CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR: THE LITTLE THINGS
There are moments that change everything.
Not because something extraordinary happens.
Not because somebody confesses their feelings.
Not because the whole world suddenly becomes different.
Sometimes...
It is simply because you begin to notice the little things.
And once you notice them...
You cannot stop.
Monday morning began like every other school day.
The loud ringing of the morning bell echoed across the compound before sunrise, followed almost immediately by the hostel prefects reminding everyone to hurry up.
"Move faster!"
"You people will make us late for assembly!"
Girls rushed from one end of the hostel to the other.
Some were still searching for socks.
Others struggled to tie their neckties properly.
Someone complained that her polished shoes had disappeared.
Another girl insisted someone had mistakenly taken her bucket.
The usual boarding school confusion.
Gift and I dressed quietly at our corner.
As always, there was no unnecessary conversation between us.
She folded her bed neatly before adjusting her beret in the small mirror hanging near the window.
I finished arranging my own bed before climbing down from my upper bunk.
"You're done?" she asked.
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Let's go before the prefects start shouting again."
Without another word, we left the hostel together.
Outside, students from different hostels were already walking towards the assembly ground in long lines.
The cool morning breeze made the walk pleasant.
For once, nobody complained about the weather.
...
Assembly ended later than usual because the principal spoke at length about discipline and the approaching continuous assessment tests.
By the time we returned to class, almost everybody looked sleepy.
Daniel threw himself dramatically onto his chair.
"I've already attended enough school for today."
Gift didn't even look up from arranging her books.
"The first period hasn't started."
"Exactly."
He sighed loudly.
"And I'm already tired."
I laughed.
"You complain too much."
He turned towards me.
"I prefer to call it expressing myself."
Samuel chuckled beside me.
"No, you're complaining."
Daniel pointed accusingly at him.
"You've joined her now?"
"I joined the truth."
The entire class laughed.
Even Gift smiled.
Daniel shook his head.
"I'll remember this betrayal."
"You say that every week," I replied.
"One day I'll mean it."
"I'll believe you when that day comes."
Before Daniel could respond, our English teacher entered the classroom.
Instant silence.
...
The day moved surprisingly quickly.
Lessons came and went.
Assignments increased.
Teachers reminded us that the examinations were drawing closer.
By break period, almost everyone looked mentally exhausted.
I remained in class to finish copying a few notes.
Samuel stood up.
"I'm going to buy water."
I nodded absent-mindedly without looking up from my notebook.
"Okay."
A few minutes later, he returned.
As I continued writing, something cold touched the back of my hand.
I looked up.
A bottle of water stood on my desk.
"I didn't ask for water."
"I know."
He sat down casually.
"But you've been writing since morning."
I blinked.
"How did you know I was thirsty?"
He looked genuinely confused.
"I guessed."
"You guessed correctly."
He smiled.
"I know."
I laughed softly before opening the bottle.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Across the classroom, Daniel looked up from the conversation he was having with Gift.
He watched Samuel for a brief moment.
Then quietly returned to his own discussion.
Gift also noticed.
Her eyes rested on the bottle of water before she calmly looked away.
Nothing was said.
Nothing needed to be.
...
After break, the Biology teacher announced a surprise class activity.
"You'll be working in pairs."
Immediately, the classroom became lively.
Everyone started hoping they would be paired with their friends.
The teacher ignored the noise.
"I will choose the pairs."
Groans filled the room.
One by one, names were called.
When she reached our row, she glanced at the register.
"Samuel and Floral."
Samuel looked at me with a small smile.
I smiled back.
The activity involved identifying parts of different preserved plant specimens and answering questions together.
For nearly thirty minutes, we discussed answers quietly.
Whenever I became unsure of an answer, Samuel patiently explained his reasoning.
Whenever he forgot a scientific term, I reminded him.
The teacher walked around the classroom, observing everyone.
When she reached our desk, she stopped.
She picked up our answer sheet and read through it silently.
Then she nodded.
"Good."
We both smiled.
"Keep helping each other."
"Yes, Ma."
As she walked away, Samuel leaned closer.
"I think that's the first time she's ever praised me."
I laughed.
"No."
"Yes."
"I've heard her praise you before."
"Then today is the second time."
"You like counting."
"I like being correct."
"You like proving you're correct."
"That's true too."
Once again, we laughed quietly.
Somehow...
Working together had become effortless.
...
School closed as usual in the afternoon.
Students hurried towards the dining hall before the queue became too long.
Daniel caught up with us along the corridor.
"You two should walk faster."
"We are walking," Samuel replied.
"Not fast enough."
"You only want to reach the dining hall before the meat finishes."
Daniel smiled proudly.
"Exactly."
"I knew it," I said.
"The meat won't run away."
Daniel looked horrified.
"You've clearly never experienced getting to the front and discovering they've finished serving meat."
Samuel laughed.
"That has happened before."
"It has happened too many times."
The three of us laughed as we continued walking.
Students passed us in every direction.
Some juniors greeted us politely.
A few seniors reminded everyone not to block the walkway.
It was another ordinary afternoon.
Yet somehow...
It felt peaceful.
...
That evening, after prep, I returned to the hostel feeling unusually tired.
The room was quieter than normal.
Most girls were already preparing for bed.
Gift sat on her lower bunk reading one of her novels.
As I climbed onto my bed, she looked up.
"You're tired."
"Hm."
"You've been saying 'hm' a lot these days."
I smiled.
"I learnt from somebody."
She laughed.
"Was that supposed to be directed at me?"
"Maybe."
She shook her head.
"I've rubbed off on you."
"Unfortunately."
She laughed again.
It was becoming easier to talk to her.
Not because we had suddenly become close friends.
We hadn't.
But the awkwardness between us wasn't as heavy as before.
We understood each other a little better now.
After a few moments of silence, Gift closed her novel.
"Can I ask you something?"
I looked down at her.
"What is it?"
She hesitated.
Then asked quietly,
"Do you think people can like someone without realising it at first?"
The question caught me by surprise.
I thought carefully before answering.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because sometimes..."
I paused.
"...you become so used to someone's presence that you don't notice when they start becoming important."
Gift stared at me for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
"A good answer."
She lay back on her bed without saying another word.
I lay on mine, staring at the ceiling.
My own words echoed in my mind.
You become so used to someone's presence that you don't notice when they start becoming important.
I closed my eyes slowly.
Perhaps...
That was exactly what had happened to me.
And somewhere across the boys' hostel, Samuel probably had no idea that the smallest things he did—
Explaining a difficult question.
Lending me a pen.
Buying me water.
Making me laugh.
Simply choosing to notice me—
Were quietly changing my heart, one ordinary school day at a time.