Hi, I'm Eerika—an Asian student in the USA, here for my master's degree, surviving on coffee, stress, and way too many thoughts about other people's love lives. Six months in, and I thought I had mastered being a "serious, focused student." Ha. Joke's on me.
Class had just ended, and my friends and I were casually discussing our upcoming research topics. Naturally, I gravitate toward the LGBTQ+ community—because, honestly, back home, it's not exactly common. I wanted to study human emotion, love, and connection… from a purely academic perspective, of course.
"You can find tons of gay couples on campus," my friend said, clearly reading my mind. "There are even shipping groups on Facebook. You'll be spoiled for research material."
Perfect. Research material? Check. Legitimate excuse to stalk cute people? Double check.
After class, we headed out for food. I lagged for a second, waiting for my friends, and that's when I saw him.
I was completely mesmerized the moment I saw him for the first time. His presence— Six feet tall. Fair-skinned. Sports shirt and shorts. Cute in a way that makes your soul question reality. Angelic glow, dreamy gaze straight out of a Chinese drama -made my brain short-circuit.
For a guy I didn't even know..
"Girl. Control yourself," I muttered under my breath. "What would he think if he saw you like this?"
Then I realized… my hands were wet.
Wait. What?
And why were the people around me staring, whispering, laughing?
Damn it. Embarrassing. I'm literally drooling over him.
Oh. Ohhh… that explains why my hands are wet.
Great. Absolutely great. My first sighting of the perfect guy, and I've managed to humiliate myself in front of half the campus
It had been a long time since I felt this… *thing*. Heart racing, stomach fluttering, obsessive thoughts assembling like Lego blocks in my brain. Is he single? No. No way. A guy like him? Definitely a Playboy.
I turned around, desperate to hide my… let's call it "enthusiasm." But my brain betrayed me, firing off R-rated fantasies at full volume. Great. Maybe I'm ovulating. Or maybe my soul is just doomed.
Do I look back? Of course I do.
And just like that… he was gone. Vanished. Into thin air.
I blinked. Rubbed my eyes. Questioned everything I'd ever known about gravity, fate, and the universe.
But one thing was clear: he was the first layer.
The first layer of a sandwich I had no business trying to be part of… but desperately wanted to taste.
Oh yes. This was going to be *fun*.