The sun had barely risen, yet the school compound was already alive. Junior students rushed around carrying buckets of water, while seniors shouted orders like mini soldiers. The smell of freshly cut grass and chalk dust filled the air — it could only mean one thing: resumption day.

Ebun adjusted her white socks for the tenth time that morning. They never seemed straight enough. Her father had just dropped her at the gate of Breakthrough Academy with a fine new model Highlander , and now she stood there with her box and bucket, taking a deep breath.

“Chai, back to boarding life again,” she muttered.

“Ah-ah, see who we have here!” a familiar voice shouted.Ebun turned to see her best friend,Eri, running toward her, her braids bouncing with each step. They hugged tightly, laughing like they hadn’t seen each other in years.

You no even call me all holiday,” Eri scolded. “You just ghosted everybody.”

Ebun laughed. “Abeg, I no even touch phone. My mum turn me to housemaid.”

Eri rolled her eyes. “Same here, jare. Anyway, guess what? There’s a new SS2 boy this term. Transfer student. He’s tall, fine, and fresh like he just came from music video set.”

Ebun raised a brow. “You and your gist. I just reached school, you don start.”

“Don’t worry,” Eri said, grinning. “You’ll see him soon.”

They entered the hostel, greeted by the usual chaos — girls shouting, spreading bedsheets, sweeping floors, and fighting over lockers. Someone played Ayra Starr softly on a Bluetooth speaker while another girl complained about stolen slippers.

Ebun smiled. Same old Breakthrough Academymadness.

The matron’s voice suddenly cut through the noise:

“Everybody! Assembly in twenty minutes! Make sure your uniform is neat!”

Eri groaned. “I never even polish my shoes. God abeg.”

They rushed around like headless chickens, getting dressed and adjusting ties.

By the time they reached the assembly ground, the principal was already talking through the microphone.

“Welcome back, students! We expect discipline and focus this term…”

Eri leaned toward Ebun. “Focus? In this sun? Even my brain don melt already.”

Ebun giggled, trying not to laugh too loudly — then she saw him.

Standing a few lines away in the SS2 section was a boy she hadn’t seen before. His uniform was crisp, his haircut clean, and his expression calm. He looked… different — like someone who wasn’t used to chaos.

And then, just for a second, his eyes met hers.

He smiled — small, soft, confident.

Eri caught it immediately. “Ah! He’s smiling at you!” she whispered dramatically.

Ebun hissed. “Abeg, he’s not. Face front before they punish us.”

After assembly, they went to class. SS2B looked the same — dusty desks, faded chalkboard, and scribbles from last term still faintly visible. Everyone was chatting about their holidays when the door opened.

It was him.

“Good morning,” the boy said, stepping in with a quiet smile. “I’m Daniel. I just transferred from Abuja.”

The class went silent for a moment.

The form teacher, who had just arrived, smiled warmly. “Welcome, Daniel. You’ll sit by…” she scanned the room, then pointed. “You’ll sit beside Ebun.”

Eri gasped and whispered, “Babe, God really wants you to fall in love this term.”

Ebun blinked in shock. “Ma? Me?”

“Yes, you,” the teacher replied. “Help him settle in.”

Daniel smiled as he walked toward her desk. “Guess we’re seatmates.”

Ebun tried to act normal, opening her notebook even though her heart was racing. “Yeah, I guess so.”

But as she glanced at him again — at his neat uniform, calm smile, and that faint cologne she couldn’t quite place — she somehow knew this term was going to be different.

LOVE IN THE AIR🥰

Daniel smiled again, walking toward the empty seat beside her.

“Guess we’ll be seatmates,” he said, setting his bag down.

Ebun tried to keep a straight face, pretending to be focused on arranging her notebook. “Yeah… welcome,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Thanks,” he replied, still smiling.

Eri, sitting two seats behind them, was already grinning from ear to ear. She mouthed, ‘This term go sweet!’ and winked.

Ebun rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly, but she couldn’t help smiling a little too.

The teacher started the welcome-back talk, reminding everyone about discipline, punctuality, and exam results. But honestly, Ebun wasn’t hearing much of it. Her mind kept wandering to the quiet boy beside her — how he took neat notes, how calm he seemed, and how his pen handwriting looked like print.

When the bell finally rang for break, the whole class erupted with noise.

“Babe, gist me!” Eri shouted the moment she reached their desk. “What’s his name again? Daniel abi?”

Daniel turned slightly and smiled politely. “Yeah, Daniel.”

Eri grinned wider. “Welcome o, Daniel-from-Abuja. Hope you’re ready for this our Breakthrough Academy wahala.”

