The next morning, Anaya carefully placed her sketchbook into her bag, making sure it was zipped tight. She wasn't about to risk another heart-stopping encounter with Kian… not before she had a chance to breathe.
But fate, as always, had other plans.
During lunch, she opened her bag to grab her notebook, only to find a small folded piece of paper tucked between the pages of her sketchbook. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Your art is amazing. Want to meet?"
Anaya froze. Who… who could have left this? Her mind raced through every possibility, from her best friend Rhea playing a prank, to some secret admirer from another class.
Meanwhile, across the cafeteria, Kian casually sat with his friends, Veer teasing him about the upcoming school festival performance. He glanced at Anaya from afar, trying to hide his growing curiosity. He hadn't meant to leave the note in her sketchbook—it was supposed to be anonymous. But somehow, it felt impossible to resist letting her know he noticed her talent.
Anaya folded the note carefully and slipped it into her pocket. Her palms were sweaty, and her mind was spinning. She wanted to ask around, but her shyness held her back.
"Hey, Anaya! You coming to the art club later?" Rhea's cheerful voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
Anaya nodded, trying to act normal. "Yeah… I'll be there."
As she walked to her next class, the note burned a little in her pocket. It wasn't just words—it was the beginning of something she didn't fully understand yet. Something exciting… something terrifying.
And somewhere in the crowded school hallways, Kian couldn't stop thinking about her sketches. That mysterious artist was closer than he realized, and the school festival was coming faster than either of them expected.