The morning of the new semester carried a trace of rain-washed grass in the air. Sunlight filtered through the tall plane trees, scattering patches of gold across the stone paths of the campus. Students walked by in twos and threes, their laughter and footsteps weaving together into the unique liveliness of a new beginning.
Manida adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on her nose, her steps steady and light. Her demeanor was calm as always, her arms cradling several thick books. There was a quiet, restrained elegance about her — yet beneath that stillness was a subtle sharpness, a kind of presence that made anyone meeting her gaze feel an invisible pressure in those cool, clear eyes.
As she turned the corner of the academic building, the sharp click of high heels echoed behind her.
"Hey, you're blocking the way."
The voice was impatient, tinged with lazy arrogance. Manida stopped, lifting her eyes slightly — and there she was, Parin, looking down at her with that confident smile that always seemed to carry a hint of frost.
Parin was her complete opposite. Her eyes were bold, her smile bright and edged with defiance — the kind of person who naturally drew every gaze in the room. Today, she wore a crisp white blouse under a light blue knit cardigan, her entire presence radiant and striking.
"This is a hallway, not your personal stage," Manida replied evenly, her tone cool and distant.
Parin curved her lips, eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh? And here I thought you enjoyed looking so high and mighty in front of everyone."
Their words were calm, but tension rippled beneath the surface like sparks about to ignite. A few students nearby had already stopped to watch, whispering to one another.
"They're at it again…"
"First day of the semester, and they're already throwing sparks."
Manida ignored the murmurs around them. She quietly closed the book in her hands. "I don't waste my time on meaningless arguments." With that, she brushed past Parin.
But as their shoulders brushed, Parin let out a soft, teasing laugh and leaned close enough for her breath to graze Manida's ear. "What a shame. The colder you act, the more I want to tear down that façade of yours."
Manida froze for a split second, her eyes flickering. She didn't turn back — only quickened her pace. Yet deep inside, something unfamiliar stirred in her chest, a sudden and inexplicable flutter.
Parin watched her retreating back, her gaze darkening. The smile on her lips lingered, no longer purely mocking — but carrying a faint, unspoken persistence.
——
That night, the campus was wrapped in a quiet, gentle light. Manida sat by the window in the library, immersed in her books. The moonlight spilled across the glass, so still that even the sound of her turning pages could be heard clearly.
Suddenly, a familiar shadow fell across the table. Without warning, Parin pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down, a cup of coffee in hand. She slid it across the table.
"For you."
Manida lifted her eyes, her expression as indifferent as ever. "I don't need it."
"But I think you do." Parin's voice was soft, yet carried a quiet force that made refusal sound impossible.
The air froze for a moment. Their gazes met across the table. Under the warm glow of the lamp, it felt as if the world had gone silent — leaving only the sound of their breaths.
Manida gently pushed the coffee back, but when her fingers brushed against Parin's, her heart suddenly skipped. She quickly withdrew her hand, her eyes flickering away.
Parin watched her, a slow smile curving her lips. "You're not as unshakable as you pretend to be."
Manida didn't reply. She lowered her gaze and turned another page, but her fingers trembled slightly — betraying the turbulence she tried so hard to hide.
And Parin saw it all.
At the dawn of this new semester, the spark between them had already been lit — a dangerous blend of tension and something far more tender, quietly intertwining.