Chapter 94: Beneath the surface
332 Words
Maria sat in class with her notebook open, pretending to be busy, but her thoughts wouldn’t obey. Every word Daniel had said, every lingering look, echoed like a secret she couldn’t escape. She told herself it was all a trick, yet her heart kept betraying her—fluttering at the sound of his voice, racing whenever his eyes met hers.
When Daniel walked in, late as usual, Maria’s stomach tightened. He didn’t go to his usual seat with his friends. Instead, he slid into the chair behind her, close enough that she could sense his presence without even turning.
The scrape of his pen against paper was steady until Mr. Tunde asked a question. Then Daniel leaned forward, his voice low, brushing her ear like a secret breeze. “The answer’s metaphor.”
Maria froze. She hadn’t even realized she’d been staring at the page too long. Flustered, she muttered, “Stop.”
“Can’t,” Daniel whispered back, his tone carrying that quiet confidence that made her defenses quake. “You make class bearable.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she gripped her pen tighter. Why was it so easy for him to unravel her composure?
At break, Emeka plopped down beside her, grinning from ear to ear. “Maria, why are you frowning like someone took your lunch? Or… wait. Don’t tell me. It’s Daniel again.”
Maria groaned, shoving her notebook into her bag. “You really need new jokes, Emeka.”
He wiggled his brows. “Not jokes—observations. And you, my dear, are terrible at hiding things.”
Before she could fire back, Daniel appeared at the doorway, hands in his pockets, gaze steady on her. He didn’t say a word, but his silence spoke louder than anything else. It felt like a challenge, a question, and maybe even a promise—all wrapped in one look.
Maria’s chest tightened. Was she falling, or just losing her grip on the walls she thought were unshakable?
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