I never gave much thought to the whole "multi-conversations leading somewhere" idea—at least, not until my last chat with Daniel. He messaged me out of nowhere one day, and I couldn't help but feel a little surprised. To be honest, I wasn't the type to lay all my feelings on the table. I preferred to keep things guarded, maybe even a bit mysterious. But Daniel? He made me question all that.
Our first exchange was casual, almost random. At one point, he even asked, "Why did you get my number?" I laughed nervously, unsure of how to answer. "I just wanted to have it," I replied, trying to play it cool. Deep down, I wasn't sure why I'd saved it either. Maybe curiosity? Maybe hope?
We ended up having a few short conversations—nothing too deep, just enough to make me think about him a little more each time. By the third conversation, he dropped a bombshell: an invitation to the upcoming freshers' party.
I froze for a moment, rereading his message. Was he... asking me out?
The party was in a week, organized by the school, and it was all anyone could talk about. I wasn't the party type, let alone the night party type, so the idea of going was already nerve-wracking. But to go with Daniel? That was a whole new level of excitement—and anxiety.
I didn't know what to do. My heart screamed yes, but a tiny, nagging voice in my head whispered doubts. My friends had made it clear they thought Daniel was attractive, too. What if this caused drama? What if he wasn't serious?
I turned to Nicole, my closest friend and confidant, for advice. "What should I do? Should I say yes or no?" I asked, pacing back and forth in my dorm room.
Nico raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Do you want to say no?" she asked, cutting straight to the point.
I hesitated. "Not really. I like him... a lot. But—"
"No buts," Nico interrupted. "If you like him, go for it. Don't overthink it. Just say yes."
She was right, of course. Deep down, I didn't want to say no. I liked Daniel too much to let this chance slip by. And so, I said yes.
That entire week felt like a dream. I floated through my classes, barely able to concentrate. Every time I thought about the party, my stomach did flips. It wasn't just that it would be my first night party; it was the fact that I'd be going with him. I was thrilled, but I was also nervous beyond belief.
I spent hours planning what to wear. I wanted to look perfect—no, better than perfect. I wanted Daniel to see me and feel like he'd made the best decision ever.
The night of the party finally arrived. As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my dress for the hundredth time, I couldn't help but smile. I looked good—really good. My outfit was on point, my makeup flawless. I felt like I could conquer the world.
When I walked into the party, the atmosphere was electric. Lights flashed, music boomed, and laughter filled the air. I spent time with my friends, enjoying the lively atmosphere, before heading off to meet Daniel. On my way, I ran into Rachel, who asked if I'd seen Daniel. When I said I hadn't, she informed me that both Daniel and his friends were drunk.
My excitement deflated instantly. I had a strong aversion to interacting with intoxicated people, as they often made poor decisions and approached others inappropriately. Not everyone, of course, but enough to make me wary. Feeling disappointed and uneasy, I decided to steer clear of Daniel for the rest of the party.
As the event wound down and students were being driven to their hostels, I finally met Daniel. He asked where I'd been during the party and mentioned he'd been texting me, though his messages were incoherent due to his inebriation.Wow," he said when I reached him. "You look amazing."
I blushed, feeling a mix of pride and shyness. "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself He was waiting for me near the entrance, looking as handsome as ever. When his eyes met mine, he smiled—a smile that made my heart skip a beat. At one point, he placed his hand on my waist, sending a jolt through me—a mix of surprise and the undeniable attraction I felt for him. Despite the brief and disjointed conversation, that touch left a lasting impression.As the night went on, I realized something: this wasn't just a party. It was the beginning of something new, something exciting. And for the first time, I allowed myself to hope that maybe—just maybe—this could turn into something real.
After the party we all went for holidays. During the holidays Daniel and I continued our conversations, growing closer with each passing day. Then, one day, he confessed, "I like you." I was stunned, unable to find the right words. Sensing my hesitation, Daniel waited for my response, but I remained speechless. He said he wanted to know how I felt about him and I told him that I was shocked with his confession. His next question got me off guard because he asked whether it wasn't so obvious that he liked me. So all this while I was the one who couldn't read the lines. I just couldn't stop myself from cussing cause how didn't I see this coming.
Seeking clarity, I turned to Nicole, his cousin and my close friend. After reading our chat, she advised, "If you like him, why not go for it? If you don't, then let it go." Despite my feelings for Daniel, I surprised myself by saying no, offering flimsy excuses. Even so, our conversations continued, albeit with a slight awkwardness.
Over time, I reconsidered my decision. I was like, "why not?, what's there to lose after all?" With encouragement from Rachel, a mutual friend to whom Daniel had confided about us, I decided to give it a chance. When Daniel asked me out again, I eagerly said yes, feeling on top of the world.
However, I was aware that my friends, Precious and Valerie, also liked him. Initially, this made me hesitant, but I realized that since Daniel and I had mutual feelings, I shouldn't deny myself the opportunity. I knew I was going to have a hard time telling them that I was dating Daniel especially because I never told them that I was having conversations with him even when we talked about everything going on in our lives.
This was my first relationship and it was with someone I liked.