The days after the lab session passed uneventfully—or at least, that's how it looked on the surface.
Ayla found herself seated in one of the larger lecture halls, barely hearing the professor's monotone voice as diagrams flashed across the screen. She tried to focus. Really, she did.
But someone wouldn't stop staring.
She didn't even need to look. She could feel it. Like heat burning through her uniform. She shifted in her seat slightly, just enough to glance sideways.
Sure enough, a guy in the row beside her. Leaning forward. His eyes weren't on the board. They were on *her*.
Again?
She sighed inwardly and turned her gaze back to the front.
Why is it always like this?
They don't even try to hide it anymore. I'm not even a person to them—just something they fantasize about.
Men are always like that. All of them.
It wasn't new. Not for someone like her.
But then, almost unexpectedly, a thought betrayed her mind.
Haruki...
That dorky smile. The way he tripped over his own shoelaces in the lab. The way he squinted too hard when reading tiny text.
He's different. Clumsy, nerdy... always smiling.
Genuine.
Her lips twitched.
Kind of cute, actually.
A beat of silence in her brain.
Wait...
Cute?
Her eyes widened as she sat bolt upright.
Did I just—??
"Nope—" she whispered.
She smacked herself in the forehead with her notebook.
*SMACK.*
Everyone in the room turned.
The professor stopped mid-sentence.
Ayla froze, blinking. "Sorry! I—I'm not feeling well. Bathroom!"
She scrambled up, gathered her stuff in a blur, and made a clumsy exit—heels clicking far too loudly in the dead-silent room.
---
In the hallway, Ayla walked quickly, cheeks burning.
I must be losing it... Haruki? Cute?? Am I actually going insane?
She groaned and covered her face with both hands.
I need sleep. Or coffee. Or a reset button.
She turned the corner too fast.
*WHUMP!*
She crashed into something—or rather, someone.
Papers flew. She staggered back.
"Oh—sorry—"
"Ayla?"
Her eyes shot up.
Haruki was standing there, wide-eyed. His bag half-open, papers dangling, and his friend beside him barely holding in a laugh.
Her mouth opened. No words came out. Her face went full red.
"I—I'm—sorry!" she blurted, bowed quickly, and almost sprinted away.
"Wait, are you okay?" Haruki called after her. "How was your class? Ayla??"
But she was already at the other end of the hallway, notebook clutched to her chest, muttering something like *"stupidstupidstupid"* under her breath.
Haruki stood frozen for a moment.
His friend leaned over. "Wow. Did she just run away from you?"
Haruki scratched his head slowly. "Yeah... I guess she's avoiding me now."
His friend smirked. "What did you do? Confess and forget?"
"No!" Haruki huffed. "We just chatted a little last week. About studies."
Then his expression dimmed.
Why'd I think she saw me as a friend...?
There was a pause.
His friend slapped a hand on Haruki's shoulder. "Maybe she thinks you're too hot to handle. Ever thought of that?"
Haruki sighed. "You're not helping."
"You're welcome."
They both laughed, but the smile didn't quite reach Haruki's eyes.
As they continued walking down the hallway, Haruki glanced once more in the direction Ayla ran off.
She looked flustered... but not angry. Was it really me? Or... something else?
---
Ayla pushed open the girls' restroom door with a dramatic shove, causing it to slam into the wall. A few girls near the sink jumped.
"S-sorry!" she said quickly, then scurried toward the stalls, heels tapping against the tile floor.
She locked herself in one and slumped down on the toilet seat—still fully dressed—burying her hot face in her hands.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Her heart was still pounding like she'd just sprinted a marathon.
Why was he there? Of all the people in that hallway—why Haruki? Why now?
She grabbed her head and groaned quietly.
And why was I acting like that? Am I... nervous?
Wait. Me? Nervous?
I'm Ayla.
Top of the class. I've been on stage in front of hundreds. I've presented to professors. I've faced internships, exams, panels…
I've never—
Not even once—
Felt nervous in my life.
And yet... one clumsy smile from that stupid nerd and she felt like she was melting into her uniform.
She smacked her forehead again. "This is ridiculous…"
Just then, voices echoed through the bathroom. Two girls had entered and were chatting casually by the sinks.
"So… I got partnered with that nerd for our next project."
"Wait—Haruki?"
"Yeah, duh."
The other one snorted. "Why don't you just seduce him and make him do all the work? I bet he's never even been near a girl. Probably thirsty as hell."
A wicked little giggle followed.
"I mean, come on. Say a few nice words, act sweet, maybe wear something tight... Boom. Instant lapdog. He'll write the whole report himself just to impress you."
Ayla's blood ran cold.
Her eyes narrowed.
Lapdog?
Thirsty?
Without thinking, she unlocked the door and burst out of the stall.
The door slammed behind her with a bang.
The two girls nearly dropped their makeup bags.
Ayla stepped forward, expression cool but sharp, voice clear and steady.
"First of all," she said, "he's not that kind of man."
They blinked.
"And second—he's not dumb like you think. So quit entertaining whatever trash plan you've cooked up about turning him into your lapdog."
Her eyes flashed as she walked past them toward the exit.
Both girls stood frozen.
Click.
The door shut behind her.
Silence.
"…Was that Ayla?" one girl finally asked.
"The one from… Biochem? Or ChemEng?"
"Ehhh?! For real?!"
"She's scary…"
"I thought she was, like, cold and perfect. What's up with her?"
"I dunno," the other whispered. "But I don't think I wanna mess with that Haruki guy now."
Ayla returned to her lecture room, her bag slung loosely over one shoulder. She slid into her seat, the chatter of her classmates fading into background noise. Her eyes drifted to the window without much thought—until she spotted two familiar figures down in the courtyard.
Haruki.
He was sitting on a bench beside Kenta, talking… or at least pretending to. Something about the way the sunlight hit his profile made her pause. Before she knew it, she was smiling softly, the corners of her lips tugging upward on their own.
"Ayla," her professor's voice snapped her back to reality. "Kindly focus on the lecture instead of daydreaming."
She flinched and muttered a quick apology, eyes snapping forward, but her mind lingered on that bench outside.
Meanwhile, Haruki leaned back against the bench, eyes fixed on nothing in particular. His tone was quiet, almost unsure.
"Maybe… I just won't bother her anymore. I don't wanna be pushy."
Kenta raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, dude. Talk to her first so you know why she's avoiding you."
"But… what if she doesn't want to talk to me at all?"
Haruki glanced at him, a faint, lopsided smile on his lips.
"Thinking about it… it feels like you're the only one who even wants to talk to me. You're… very kind, Kenta."
Kenta blinked, then looked away abruptly.
"Ehem… well, what can I say? I'm a heaven-sent gift to you, right?"
"Yeah," Haruki replied with a small, genuine smile. "You are."
That smile did something to Kenta. His face flushed slightly.
"Ehem, ehem—" he coughed into his fist, but then choked on his own saliva. "Kh—!"
Haruki burst out laughing.
"What was that?!"
"Shut up!" Kenta wheezed, his ears red.
The two eventually stood and started walking off, Haruki's expression lighter than before.
Back in the lecture room, Ayla glanced out the window once more. She caught a glimpse of Haruki's smile as he left with Kenta.
Without realizing it, she smiled too.