When Ada opened her locker that Monday morning, she expected to find the usual things—her books, her pen, maybe the wrapper from the biscuit she forgot to throw away. What she did not expect was a small folded note sitting on top of everything, pressed neatly like it had been placed there with care.
She looked around the hallway. Students moved up and down, laughing, rushing, and arguing about weekend plans. No one seemed to be watching her. Ada took the note and slipped it into her pocket before anyone could notice.
During break, she sat under the mango tree behind the school. It was her quiet place, the spot she always went to when she needed space. She took out the note and opened it slowly. Her heart beat a little faster as her eyes moved across the simple handwriting.
“I like you. Not just as a friend. I have liked you for a long time. You don’t have to like me back, but I needed to say it. – Your Secret Admirer.”
Ada read it twice. Then a third time. She felt warm and confused at the same time. A secret admirer? Who could it be? She had friends, yes, but none who ever acted strange around her. Well… except Daniel.
Daniel had been her close friend since JSS1. He always saved a seat for her in class. He always shared his snacks. He always walked her home when it rained. She used to laugh and tell him he behaved like her guardian angel. He would only smile and say, “Someone has to keep you out of trouble.”
Ada tried to shake the thought away. It couldn’t be Daniel. He was just… Daniel. Her friend was almost like family. She folded the note again and kept it in her bag.
The next day, she found another note. This one said, “You smiled a lot today. I hope the reason was good.” She felt her cheeks warm. Whoever this admirer was, he noticed her closely.
All week, the notes continued. Small messages of encouragement, jokes, and little things that made her day brighter. Ada found herself waking up excited, wondering what she would see next.
By Friday, she was tired of guessing; after school, she walked straight to Daniel, who was packing his books. “Can I talk to you?” she asked. He nodded, surprised.
They walked straight to the mango tree. Ada took out all the notes and placed them in his hands. “Do you know anything about these?” she asked, watching his face.
For a moment, Daniel froze. Then he let out a small, nervous laugh. “I guess I wasn’t as sneaky as I thought.”
Ada stared at him. “So… it was you?”
He nodded slowly. “I didn’t want to scare you. I just wanted you to know how I feel.”
Ada looked at the notes again. Sweet. Simple. Honest. Just like Daniel.
She smiled. “You should have just told me.”
Daniel looked up, hope in his eyes. “So… are we okay?”
Ada stepped closer and touched his arm gently. “We’re more than okay.”
And under the mango tree, the place where she read the first note, she realized she didn’t just like the notes. She liked the boy who wrote them.
