The Distance Between Us

DISTANCE BETWEEN US EPISODE 6

CHAPTER 6

THE THINGS WE NOTICE

The Monday after Cultural Day felt strangely different.

Kingsbridge Secondary School was back to its usual routine. Students hurried through the corridors with books under their arms, teachers moved from classroom to classroom, and the morning assembly was filled with announcements about assignments, tests, and the upcoming academic competition.

Yet, for Daniel, something had changed.

He couldn't quite explain it.

Maybe it was because of the conversations he had shared with Amara. Maybe it was because he had started noticing little things about her that he hadn't paid attention to before—the way she smiled when she was excited about an idea, the way she tapped her pen against her notebook when she was thinking, or how seriously she took even the smallest school assignment.

Daniel tried to convince himself that it was nothing.

They were friends.

That was all.

At least, that was what he kept telling himself.

When he entered the classroom, Samuel was already sitting at their usual desk.

"You're late," Samuel said.

Daniel looked at the clock. "I'm early."

"Early for you. Late for me."

Daniel laughed. "That doesn't even make sense."

"Everything makes sense when you're hungry."

Samuel opened his lunch bag and looked inside.

Daniel shook his head. "It's barely morning."

"Exactly. That's why I'm planning ahead."

Before Daniel could reply, Amara walked into the classroom.

She noticed them and smiled.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," Daniel replied.

Samuel looked between them and grinned.

Daniel immediately noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You said nothing like you're hiding something."

Samuel raised both hands. "I didn't say anything."

Amara sat down beside Daniel and brought out her books.

"Did you finish the biology assignment?" she asked.

"Almost."

"Almost?"

"I finished the questions. I haven't checked them."

Amara smiled. "So you haven't finished."

"Technically, I have."

"Technically doesn't count."

Samuel leaned toward them. "You two argue like an old married couple."

Daniel nearly dropped his pen.

Amara stared at Samuel.

"Samuel!"

"What?" he asked innocently.

Daniel shook his head. "Ignore him."

Samuel laughed.

Amara tried not to smile, but she couldn't help it.

The first lesson began, and everyone became quiet.

During the break, Daniel and Amara went to the library to continue preparing for the academic competition.

Their competition was getting closer, and both of them had begun taking their preparation more seriously.

Daniel opened his physics textbook.

"Let's start with this section."

Amara looked at him. "You always want to start with the hardest part."

"Because if we survive this, everything else will be easy."

"That's your strategy?"

"Exactly."

She laughed.

For almost an hour, they studied together.

Daniel explained a physics problem to Amara, while she helped him remember some biology concepts he had struggled with.

At one point, Amara closed her book.

"Daniel?"

"Yes?"

"Do you ever think about what happens after secondary school?"

He looked at her.

"All the time."

"What do you imagine?"

Daniel thought for a moment.

"University. Engineering. Getting a job. Helping my family."

Amara nodded.

"That's a lot."

"What about you?"

She smiled.

"Medical school. Becoming a doctor. Hopefully helping people."

Daniel smiled.

"You'll make a good doctor."

"You really think so?"

"Yes."

She looked down at her book.

"Thanks."

There was a short silence.

Then Amara asked, "Would you ever leave Nigeria?"

Daniel leaned back in his chair.

"I don't know. Maybe for university or work. But I'd still want to come back."

"Why?"

"Because this is home."

Amara nodded slowly.

"I understand."

Daniel looked at her.

"Would you leave?"

She hesitated.

"Maybe."

"Really?"

"My mum always says opportunities can take people to places they never expected."

Daniel smiled.

"Sounds like something a doctor would say."

Amara laughed.

"She's not a doctor yet."

"She's close."

"Very close."

They both laughed.

Neither of them noticed someone standing a few shelves away.

Victoria.

She had come to the library looking for a textbook, but she had noticed Daniel and Amara sitting together.

She watched them for a moment.

They looked comfortable.

Too comfortable, in her opinion.

Victoria's expression changed slightly before she turned away.

After school, Daniel was packing his books when Victoria approached him.

"Daniel."

He looked up.

"Hey."

"Are you going home now?"

"Yes."

"Can I talk to you?"

Daniel nodded.

They stepped outside the classroom.

Victoria looked nervous.

