept much either.
Not because he regretted it.
Because he didn't understand why it still felt like her presence was inside his skin even when she wasn't there.
Raymond noticed immediately.
"You look different today," Raymond said as they walked.
"I'm fine."
Raymond smirked. "That's your second favorite lie."
David didn't respond.
But his mind wasn't in class.
It was on her.
Soft voice. Shaking hands. That moment in the car when she stopped running away from everything including him.
And for the first time in a long time…
David felt something dangerous.
Not desire.
Not even love.
Something closer to attachment.
Something heavier.
Something that didn't leave easily.
Then Mia's phone rang again.
She looked down.
Mom Calling…
Her face tightened instantly.
"Hello, Mom."
Her mother's voice came immediately, a mix of worry and slight frustration.
"Mia! I've been calling you since yesterday. Where have you been?"
Mia sat up slightly on the bed, forcing calm into her tone.
"I'm fine, Mom."
"That's not what I asked you," Mrs. Michaelson replied. "You didn't pick calls, you didn't text. What happened?"
Mia paused for half a second, then replied quickly.
"My phone was off. I was charging it on my friend's power bank and I left it with her."
A brief silence.
"With your friend?" her mother repeated.
"Which friend?"
"Khloe," Mia said softly.
Mrs. Michaelson exhaled slowly, like she was trying to settle her worry.
"So you were fine and just didn't think to let me know?"
Mia bit her lip. "Mom, I'm sorry. It wasn't intentional."
Her mother's voice softened, but still carried concern.
"You know I don't like when you go silent like this.
"I know," Mia said quietly. "I'm really fine, I promise."
"Hmm," her mother hummed, not fully convinced. "Are you eating well?"
"Yes, Mom."
"And school?"
"It's fine."
Another pause.
"Alright," Mrs. Michaelson said finally. "Just don't do that again. Call me when you can, even if it's just a minute."
Mia nodded even though her mother couldn't see her.
"I will."
"Good," her mother said. "Take care of yourself, my dear."
"I will. Bye, Mom, tell dad i love him."
"He loves you too, Bye."
The call ended.
Emmanuel was leaning on the railing outside the cafeteria, laughing with two friends when David walked up to him. His expression was calm, but there was something tight in his eyes.
"Emmanuel," David called.
Emmanuel turned, smirking immediately. "Ahh, David .What's up?"
David didn't waste time. "That girl that came with your girlfriend to the party… the quiet one."
Emmanuel raised an eyebrow. "Mia?"
David nodded slightly. "Yeah. Do you know her?"
Emmanuel burst out laughing. "This one you're asking questions like police officer. Hope you know you don't have money, you don't need girlfriend o. Don't go and suffer somebody's daughter for nothing."
David frowned immediately. "Abeg, I don't understand you. I'm not talking like that. I just want to know if you know where she stays."
Emmanuel blinked. "Haa? David, why do you want to know where she stays?"
David exhaled, trying to stay patient. "Just answer the question."
Emmanuel tilted his head, studying him now. "Anyway… she's my girlfriend's roommate.
David nodded slowly. "Oh… really? Okay. No problem."
He turned slightly like he was about to leave.
But Emmanuel quickly grabbed his attention again.
"Wait, wait," Emmanuel said, now more serious. "David… leave that girl o. That girl is a nice girl abeg. Soft girl like that. Don't go and break her heart."
David looked at him for a second.
"I know," he said quietly. "It's just… I haven't seen her in weeks. Since your birthday party."
Emmanuel smirked again. "Hmm. So what are you saying?"
David hesitated.
Then, more honestly than he intended:
"I think I might be in love with her."
Silence.
Emmanuel blinked like he didn't hear well.
Then he laughed loudly. "Wow! David has fallen in love! Ahhh! See my life o!"
David didn't smile.
He just looked away slightly, jaw tightening.
Because even hearing it out loud…