HER POV:
Meera felt it the moment she stepped out of the classroom.
That strange weight on her skin. Like someone's eyes were following her.
She tightened her grip on her bag and walked faster through the crowded hallway. Students laughed, bumped into each other, complained about assignments.
Sounds normal
But her heart was racing too fast.
"Don't panic", she told herself.
Still, she glanced over her shoulder.
Nothing.
Just noise. Just people.
She turned the corner — and crashed straight into someone.
"Oh— sorry!"
Strong hands grabbed her arms before she could fall.
Her breath caught.
Dark eyes.
Adrian
For a second, the world stopped.
"You should watch where you're going," he said calmly.
"I—I wasn't looking," she whispered.
He released her slowly, but his gaze lingered. His touch had been warm. Steady. Safe — which confused her even more.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded quickly and stepped back.
Without another word, she rushed away.
Her heart didn't slow down.
HIS POV:
She smelled like rain and jasmine.
Adrian didn't know why that detail stayed in his head.
He watched her disappear into the crowd, his jaw tightening slightly. Something about her eyes bothered him — not fear exactly, but alertness. Like someone who had learned to watch shadows.
Strange.
He wasn't used to noticing girls. They were usually loud, obvious, predictable.
She was none of those.
She was quiet,Nervous,Real.
And for some reason… he wanted to know her.
He shook the thought away.
Focus.
Yet his eyes kept drifting toward the exit she had taken.
Why do I care?
He didn't have an answer.
His phone buzzed softly in his palm.
He glanced down, expecting a message — then paused when a faint reflection caught his eye in the corridor glass.
Meera.
She stood a few steps away, hesitating like she wasn't sure whether to approach or retreat. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, knuckles pale.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
The noise of the hallway faded into a distant hum.
Her eyes lifted slowly — uncertain, searching — and met his.
Something gentle passed between them.
Not fear.
Not curiosity.
Just a quiet warmth neither of them understood yet.
Her lips curved into the smallest, shyest smile before she caught herself and looked away.
Adrian's breath hitched slightly — an unfamiliar reaction that unsettled him more than any threat ever had.
He almost spoke her name.
Almost.
But the moment slipped through his fingers when she turned and blended back into the crowd.
A strange ache settled in his chest.
He realized — too late — that he wished she had stayed.
*Did you feel that flutter too, reader?💗 Wouldn't you want to stop time in that moment too?Can you even blame him for staring just a second longer?*
HER POV:
Her heart was beating faster than it should have been for such a simple glance.
She pressed her fingers lightly against her chest, confused by the warmth spreading through her ribs.
Why did looking at him feel… steady?
Safe, in a way that made no sense.
Even as she walked away, the quiet echo of his gaze lingered inside her — like a soft promise she couldn't explain.
Meera shook her head slightly, forcing the strange warmth back into its hiding place.
This wasn't the time for confusing thoughts or fluttering feelings.
She had assignments to finish,a bus to catch,a normal routine to follow.
Anything that kept her mind away from dark cars and unfamiliar eyes.
Squaring her shoulders, she tightened her grip on her bag and headed toward the exit.
Outside, the campus felt too open. Too exposed.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Not playful
Not careless.
But Heavy
Her fingers tightened around her phone inside her bag.
Don't turn. Don't show fear.
The footsteps matched her pace.
Her chest tightened.
Suddenly, a black car slowed nearby.
Two unfamiliar men stepped out.
Danger screamed inside her head.
She turned sharply toward the gate—
"Problem here?"
Adrian's voice cut through the air like steel.
The men stiffened.
"Just asking directions," one muttered.
"Leave," Adrian said flatly.
Not loud
Not emotional
But Commanding.
The men hesitated only a second before getting back into the car and driving away.
Meera's knees felt weak.
"Are you okay?" Adrian asked.
"Yes… thank you."
"You shouldn't walk alone," he said quietly. "Not these days."
She nodded and watched him walk away.
She didn't know he had just scared off men far more dangerous than ordinary strangers.
HIS POV:
He waited until she was safely inside the bus before turning away.
Only then did he exhale.
Why did my chest tighten when they walked toward her?
Annoyance flickered inside him — not at her, but at himself.
He wasn't supposed to care.
He didn't get attached.
Yet the image of her wide eyes and trembling hands stayed stuck in his mind.
Soft,Brave, Vulnerable.
Dangerous combination.
He caught himself wondering what her laugh sounded like.
He wanted to know about her personal life.
The realization annoyed him.
"This is stupid," he muttered under his breath.
But deep down, he knew this wasn't just curiosity.
This girl had slipped into his thoughts far too easily.
And he had no idea that fate had already tied her to his darkest secret.
Adrian turned away from the bus stop.
A strange prickle crawled up his spine.
He slowed.
Across the street, half-hidden by traffic and shadows, a familiar black car idled silently.
His jaw tightened.
At the same moment, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled it out.
A single message glowed on the screen:
"You interfered today."
Adrian's eyes hardened.
Whoever had sent it…
was watching him.