He chuckled softly. “I’ll try my best.”

Ebun quickly stood up. “Eri, abeg, let’s go to the canteen before everything finish.”

Eri followed her out, whispering, “You see? Even his laugh fine!”

“Abeg, leave me,” Ebun said, trying to sound irritated. But the truth was — she had noticed.

The canteen was already packed, full of students arguing over who came first. The smell of puff-puff, rice, and stew filled the air. Ebun and Eri finally got food and found a spot near the window.

“Babe,” Eri began, “that guy na trouble o. He go scatter this class.”

Ebun rolled her eyes again. “You’ve started your matchmaking wahala.”

“I’m serious!” Eri said, sipping her Coke. “He’s your seatmate, he’s fine, and you—”

Before she could finish, Daniel walked into the canteen, bought a drink, and looked around. When he spotted Ebun, he smiled slightly and waved before walking back out.

Eri gasped dramatically. “You see! He waved at you! You can’t even deny it again!”

Ebun tried not to smile, but her cheeks betrayed her. “He just waved. It’s not that deep.”

Eri laughed. “Hmm. You go explain later, sha.”

The rest of the day went by quickly — new timetables, new class arrangements, and the usual drama between teachers and sleepy students. By closing time, the hostel was noisy again with students shouting greetings and unpacking.

As Ebun sat on her bunk, writing in her small diary, she caught herself smiling for no reason. She quickly closed the book, embarrassed.

“Daniel,” she whispered to herself, shaking her head. “This one you’re already in my thoughts on day one, I pray you don’t make me fall for you cause I really want to be focused this term abeg after snapping from her thought she decided to go throughout everything she was taught in class today which didn’t take long becausee nothing much was done today.

The next morning came too fast.

The school bell rang at 5:00 a.m., and the whole hostel turned into a battlefield. Buckets clanged, girls shouted for toothpaste, and someone yelled, “Who carry my slippers again?!”

Ebun groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. “Just five more minutes…”

“Five more minutes ko, expulsion ni!” Eri shouted from the bathroom. “Better stand up before matron catch you.”

Ebun hissed but got up anyway. The floor was cold, the water was freezing, and the air smelled like early morning dew mixed with Dettol — classic boarding life.

By 7:30 a.m., they were in class. Ebun sat quietly, trying to shake off her sleepiness. Daniel was already there, as neat as ever, writing something in a small notebook.

“Good morning,” he said when she sat down.

“Morning,” she replied softly.

He looked at her and smiled. “You don’t talk much, do you?”

Ebun raised a brow. “I talk… when necessary.”

He chuckled. “Okay, Miss Necessary.”

Eri, from her seat behind, was grinning like she just won a scholarship. She whispered loudly, “Chemistry dey happen o!”

Ebun threw her a playful glare, but she couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips.

Their first class was English Language. The teacher, Mr. Ade, was in his usual serious mood. He started talking about essay writing and class participation.

“Since we have a new student,” he said, glancing at Daniel, “we’ll do a class introduction activity. You’ll each pair up with your seatmate and write about them. Then read it out loud.”

The class groaned, but Ebun’s heart skipped. Pair up with your seatmate… that means Daniel.

Daniel smiled. “Guess we’re writing about each other.”

“Yeah,” Ebun said quietly.

They started jotting things down. Daniel asked her questions — favorite subject, food, hobbies — and she found herself laughing more than she expected. He was funny, smart, and had a calm way of talking that made her feel comfortable.

When it was time to read, Daniel went first.

“My seatmate’s name is Ebun,” he began confidently. “She’s smart, quiet — but not too quiet. She pretends not to care, but she listens to everything. She also loves English and hates early morning bells.”

The class laughed, and Ebun felt her face heat up.

Mr. Ade smiled. “That’s observant, Daniel. Well done.”

Then it was Ebun’s turn. She swallowed hard and stood up.

“My seatmate’s name is Daniel. He’s new here, but he acts like he’s been here before. He’s calm, writes neatly, and—” she paused, glancing at him — “he smiles a lot… maybe too much.”

The class burst into laughter, even the teacher smiled.

“Nice one, Ebun,” Mr. Ade said. “That’s a good start to the term.”

As they sat back down, Daniel leaned closer and whispered, “Too much, huh?”

Ebun smiled shyly. “Maybe just a little.”

When the bell rang for break, Eri rushed over instantly. “Ebun, you’re finished! You and Daniel will trend in this school before midterm!”

Ebun laughed. “Abeg, it’s just seatmate gist.”

But as she looked at Daniel packing his books, she couldn’t help but think — maybe this term really was going to be different.