After dinner at Chisom's house, she cleared the dishes. Her parents retired to their room, and Daniel went for a shower. Once Chisom finished tidying up, she decided to sleep in Daniel's room for the night, a habit she occasionally indulged in. Daniel was accustomed to his sister's playful ways and didn't mind her spending the night whenever she wanted.
Emerging from the bathroom, Daniel donned his blue floral pyjamas and sat down in front of his laptop, booting it up. Chisom lay on the bed, her fingers dancing across her phone screen, a faint smile playing on her lips. The room fell into a peaceful silence, the only sound being the gentle hum of the computer.
Glancing at the clock, Daniel realised it was nearly eleven-thirty. He shut down his computer and laid out a mattress on the floor, choosing to sleep there while Chisom had already fallen asleep on the bed. He gently covered her with a blanket before settling down, the familiar scent of lavender washing over him.
The room was quiet now, and Daniel found himself staring into the darkness, his mind drifting to the memory of earlier, rescuing Audrey from her fall. A smile touched his lips as he savoured the tranquility of his thoughts. Eventually, sleep claimed him.
In the middle of the night, the rain poured hard on the roof, sounding like a noisy drum kit, while lightning lit up the room like a strobe light. The storm didn't make Daniel feel sad, though. It made him think of a sweet moment with Audrey, like sharing a kiss under a wet roof with the rain echoing around them.
He had just told Chioma he liked her, but he wasn't sure if it was true love or just because he was still hurting from past relationships. He cared about Chioma a lot, like a sister, but it wasn't the same strong feeling he got when he thought of Audrey.
As the rain calmed down, Daniel smiled a little. He still hoped that something good could happen with Audrey, even though things were confusing. Just like a tiny wildflower growing after a storm, a small piece of hope bloomed inside him.
He closed his eyes, but pictures of Audrey's happy face kept popping up. He felt lost, unsure which way to go - stay with the familiar comfort of Chioma or reach for the exciting unknown with Audrey. However, he knew pursuing Chioma was no longer possible because she was already taken by Michael. Despite the confusion, a tiny spark of hope flickered inside him, reminding him that things might turn out well. He was hopeful that he might get the chance to have Audrey as his partner.