Some nights hum with ordinary noise...
The kind where laughter fades into the background, where footsteps blur into echoes, where nothing lingers long enough to be remembered.
But some nights,
the threads glow.
Not sharply.
Not violently.
They glow the way stars do when you finally look up long enough to notice them...
Music shook the air like scattered sparks, heavy bass vibrating through walls and bones alike. The sound wasn't just something you heard, it pressed against your chest, made your heartbeat louder than it had any right to be.
Tonight…
Mine felt like a soft blue pulse running just beneath my skin.
Not destiny.
Not warning.
Just… possibility.
The hostel was louder than usual, buzzing with the kind of excitement that only came when rules loosened and everyone collectively decided to pretend tomorrow didn't exist. Voices overlapped, doors slammed, music leaked from rooms that had no business being that loud.
Lizzy had dragged out nearly half her wardrobe, clothes strewn across her bed like casualties of war.
"This one?" she asked for the third time, holding up a sparkly top.
"No."
"This?"
"No."
"This,,,"
"Lizzy," Maryanne cut in calmly, still standing in front of my mirror, adjusting her earrings. "You've asked that question six times. Wear whatever lets you breathe."
Timaya groaned from the other side of the room. "Can everybody please calm down? My lip gloss is missing, and I KNOW someone here borrowed it."
"I did not touch your lip gloss," Diana said, wearing her heels. "Check your bag."
"I checked my bag!"
I sat on the edge of my bed, smoothing down my dress, watching them move around me like colourful planets orbiting chaos. It felt surreal, like standing still while the world spun loudly around you.
"Lauren, stand up," Diana suddenly commanded.
I blinked. "Why?"
"Just stand."
I obeyed.
She circled me slowly, head tilted, eyes sharp. Once. Twice.
"Hm," she said finally. "You look good. Not too much. Not too little. Perfect."
Lizzy gasped dramatically. "Our baby is glowing!"
"I'm not glowing," I muttered, heat creeping up my neck.
"You are," she snapped back.
The teasing continued, earrings passed around, hair brushed and re-brushed, perfume sprayed until the room smelled like sweetness and excitement. Shoes were swapped. Lipstick shades argued over. Someone complained. Someone laughed.
The usual pre-party chaos.
Yes, a party. One organised by the seniors to welcome us freshers. A night that promised music, noise, and stories people would exaggerate by morning.
As we left our room, the opposite room opened and we were called in... The room belonged to our seniors, in their final year. As we entered, all of them ever so enthusiastic complimented us, proudly they made us do 360 and have us a grand exit. Telling us to enjoy the welcome party... They're really nice people.
As we left, Lizzy squeezed my hand and leaned close, grinning.
"Your Anthon is going to faint when he sees you."
"He's not my anything," I muttered, pulling my hand away.
She only laughed harder.
...ARRIVING AT THE PARTY...
The moment we stepped into the hall, the music hit like a wave.
Bass thundered through the floor. Neon lights flickered in pinks, purples, and electric blues, cutting through the darkness in sharp streaks. Fairy lights curled along the walls like glowing vines, softening the edges of the chaos.
Students filled the space, dancing without rhythm, shouting over music, laughing too loudly, filming everything, posing like the night needed to remember them.
It felt like walking into a dream and a noise explosion at the same time.
I clung to Lizzy instinctively as we found a place to sit, my senses overloaded.
And then I saw him.
Anthon.
Standing with his friends, hands tucked into his pockets, posture relaxed but alert. His eyes scanned the room casually until..
They landed on me.
He didn't smile widely. He didn't wave.
Just that small tilt at the corner of his mouth, subtle, intentional.
Enough.
Soon enough the MC took the microphone, calling everyone's attention. His voice cut through the music as he cracked jokes, hyping the crowd, drawing laughter from every corner of the hall.
But Anthon wasn't listening.
His eyes stayed on me like a hawk's.
And I wasn't present either, not fully. I looked everywhere else but him, suddenly fascinated by fairy lights, strangers, anything that wasn't the quiet intensity of his gaze.
Lizzy leaned close.
"Timaya, look at Lauren acting all cute while her prince charming is lost in her beauty."
I shot her a sharp look.
She wasn't done.
"Didn't I tell you?" she continued gleefully. "If not for the people here, he'd have fainted already."
Maryanne chimed in smoothly, "Lauren, what are you still doing here? Go sit with your boyfriend."
I gasped, almost desperately. "He's not my boyfriend!".....and truly he wasn't!
My cheeks burned, at this unfamiliar yet pleasant feeling.
Diana laughed. "Yet. He's not her boyfriend yet."
They all burst into laughter.
I glanced up just in time to see Anthon calling the MC over to his table, leaning in to say something while looking back at me.
They talked.
I didn't hear a word.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the MC announced suddenly, moving toward our table.
"May I have the pleasure of escorting this young lady to that gentleman over there?"
I frowned, confused, until he grinned and added,
"Anthon wants his girl to sit beside him. Lauren, please come."
The hall erupted.
"Awwwwww!"
My friends screamed. Someone nudged me forward.
I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
I stood on unsteady legs and walked toward him as cameras flashed, claps echoed, and laughter swelled. I sat beside him stiffly, heart racing.
His friends at the table, their mouth agape as Anthon's brazen actions surprised and left them on the edge.
"Relax," he whispered, leaning close.
"You look beautiful tonight. I couldn't let you sit that far from me."
My heart stumbled.
I kept my face neutral.
...THE GAME BEGINS...
A spotlight hit the stage.
"Welcome to the Freshers' Game!" the MC announced.
"We'll be asking anonymous questions submitted by you!"
The room exploded with excitement.
The first questions were harmless, silly, loud, easy.
"Who eats the most in the hostel?"
"Which lecturer scares you the most?"
"Confess your crush!"
Laughter. Screams. Chaos.
Then,
A slip of paper was pulled.
The MC squinted, then smiled wickedly.
"For Lauren and Anthon," he read slowly.
My stomach dropped.
"How long have you two been secretly dating?
And… kiss or forfeit!"
The hall screamed.
My heart slammed violently against my ribs.
I wanted to shout saying we aren't dating...he's like a friend
"Relax," Anthon murmured again, playful now.
The chant began.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
I glared at him. "Never."
"They'll shout all night," he said quietly.
"Let them."
Eventually, the MC laughed.
"Okay, okay! They choose forfeit!"
The crowd booed dramatically, then laughed.
I exhaled shakily.
Anthon leaned closer.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to put you on the spot."
"Okay."
He didn't touch me again.
The music swelled. The lights dimmed. The game continued.
Then
"Next up," the MC called.
"Lauren and Anthon… step forward."
A cold twist settled in my stomach.
Not fear.
Just anticipation.
I lifted my head as the lights found us.
The room fell quiet.
And the threads...
They glowed.