Aisha didn't believe in coincidences—not really.
But Nairobi had a strange way of rearranging people's paths, weaving them through crowds, matatu routes, and familiar corners until they collided again.
Still… this?
This was too soon.
She stood outside Text Book Centre in the Junction Mall, clutching her notebook after buying new pens, when she saw him.
Daniel.
Same crisp shirt, sleeves rolled up like he owned that look. Same quiet confidence. Same eyes that seemed to… see her.
He was standing near the escalators, phone pressed to his ear, pacing slowly. His voice was low, almost tense, like he was trying not to lose control.
Aisha froze.
No way. No way he's here.
Her body reacted before her brain did—heart racing, palms suddenly warm. She tried to duck behind a shelf of gift bags, but it was too late.
Daniel turned.
Their eyes met.
His widened in recognition—then something softer… almost relief.
"Aisha?" he said, ending the call immediately.
She swallowed. "Uh… wow. Hi. Again."
He smiled, almost shy, but it didn't reach his eyes this time. "You live around here?"
"No," she said quickly. "I was just buying stuff. You?"
He hesitated. "I… needed to be here."
Needed.
Not wanted.
Not happened to be.
A strange chill crept up her spine.
Daniel stepped closer, hands in his pockets like he didn't want to scare her away.
"I didn't expect to see you again this soon," he said gently.
Aisha raised a brow. "Are you sure? You don't seem surprised."
"Maybe I'm just happy to see you," he replied softly.
Her cheeks warmed.
"Anyway," she said, looking down at her bag, "I should go. I—"
"You dropped something," he interrupted.
Aisha frowned. She hadn't dropped anything.
Yet Daniel bent down and picked up… a folded note. A very small, very suspicious-looking note someone must have slipped into her shopping bag without her noticing.
Her stomach tightened.
"What's that?" she whispered.
Daniel unfolded it.
His whole body stilled.
Aisha snatched it from his hand.
In thin, hurried handwriting, the note said:
YOU SHOULDN'T BE WITH HIM.
Her breath caught.
The mall suddenly felt too loud, too bright, too crowded.
"Daniel… what is this?" she asked, voice shaking.
He exhaled sharply, jaw clenching.
"Aisha, listen—"
"You knew I'd be here, didn't you?" she cut in. "You've been showing up everywhere."
His eyes softened with something like pain. "I swear I'm not following you."
"Then why—"
"Because," he said, stepping closer, voice low and trembling, "I can't stay away from you. Not again."
Aisha froze.
Again?
"What do you mean again?" she demanded.
Daniel closed his eyes for a moment, as if fighting something inside himself.
When he opened them, they were full of a truth he wasn't ready to give.
"Aisha… we've met before," he whispered.
"You just don't remember."
Her entire body went cold.
"What—what are you talking about?" she asked, heart thudding painfully.
Daniel looked at her with a mixture of sadness and longing.
"I'll explain everything," he said softly. "But not here."
Aisha took a step back. "No. You explain now."
He reached out slowly, like approaching something fragile.
"Aisha…"
His voice broke.
"I promised I'd protect you. Even if you never remembered me."
Her world tilted.
Remembered?
Before she could speak, before she could breathe—
Someone brushed past her deliberately, shoving her shoulder.
Aisha stumbled, and a voice whispered harshly near her ear:
"He's lying."
She spun around.
But the person was already gone, swallowed by the crowd.
She turned back to Daniel—
His face had gone pale.
"Aisha," he said urgently, "please… stay close to me."
Her heart hammered.
Nothing made sense anymore.
But one thing was suddenly, terrifyingly clear:
She wasn't just another girl in a café.
Daniel wasn't a stranger.
And someone—somewhere—didn't want them together.
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What do you think Daniel is hiding? I'm reading all your theories!