"The hall buzzed, but a strange feeling in my stomach told me today wouldn't be ordinary."
The orientation hall buzzed with nervous chatter, laughter, and the occasional squeak of shoes on polished floors. My parents had left early, leaving me alone with my sister. I hugged my bag a little tighter, scanning the crowd, trying to disappear into the background.
Then I saw them.
The first guy caught my eye immediately—dark brown eyes, jet-black hair, a crisp white shirt that looked like it had been ironed by angels. He moved with a calm, deliberate confidence that made my heart skip.
The second guy was almost the opposite—wild curly hair, a nose pin glinting in the fluorescent lights, baggy jeans paired with a blazer that somehow made him look effortlessly rebellious. He reminded me of an anime character come to life, too vibrant and chaotic for this quiet hall.
They slid into the empty seats where my parents had been sitting, side-eyeing me in a way that made my stomach twist. Something was off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
The orientation program was winding down. Announcements echoed through the hall , all about schedules and subject allocations . Students murmured, stretching, checking their phones, or making plans to head to the canteen. My sister tugged gently at my hand.
"Let's go grab a bite before we head back," she whispered, glancing at the crowd.I nodded, still uneasy, but grateful for the distraction. As we started walking toward the canteen,
Then the sky outside cracked open, thunder rumbling like a warning. Rain poured down, sending everyone scrambling for cover. My sister and I ran too, pushing through the crowd. I tripped over a stray bag but kept going, adrenaline masking my nerves.
Suddenly, a sharp shout cut through the chaos. The curly-haired male was arguing with someone, his voice sharp. He yanked off his goggles and flung them to the ground before storming off. Without thinking, I bent down and picked up the goggles, hesitating for a moment before slipping them into my hand.
Later, in our class group chat, someone asked about lost Gucci goggles. The last thing I wanted was attention, so instead of posting in the group chat, I typed a quick private message to the number that had been asking about them:
"Found goggles, want to return—come to canteen table 4." hit send without double-checking, too anxious to care.
The canteen buzzed with chatter and clinking trays. I slipped into a corner seat with my sister; she was already glued to her phone while I poked at the steaming plate in front of me. The food smelled good—warm rice, spicy chicken, and a side of soup—but my nerves killed my appetite. I forced down a few bites anyway, washing them with a sip of soda, while my sister happily stole fries off my plate without asking.
Then, suddenly, footsteps stopped right in front of us. My eyes lifted—and there they were.
Both guys showed up.
Before I could even react, the curly-haired one leaned across the table. Just as I reached for my bag, he swooped in and snatched the goggles straight from it, leaving me wide-eyed and frozen in disbelief
"You thie...—" he started, but stopped when his sharp eyes landed on my sister. His expression hardened, and the room seemed to hold its breath. All eyes turned toward me, and heat rose to my cheeks. Humiliation sank like a stone in my chest.
"What do you mean ? I just found it ," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. " and I hate wasting things."
He waved his phone at me, jaw tight. *found goggles wantmoney cm canteen table 4* .."That's what you wrote."
On the screen was my message—but not the one I thought I'd sent. My stomach flipped.
My fingers trembled as I stared at it. No—that wasn't what I meant. My hands must have been shaking when I typed…
"Oh—" heat rushed to my face. "Actuall..lly… shitt!!. Sorr..ry!.I was in a rush, I typed it wrong! I meant want to return, not want money. It was a typo, I swear!
The curly-haired one let out a sharp, humorless laugh. His eyes burned into me as he spat,
"Pathetic liar!… how convenient, isn't it?"
Something in me snapped. My voice shook, but I met his glare head-on
"Bro!" I snapped, fury bubbling. "I found your goggles and returned . I deserve a 'thank you', not your nonsense accusation."
His eyes flared, jaw tight."Who do you think you are, calling me 'bro'?" he growled, stepping closer.
The dark eyed guy, silent until now, tugged him back. His dark eyes never left me. "I don't buy your words," he said coldly.
I exhaled, frustrated and trembling. "God!! why am I even explaining this?" I muttered, trying to leave, pulling my bag onto my shoulder.
But before I could escape, the dark-eyed guy's hand shot out. His fingers curled around my wrist, firm and unyielding. His jaw was clenched, his gaze fixed on me.
"Don't ever show me your back."
Horror froze me in place. My heart pounded so hard I was sure he could hear it. Every instinct screamed to pull away, but I couldn't. His eyes were impossibly dark, dangerous, and… terrifyingly mesmerizing.
Then, just as suddenly, both of them turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of the canteen, shaking, staring after them. My sister touched my shoulder gently, eyes wide with concern.
"It's okay," she whispered, "Are you… okay?"
I forced a shaky laugh "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine."
All eyes in the hall lingered on me as we gathered our things. I could feel the judgment, curiosity, and silent whispers of the other students like tiny knives against my skin. My sister and I hurried out, my chest still tight, my mind racing.
I booked the cab, feeling every second stretch into an eternity. My sister walked beside me, quiet and close. Neither of us spoke much, but her presence was comforting.
The ride home was quiet, the storm outside painting streaks of silver across the windows. Anxiety gnawed at me, twisting my thoughts. What would tomorrow bring? Was the canteen incident truly over, or would it follow me into the new chapter waiting at the university?
Every streetlight blurred past as my mind raced with memories, fears, and anticipation. I tried to calm myself, focusing on the familiar landmarks passing by. But the tight knot in my chest refused to loosen.