"I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Are you still helping with the math practice?"

Daniel nodded.

"Sometimes."

"Could you help me too?"

Daniel thought about it.

"Sure. We can study after school tomorrow."

Victoria smiled.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

As Daniel returned to the classroom, he saw Amara waiting near the door.

She had heard part of the conversation.

"Everything okay?" Daniel asked.

"Yes."

"You look worried."

"I'm fine."

Daniel studied her face.

"You sure?"

Amara nodded.

"Yeah."

She picked up her bag.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay."

She walked away.

Daniel watched her go.

Something about her seemed different.

The next morning, Amara arrived earlier than usual.

She sat at her desk and opened her notebook, but she wasn't really reading.

She was thinking about Victoria.

She knew she shouldn't care.

Daniel was her friend.

He was allowed to talk to anyone he wanted.

Still, something about seeing Victoria getting closer to him bothered her.

She sighed.

"Why do I care so much?"

"Care about what?"

Amara quickly looked up.

Ifeoma was standing beside her.

Amara's eyes widened.

"Ifeoma!"

Her old friend had come to visit the school with her older cousin, who had an appointment nearby.

They hugged and laughed.

"I've missed you," Ifeoma said.

"I've missed you too."

They talked for several minutes before Ifeoma noticed Daniel walking into the classroom.

She looked at Amara.

"Is that him?"

Amara frowned.

"Who?"

"The boy."

"What boy?"

Ifeoma smiled.

"The one you told me about."

Amara's face became warm.

"I never said I liked him."

"I didn't say you liked him."

"You were thinking it."

"I don't need to think it. Your face said it."

Amara laughed.

"You're impossible."

Ifeoma smiled.

"Just be careful with your heart."

Amara became quiet.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, don't be afraid of your feelings, but don't let them distract you from who you are."

Amara nodded.

"I understand."

Ifeoma hugged her.

"I have to go."

"Okay."

"Call me later."

"I will."

After Ifeoma left, Amara looked across the classroom.

Daniel was talking to Samuel.

For a moment, he looked in her direction.

Their eyes met.

Daniel smiled.

Amara smiled back.

And somehow, her worries became smaller.

Later that afternoon, the academic competition team gathered in the science laboratory.

Their teacher gave them a practice test.

"Everyone has forty-five minutes," she announced.

Daniel looked at the questions.

They were difficult.

Amara glanced at hers.

"This is serious," she whispered.

Daniel smiled.

"Remember what I said."

"What?"

"If we survive this, everything else will be easy."

Amara laughed quietly.

"You're still using that strategy?"

"Always."

They began.

The room became silent.

For the next forty-five minutes, everyone concentrated.

When the time was up, the teacher collected their papers.

She looked through them.

"Daniel, Amara, excellent work."

Daniel smiled.

Amara looked at him.

"We survived."

"See?"

She laughed.

But before they could say anything else, Victoria walked over.

"Daniel, can we talk about the questions?"

"Sure."

Amara stepped aside.

She told herself it didn't bother her.

But it did.

Daniel noticed her walking away.

"Amara."

She stopped.

"Yes?"

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"But we usually walk out together."

Amara looked at him.

Then she smiled.

"Okay."

Daniel joined her.

Victoria watched them leave.

For the first time, she realized something.

Daniel wasn't simply being friendly toward Amara.

There was something between them.

Something neither of them had said aloud yet.

That evening, Daniel sat at home with his books open in front of him.

His father was repairing a small machine nearby.

"How was school?" his father asked.

"Good."

"Competition preparation?"

"Going well."

His father smiled.

"Keep working hard."

Daniel nodded.

But his mind wasn't completely on the competition.

He thought about Amara.

He thought about the way she had seemed quiet earlier.

He wondered if he had done something wrong.

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Amara.

"Thanks for walking with me today."

Daniel smiled.

He replied.

"Anytime."

A few seconds later, another message appeared.

"Goodnight, Daniel."

Daniel looked at the screen for a moment before replying.

"Goodnight, Amara."

He placed the phone beside his books.

But he couldn't concentrate.

For the first time, Daniel began asking himself a question he had been avoiding.

Maybe Amara wasn't just his friend.

And maybe the feeling growing between them wasn't something either of them could ignore forever.