The sun was out, and campus buzzed with students rushing to their morning lectures. But inside Room 208 of the female dormitory, Amara paced the tiled floor like the world was ending.
"I swear, Tessa," she sighed, clutching her phone like it owed her answers, "I don't even know how it started. I just— I really, really like him."
Tessa lay on the bed, legs swinging, completely unfazed. "Elijah again?"
Amara nodded dramatically.
Tessa snorted. "Girl, if I charged you every time you brought him up, I'd be able to pay my tuition in full."
Amara glared. "I'm serious, Tess."
"I know you are. That's what makes it funny."
Amara groaned, flopping beside her. "He's so different. Like, not just his face, or the way he walks with confidence even though he's... you know… not exactly balling. But the way he carries his pain. Quietly. Like a man."
Tessa rolled her eyes. "You've read too many Wattpad books."
***
Across campus, Elijah leaned against the rail of the boy's hostel, headphones in, pretending to listen to music.
Zayn wasn't fooled."Dude," he said, nudging him. "You're staring at the art block again. You know she's not going to magically appear just because you burn holes in the wall."
Elijah removed one earbud. "I'm not staring."
"Liar."
Elijah smiled faintly. "She's just… she's not like the others."
Amara?
Elijah froze.
Zayn laughed. "Come on, man. You talk in your sleep. I already know."
Elijah sighed. "I'm broke, Zayn. What would a girl like her want with a guy like me?"
Zayn shrugged. "Maybe she doesn't care about that. Maybe she's just waiting for you to say something."
***
That evening, Zayn and Tessa FaceTimed each other while their two best friends continued obsessing—separately.
"I can't take it anymore," Tessa said.
"Same," Zayn replied.
She leaned closer to the screen. "Let's set them up. Secretly."
Zayn smirked. "You read my mind love"