By now—
It wasn't even news again.
It was routine.
Like attendance.
Like "good morning, sir."
Like Jiggy complaining about heat.
The rumor had settled into the lesson centre like it paid rent.
---
She walked in that morning and didn't even need to look around.
She already knew.
People were still watching.
Still waiting.
Still hoping for something to happen.
*These people need help.*
"Morning," Agadi said as she sat down.
"Morning."
Favor nodded. "Onye kwu that thing."
Jiggy dropped his bag.
"I'm tired of this situation," he announced.
"Which situation?" Agadi asked.
"This love situation."
"It doesn't concern you."
"It concerns everybody," he argued.
She shook her head.
*He will not rest.*
---
The two people came in again.
Separate.
As usual.
But today—
Something felt different.
Not obvious.
But there.
Like small tension in the air.
Agadi noticed it too.
"You see?" she whispered.
"I see."
Favor leaned in.
"What are you people seeing again?"
"Nothing," they said together.
"Liars."
---
Mr Charles entered.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, sir."
"Open your books."
Straight.
No delay.
And class started.
---
Today, he was faster.
More serious.
No time for jokes.
"Do you understand?" he asked after explaining.
Silence.
Then—
"Sir… small," someone said.
He nodded.
"Better than nothing."
Then he pointed.
"You—continue from there."
The student stood up.
Tried.
Failed.
Mr Charles sighed.
"You people will stress me."
The class laughed.
But lightly.
Because his mood today?
Not for too much play.
---
Still—
That didn't stop the side looks.
Didn't stop the quiet observations.
Didn't stop—
Everything.
---
At some point—
It happened.
Again.
But this time—
Closer.
Clearer.
The girl stood up to pass something forward.
As she turned—
She almost bumped into him.
The boy.
They both paused.
Too close.
For a second.
Just one second.
But in that second—
Everything stopped.
She saw it.
Agadi saw it.
Jiggy saw it.
Even people at the back saw it.
The girl quickly stepped back.
"Sorry," she said.
The boy nodded.
"It's fine."
Their voices were normal.
But their faces?
Not normal.
At all.
And that was it.
That one moment—
Was enough.
---
Agadi slowly leaned back.
"Hmm."
Jiggy's eyes were wide.
"I told you."
"You didn't tell us anything," she said.
"I told you something was there."
Favor shook her head.
"Onye kwu that thing."
---
But this time—
Something changed.
Because after that moment—
The girl didn't sit immediately.
She hesitated.
Just small.
Then went back to her seat.
And didn't look up again.
---
The boy?
Same thing.
Head down.
Too focused.
Too quiet.
Too careful.
---
*They felt it too.*
---
Class continued.
But now—
It was heavier.
Not loud.
But deeper.
Like something was about to happen.
But didn't.
---
During break—
It almost did.
---
Students moved around.
Talking.
Laughing.
Living their normal life.
But her eyes were watching.
Because something told her—
Today might be different.
---
She stepped outside with Agadi and Favor.
Jiggy followed.
Of course.
"Today is the day," he said.
"For what?" she asked.
"For something to happen."
"Nothing will happen," she replied.
"Something will happen," he insisted.
Agadi shook her head. "You watch too much film."
"I don't watch film," he said. "I observe."
She laughed.
*Everybody is now observer.*
---
Then—
They saw them.
The two.
Standing.
Not too far.
Not too close.
Just there.
---
Silence.
Between them.
But not empty silence.
The kind that is full.
Full of things not said.
---
Agadi leaned slightly.
"Ah…"
"Don't start," she whispered.
"I'm not starting."
"You are starting."
---
The boy shifted.
Like he wanted to say something.
Then stopped.
The girl looked up.
Then looked away.
Then—
Looked back again.
Small.
Quick.
But enough.
---
Her heart skipped slightly.
*They might actually talk…*
---
Even Jiggy stopped moving.
For once.
"Something is about to happen," he whispered.
"Keep quiet," Favor said.
"Onye kwu that thing."
---
The boy took a step forward.
Small step.
Not big.
But enough.
The girl didn't move.
She just stood there.
Waiting.
Or maybe not waiting.
Hard to tell.
---
He opened his mouth—
Then—
"Everybody inside!" Mr Charles shouted from inside.
The moment broke.
Immediately.
Like it never existed.
The boy stepped back.
The girl turned quickly.
And just like that—
Everything ended.
---
Agadi exhaled loudly.
"Ahh!"
Jiggy held his head.
"No!"
Favor shook her head.
"Onye kwu that thing."
She just stood there.
Blinking.
*That was so close…*
---
They all started walking back inside.
Slowly.
Still processing it.
---
As she sat down—
She glanced once more.
At both of them.
Back in their seats.
Facing forward.
Like nothing happened.
---
She leaned back slightly.
A small smile forming.
*This story…*
She picked her pen.
Opened her book.
Then shook her head.
*It's not ending anytime soon.**