First glance
The moment I stepped into the college campus, a sense of excitement and nervousness swirled inside me. The towering buildings, the beautifully maintained lawns, and the sheer liveliness of the place-it was nothing like school.
Kaashi and I exchanged looks, both of us feeling the weight of this new beginning. "Can you believe it? We are actually in college now!" She beamed.
I nodded with a smile, though a small part of me still missed school-our old friends, the comfort of familiarity. But today was about moving forward, embracing the new.
We already knew where our first lectures were scheduled, so we headed in seperate directions.
My first lecture was in finance, and as I entered the hall, I noticed the room was almost full.
Some students were already forming groups, chatting and getting to know each other, while others were busy on their phones.
I quietly took the seat near the window, my fingers absentmindedly tapping against my notebook.
The professor walked in, introduced himself, and began explaining what we would be studying throughout the year.
The subjects, the syllabus, the assignments, the grading system-it was alot of information, but I listened carefully.
The second lecture was similar. The professor gave us an overview of the subject and the expectations from us. I appreciated how welcoming they were. Unlike school, no one was forcing us to learn; it was up to us how seriously we took it.
Once classes ended, I sent a quick text to kaashi.
Smiling, I made my way there. The canteen was massive-bigger than I had imagined. The air was filled with the aroma of different dishes, students laughing, talking, and forming their own little groups. It felt like a scene straight out of a college movie.
I spotted kaashi at the counter, getting herself a cold coffee. I didn't feel like eating, so I simply sat down at an empty table, waiting for her.
She arrived moments later, sipping on her coffee. "So, how were your classes?" She asked, sitting across from me.
"They were fine." I replied. "Professors seems nice. What about yours?"
Kaashi shrugged. "Good, but I already know it's going to be alot of work."
We were lost in our conversation when kaashi suddenly froze, her eyes widening slightly. "Oh. My. God."
I frowned. "What?"
"See that group of guys sitting in the middle?" She whispered, nodding towards them.
I glanced over briefly. A group of guys sat around a table, talking and laughing amongst themselves. They all carried an aura of confidence, the type of presence that demanded attention without even trying.
"Yeah, what about them?" I asked, uninterested.
Kaashi leaned in slightly. "See the tallest and most handsome one? That's purv-the son of college owner."
I raised an eyebrow. "And?"
She looked at me like I had just asked the dumbest question in the world. "And he's literally the most handsome guy in this entire college. I mean, just look at him."
I went back to scrolling through my phone, not particularly interested. "Good for him."
Kaashi groaned. "Oh, come on, just look at him once properly."
I sighed but decided to humor her. Turning slightly, I stole a glance.
And for a brief second, my breath hitched.
He sat there, leaning back in his chair with an effortless confidence. His sharp features, intense eyes, and perfectly styled hair made him stand out even among his friends. He wasn't just attractive-he had a presence, a silent authority that made him different.
A strange feeling stirred inside me. My heartbeat quickened slightly, and I immediately looked away.
But something in me wanted to look again.
Why?
Before I could stop myself, I turned my head once more, stealing another glance.
And then I saw her.
A girl walked up to him-tall, stylish, and confident. Without hesitation, she leaned down, hugged him, and kissed his cheek.
Something inside me dropped.
Who was she?
As if hearing my thoughts, kaashi sighed. "And unfortunately, he has a girlfriend -charvi."
I blinked, pushing back whatever strange feeling had surfaced inside me. Why did I care?
It didn't make sense.
Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to my phone, pretending to be engrossed in the article I had been reading earlier.
But no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, the image of purv and charvi together lingered at the back of my mind.