Love Found Me When I Wasn’t Looking (Episode 6)

**Victoria’s POV**

Hiding love is harder than people think.

By Friday, Daniel and I had agreed to keep our relationship quiet at work. Not because we were ashamed, but because we wanted peace. Still, knowing he was so close and yet untouchable felt like punishment.

That morning, I dressed carefully, choosing an outfit that wouldn’t draw attention. When I arrived at school, I felt his presence before I saw him. Our eyes met across the compound, and instinctively, I smiled then quickly looked away.

We were doing this for the right reasons, I reminded myself.

In class, I taught, corrected, and smiled at my pupils, but my heart was elsewhere. Each time I passed his classroom, my steps slowed without my permission. Once, our eyes met through the open door. He didn’t smile he couldn’t but his gaze softened, and that was enough.

During break time, the staffroom felt smaller.

We sat far apart, pretending to focus on our work. I could hear his pen moving, could sense him shifting in his seat. When someone cracked a joke, we laughed at different times, careful not to sound in sync.

Yet, every silence screamed his name.

My phone buzzed in my bag.

Daniel: *Is it just me, or is today refusing to end?*

I pressed my lips together to stop myself from smiling.

Me: *It’s not just you.*

**Daniel’s POV**

Friday tested me more than any exam ever had.

Victoria was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I could see her, hear her voice down the corridor, feel her presence but I couldn’t reach out, couldn’t sit beside her, couldn’t let the world know she was mine.

When she walked past my class, my chest tightened.

I had to remind myself constantly: *Focus. Be professional.*

But love doesn’t understand timetables.

In the staffroom, I felt her absence even though she was right there. I wanted to ask how her morning was, whether she had eaten, whether she slept well. Instead, I marked scripts and pretended not to notice her fingers fidgeting with her pen.

At some point, our eyes met.

Just for a second.

But in that second, everything was said.

*I miss you.*
*I’m right here.*
*Hold on.*

My phone vibrated discreetly.

Victoria: *I didn’t know missing someone could feel like this.*

I swallowed hard.

Me: *Imagine how Monday will feel.*

**Victoria’s POV**

By the last period, my patience was gone.

I packed my things slowly, waiting for everyone to leave. When the corridor finally emptied, Daniel appeared at the end, cautious, like someone afraid to be seen.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

I nodded, though my eyes betrayed me.

“Five minutes,” he said. “Meet me by the old mango tree.”

Those five minutes felt like forever.

When I got there, he was already waiting. The moment we were alone, all the restraint of the week melted away. He didn’t touch me immediately he just looked at me, like he had been holding his breath all day.

“I missed you,” I whispered.

**Daniel’s POV**

Hearing her say it nearly undid me.

“I missed you too,” I replied, stepping closer. Not touching just close enough to feel her warmth.

We stood there, hands inches apart, sharing the kind of silence only people in love understand. I brushed my thumb lightly against her hand, careful, brief.

“Let’s go home,” I said softly. “Today has tested us enough.”

She smiled, and in that smile, I found relief.

---

That evening, our phones stayed busy.

Messages. Voice notes. Laughter through screens.

Friday ended the way it began with longing.

But now, the longing had a name.

And it was love.continue reading Episode 7