After that almost moment—
Everything felt… different.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
But different.
---
She noticed it first in the silence.
Not the normal class silence.
This one was tighter.
Like everyone was waiting again.
But this time—
More careful.
---
"Nothing happened yesterday," Jiggy said as he dropped his bag.
"Exactly," Agadi replied. "And that's the problem."
"Something was supposed to happen," he insisted.
"Who told you?" she asked.
"My instincts."
Agadi laughed. "Your instincts are always wrong."
"Onye kwu that thing," Favor added.
She smiled slightly.
*Same people. Same noise.*
But even as they talked—
Her eyes moved.
Out of habit now.
To check.
To confirm.
---
They were there.
Again.
Separate.
Again.
But not exactly like before.
---
Today—
They weren't avoiding completely.
Just… reducing.
Small glances.
Small movements.
Less tension.
But still something.
---
Agadi leaned in.
"You see?"
"I see."
Favor sighed. "You people and your 'I see.'"
---
Mr Charles entered.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, sir."
"Open your books."
Straight.
As usual.
---
Class started.
And today—
It felt more normal.
Like people were actually trying again.
Writing.
Reading.
Answering.
Even Jiggy tried small.
"Sir, I think it's this," he said at some point.
Mr Charles paused.
Looked at the board.
Then back at him.
"…You tried."
The class laughed.
"Effort is not the answer," he added.
Jiggy sat down slowly. "At least I tried."
Agadi shook her head. "Tragic."
---
"Do you understand?" Mr Charles asked again.
"Sir… yes," someone said.
"Good. Prove it."
Silence.
The class laughed.
"Don't be forming understanding," he said. "It will fail you."
---
Everything flowed.
Normal.
Controlled.
But underneath—
That same thing was still there.
---
Then—
It happened again.
But this time—
Different.
---
The teacher asked for a notebook.
The girl had it.
She stood up.
Walked forward.
And as she passed—
She dropped it.
Accident.
Or not.
Hard to tell.
---
The boy picked it up.
Before she could.
Fast.
Too fast.
---
Their hands met.
Just small.
But this time—
They didn't pull away immediately.
They paused.
Just for a second longer than before.
---
The class noticed.
Of course.
Agadi noticed.
Of course.
She noticed.
Definitely.
---
Then—
They both pulled back.
Quickly.
Too quickly.
---
"Thanks," the girl said.
"Yeah," the boy replied.
---
Normal words.
But not normal moment.
---
Agadi leaned back slowly.
"This one…"
Jiggy didn't even speak.
For once.
He just nodded.
---
Favor shook her head.
"Onye kwu that thing."
---
But this time—
Something changed.
Because after that—
The girl sat down.
And for the first time—
She smiled.
Small.
But real.
---
And the boy?
He looked up once.
Just once.
Then faced front again.
---
*Progress.*
---
Break time came again.
And like always—
Students scattered.
---
But today—
The teasing reduced.
Not because people lost interest.
But because—
Now it felt more real.
Less like joke.
More like something happening.
---
She stood outside with Agadi and Favor.
Watching.
As usual.
---
"They are softening," Agadi said.
"Yes," she replied.
"Small-small," Favor added.
"Onye kwu that thing."
---
Jiggy joined them.
"I think they will talk today."
"You said that yesterday," she replied.
"Today is different."
Agadi shook her head. "Everyday is different for you."
---
Then—
They saw them again.
Standing.
Closer this time.
Not close-close.
But closer than before.
---
No crowd.
No noise.
Just them.
---
The boy spoke first.
They couldn't hear what he said.
But they saw it.
---
The girl responded.
Short.
Quick.
---
Then silence again.
But not awkward.
Just… careful.
---
She leaned forward slightly.
*So it's starting…*
---
Agadi didn't speak.
For once.
She was just watching.
---
Jiggy whispered.
"This is it."
"Keep quiet," Favor said.
---
Then—
The girl shook her head slightly.
Said something.
And turned.
Not angrily.
Just… ending the moment.
---
The boy didn't follow.
He just stood there.
Watching her go.
---
And just like that—
It ended.
Again.
---
Agadi exhaled.
"Ahh."
Jiggy held his head again.
"What is this?"
Favor laughed. "Onye kwu that thing."
---
She leaned back slightly.
Thinking.
Watching.
Understanding.
---
*It's not simple.*
---
She looked at both of them again.
Now separate.
Again.
---
But something had changed.
Not fully.
But enough.
---
She smiled slightly.
*This is just the beginning.*