LOVE AND DANFO RIDES

It was the kind of Lagos afternoon that smelled of burnt fuel, dust, and roasting suya on a roadside grill. Adaora Okonkwo, pressed between two strangers in a danfo, could barely move. Her white blouse clung to her back, heat licking every nerve. And as if the sweating wasn't enough, the danfo driver kept shouting, "Oshodi! Oshodi o! Last chance, enter with your change o!"

Ada sighed and thought, Na who send me come out today? All she wanted was to get home, drop her laptop bag, and peel off her sticky clothes. But Lagos had other plans.

The bus jerked, almost throwing her onto the woman next to her, who hissed without turning her head. Ada muttered a quick "Sorry, ma," then caught her reflection in the cracked side window: hair that had once been neatly packed now in scattered puffs, and eyeliner smudged to near disappearance. Perfect.

At the next stop, a man squeezed into the space beside her. She barely registered him at first - just another sweaty commuter. But then he shifted to let her bag rest better on her lap. She glanced at him, caught a quick, awkward smile, and before she could look away, their elbows brushed.

"Sorry," he murmured, voice calm and surprisingly gentle.

"No wahala," Ada replied, though her heart jumped a bit. Strange what Lagos heat and surprise kindness could do to someone.

He wore a light blue shirt, sleeves rolled up, and his skin gleamed slightly from sweat. Not a flashy guy - more quiet, steady energy. His phone buzzed; she peeked (she wouldn't admit it if asked) and saw an old photo of a dog as his wallpaper.

Ada tried to look out the window to distract herself. Danfos rumbled by, painted in that iconic yellow and black. Outside, hawkers moved through traffic, selling gala, cold pure water, and cheap sunglasses. A woman balanced a tray of oranges on her head like it was nothing. Lagos moved. Lagos roared. And somewhere inside that noise, two strangers sat, silent but acutely aware of each other.

---

At Ojuelegba, Ada's phone rang. Mama, asking if she'd be home in time for dinner. Ada lied and said yes, though she knew this traffic might outlive them all.

After the call, the man beside her cleared his throat. "Long day?" he asked.

Ada turned, caught off guard. "Very," she said. "And yours?"

"Long enough," he replied, with a small, shy grin. "Tolu," he added, as if an afterthought.

"Ada," she said. Their hands almost brushed again.

They spoke in fits and starts, the way strangers sometimes do. Ada learned he was a photographer, recently moved to Lagos from Ibadan, still learning the city's rhythm. Tolu discovered Ada worked as a copywriter, spent her mornings fighting blank pages and her evenings fighting traffic.

At Stadium, another wave of passengers pushed in. Ada felt Tolu lean slightly, protecting her from an elbow jab. It was such a small thing, but it made her chest tighten unexpectedly.

---

When rain started - Lagos rain, quick and heavy, slapping the danfo roof - Ada groaned. Tolu chuckled softly. "Rain in Lagos means two hours more on the road."

"You're telling me," Ada sighed, rolling her eyes.

They laughed. And in that laugh, something melted: the city noise, the strangers packed tight, the sweat. For a heartbeat, it was just them.

---

The danfo finally stopped at Yaba. Ada and Tolu got out, stepping into puddles and the warm, stubborn rain. For a second, they hesitated, like neither wanted to say goodbye.

"Thanks... for talking," Ada said, awkwardly.

"You too," Tolu replied. He scratched his neck, nervous. "Maybe... can I have your number?"

Ada hesitated. Then, as a bolt of thunder split the sky, she nodded, smiling despite herself. "Sure."

They swapped numbers, clumsy in the rain, both pretending not to notice the little spark dancing between them.

As Ada walked away, she dared to look back. Tolu stood there, watching her go, his blue shirt darkened by rain, and for some reason, she felt lighter than she had all week.

Maybe it was silly. Maybe it wouldn't last beyond tomorrow. But in the middle of a Lagos downpour, strangers sometimes became something more.