Chapter 2 THE OBSERVATION

The sun hadn't yet climbed above the rusted rooftops of Ojuelegba, but Jude was already awake, seated on the edge of a broken wooden stool outside the kiosk. The streets were still half asleep, stirring gently in pockets-traders arranging wares, danfo buses warming up with low grumbles, early risers dragging tired feet past puddles of yesterday's rain. But Jude wasn't watching any of that. He was watching the road. Waiting. It was 7:02 a.m. He'd never been this early before. Not even when he had appointments. But something tugged at him stronger than obligation. Curiosity? Maybe.

Longing? Possibly. Something he didn't yet have the language for. She walked this route like a ghost through the noise. Today, he wasn't going to let her pass unnoticed. Bala wasn't even at the stall yet. Good. He didn't need a commentator. He tapped his fingers against his knees, counting. He had rehearsed lines in his head all night: "Hey, you dropped something." No, that would only work if she actually dropped something. "You come this way often?" Too cliché. "My name is Jude. What's yours?" Too direct. She might ignore him. Or worse-look through him like he was just air. 7:18 a.m. He shifted. His heartbeat started to pick up. His stomach, empty from skipping dinner, twisted for another reason. 7:26 a.m. There. She appeared like a secret. No loud steps. No eye contact. Just that same grace that didn't fit the dirt under her feet. She wore a long cardigan over jeans today. Earphones in. Head down. Jude stood slowly. One chance. He stepped forward. "Excuse me," he said, voice firmer than he expected. She paused, halfway to passing him. Her eyes rose from the ground, brows knit in caution. For the first time, he saw her up close. Her eyes weren't cold-they were tired. As if she'd seen too much. Her lips pressed into a soft line, and her hand hovered near her bag strap like a reflex. She tugged one earphone out. "Yes?" Jude blinked. He hadn't planned what to say after this point. "Uh-I just wanted to say... hi." Silence. Alina looked at him for a long second. Then blinked slowly. "...Hi." Her voice was softer than he imagined. "I see you walk this way a lot," Jude added, trying to sound casual. Alina's brows raised slightly. "Okay." Another pause. Jude scratched his neck. "I fix phones. Just there." He nodded toward his table like it was a castle instead of a cluttered wooden bench. Alina looked at it. Then back at him. "I don't need repairs." He chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I just... wanted to say hi." "You said it," she replied. It wasn't rude. But it wasn't welcoming either. Jude nodded, stepping back. "Alright. Uh, have a good morning." Alina nodded once. Then walked on. No smile. No insult.