Days passed, and Neli found herself growing more and more aware of Rana. Their interactions had become more frequent—casual conversations, shared laughs, moments of silence that felt comfortable. But each time he smiled, it was as if her heart skipped a beat.
One afternoon, as the sun began to set, Neli found herself walking to Ngoma Park after school. She needed some air to clear her mind. But as she reached the entrance, she spotted him sitting by the fountain, looking contemplative.
Rana looked up, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. "Hey, Neli. Fancy running into you here," he said, his voice calm, but there was an unspoken warmth behind it.
Neli hesitated, unsure of why she felt so nervous around him now. But something about the stillness of the park, the golden light spilling over them, made her feel brave.
"I've been thinking," she began, sitting beside him. "You've been so... different lately. Not in a bad way, just... I don't know. I guess I'm just trying to figure out what it is."
Rana's gaze softened. He paused before speaking, his voice steady. "Maybe it's not so much what's different. Maybe it's just that I'm finally seeing what was always there."
Neli's breath caught. She could feel it. The tension between them, the pull. And for the first time, it felt like the right moment to admit what they were both feeling.
"Me too," she whispered, heart pounding.