I thought college life would be normal. Crowded halls, endless chatter, the smell of coffee and books—that was all I expected. But then I saw him.
He was standing by the staircase, tall, sharp, and completely still, like a shadow carved out of darkness. My first thought was… why does he look at me like that? Not a glance, not a casual stare—something deeper, heavier, consuming. My chest tightened, and I quickly looked away, pretending to be busy with my notebook, but the feeling didn't leave me.
Why am I so aware of him? I asked myself, heart racing. He's just another stranger… isn't he?
He didn't move. He just watched. And the way his gaze lingered made my skin prickle, made my mind whisper secrets I didn't want to hear. There was danger in him, I knew it instinctively. But strangely… I couldn't stop watching him back.
I tried to focus on my lecture, on the words the professor was saying, but my thoughts kept drifting to him. Every movement, every small gesture—he was precise, calculated, like he knew I was noticing him, like he wanted me to notice.
And then he smiled. Just a small, almost imperceptible smile, but it made my heart drop, made me feel… like I was no longer entirely mine.
This is wrong, I thought, shaking my head. I don't even know him. I should ignore him.
But deep down… part of me already knew. I wasn't just looking at him. I was looking at the boy who would change everything. The boy who would claim me in ways I couldn't yet understand.