CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US
The funny thing about distance is that it doesn't always come from being far away.
Sometimes, somebody can be sitting in the same classroom as you and still feel miles away.
That was exactly how I felt throughout the rest of the week.
Samuel was still in the same class.
Still in the same school.
Still in the same compound.
Yet somehow, after the seat rearrangement, everything felt different.
Not dramatically different.
Just enough for me to notice.
Just enough for me to hate it.
Before, if I wanted to ask Samuel a question, I only had to turn my head.
Now I had to wait until break period.
Or after class.
Or whenever our paths crossed.
Which happened less often than I realised.
And unfortunately, there was another thing I couldn't ignore.
Gift.
Because now she sat beside him every day.
Every single day.
I tried not to notice.
I really did.
But it was impossible.
Every morning, they arrived around the same time.
Every lesson, they shared notes whenever one person missed something on the board.
Every break period, they exchanged conversations that I couldn't hear from where I sat.
Nothing suspicious.
Nothing romantic.
Nothing unusual.
Just enough to make my imagination work overtime.
And I hated it.
I hated it because deep down, I knew I was being unfair.
Neither of them owed me anything.
Yet I couldn't stop myself from watching.
Couldn't stop myself from wondering.
Couldn't stop myself from comparing.
By Friday afternoon, my mood had become so obvious that even Victoria noticed.
"You look like somebody stole your provisions."
I rolled my eyes.
"Nobody stole anything."
"Then why is your face looking like that?"
"My face is normal."
Morayo laughed.
"No, it isn't."
"It is."
"It isn't."
I sighed loudly.
The two girls exchanged knowing looks.
The type I immediately disliked.
"Say whatever you want to say," I muttered.
Victoria grinned.
"Samuel."
I nearly groaned.
"Can all of you rest?"
"No."
"Please."
"No."
Morayo laughed again.
"You should see yourself whenever Gift talks to him."
"I don't look at them."
Both girls burst into laughter.
Loud laughter.
The irritating type.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
I stood up immediately.
"I'm leaving."
"Running away won't solve your problems."
I pointed at Victoria.
"One day, somebody will beat you."
She laughed even harder.
Unfortunately, I couldn't even defend myself properly because part of me knew they weren't entirely wrong.
And that annoyed me more than anything.
...
That evening after prep, students slowly made their way towards their hostels.
The sky was painted orange.
The weather felt cooler than usual.
And for once, the compound looked peaceful.
I was walking alone when I heard footsteps behind me.
"Floral."
I didn't need to turn around.
I knew that voice.
Samuel.
I kept walking.
Mostly because I suddenly became nervous.
Which was annoying.
When did Samuel start making me nervous?
He caught up with me quickly.
"What happened to you this week?"
I looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"You've been avoiding me."
My heart skipped.
Just once.
But enough.
"I haven't."
"You have."
"I haven't."
"You have."
I frowned.
"You sound like Daniel."
"That's insulting."
Despite myself, I laughed.
Samuel smiled immediately.
As if he had achieved something.
"You see?"
"What?"
"You've laughed."
I rolled my eyes.
"What exactly are you talking about?"
He adjusted the strap of his bag.
Then sighed.
"I don't know."
That surprised me.
"What?"
"You've just been different."
Different.
The word settled between us.
Because maybe he was right.
I had been different.
I had become quieter.
More observant.
More suspicious.
More confused.
All because my stupid feelings had decided to become stronger.
"Maybe I'm just tired," I replied.
Samuel looked unconvinced.
But thankfully, he didn't push further.
We continued walking side by side.
For a few moments, neither of us spoke.
Then unexpectedly—
"You know Gift has been asking me strange questions."
I nearly tripped.
"What?"
Samuel laughed.
"You heard me."
I looked straight ahead.
Trying very hard to sound normal.
"What kind of questions?"
He shrugged.
"Random questions."
"Like?"
He thought for a moment.
"About relationships."
My stomach tightened.
Immediately.
"Relationships?"
"Yeah."
I hated how calm he sounded.
As if he had no idea what that information was doing to me.
"What exactly did she ask?"
Samuel looked amused suddenly.
"Why are you interested?"
Interested?
Interested?
Of course I was interested.
But there was no way I was admitting that.
"I'm not interested."
"Hm."
"What does hm mean?"
"It means I don't believe you."
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
For a brief moment, both of us laughed.
And strangely enough, the tension that had existed between us all week began to fade.
Slowly.
Naturally.
Like it had never been there.
Maybe I had been overthinking.
Again.
Maybe Victoria was right when she called me dramatic.
Maybe Daniel was right too.
Actually, no.
Daniel didn't deserve to be right about anything.
Ever.
As we approached the hostel junction, Samuel stopped walking.
The boys' hostel was in one direction.
The girls' hostel in another.
Our usual stopping point.
"See you tomorrow."
I nodded.
"See you tomorrow."
For a second, it looked like he wanted to say something else.
Then he simply smiled.
That annoying smile with the dimples.
The one that always made my chest feel strange.
Then he turned and walked away.
I stood there for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Watching him disappear into the crowd.
And despite everything that had happened this week...
Despite the seat changes.
Despite Gift.
Despite all my confusion.
One truth remained.
I liked Samuel.
Far more than I wanted to admit.
The only problem was...
I still had no idea whether Samuel liked me back.