After that small collision… things didn't go back to normal.
At least not for me.
Because now… I knew him.
Not just as the captain everyone admired…
But as the boy who had smiled at me like I wasn't invisible.
And somehow… that changed everything.
The next day, I found myself looking for him again.
It wasn't intentional.
At least… that's what I kept telling myself.
But my eyes had a habit now.
They searched for him in places I didn't even realize.
And then…
There he was.
On the cricket ground.
Again.
Bat in his hand. Focused. Serious.
Completely different from the boy who joked with me yesterday.
I stood there for a moment… just watching.
The sound of the ball hitting the bat echoed across the field.
Cheers followed.
And there he was… smiling again.
Effortlessly perfect.
"Do you always stare like that?"
The sudden voice made me jump.
I turned quickly—
And there he was.
Standing right behind me.
James.
My heart skipped a beat.
"I—I wasn't staring," I said quickly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
I looked away, embarrassed.
"Maybe a little…"
He chuckled softly.
"Honest. I like that."
From that moment…
Conversations became easier.
More natural.
Less awkward.
We started talking… almost every day.
Sometimes for a few minutes.
Sometimes for hours.
About random things.
Classes. Friends. Life.
And sometimes…
Nothing at all.
Just sitting in silence.
But even that silence felt comfortable.
One evening, he sat beside me in the college cafeteria.
"You don't have many friends, do you?" he asked casually.
I frowned.
"That's rude."
"It's observation," he corrected.
I sighed.
"I'm just… not very social."
He nodded.
"I noticed."
"And you?" I asked. "You seem to know everyone."
He leaned back.
"Knowing people doesn't mean you connect with them."
That answer surprised me.
For the first time…
I realized something.
He wasn't as perfect as he looked.
There was something deeper.
Something hidden.
And for some reason…
I wanted to know more.
Days turned into weeks.
And slowly…
We became close.
Closer than I ever expected.
He started waiting for me after classes.
I started waiting for his messages.
We shared notes.
Jokes.
Late-night texts.
And small moments that felt… bigger than they should have.
One night, my phone buzzed.
It was him.
James: "Are you awake?"
I smiled.
Me: "Yes."
James: "Come to the terrace."
My heart skipped.
"Now?"
James: "Trust me."
I don't know why…
But I went.
The college terrace was quiet.
Empty.
The city lights glowing in the distance.
And there he was.
Waiting.
Hands in his pockets.
Looking at the sky.
"You came," he said without turning.
"You called," I replied.
He smiled.
For a while…
We just stood there.
Side by side.
Looking at the stars.
No words.
But it didn't feel awkward.
It felt… right.
"Do you believe in love?" he asked suddenly.
The question caught me off guard.
"I don't know," I said honestly.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"Just wondering."
"And you?"
He stayed silent for a moment.
Then said—
"I don't think love lasts."
Something about his tone…
Felt personal.
Like he wasn't just saying it.
Like he had lived it.
"Maybe you just haven't found the right person yet," I said softly.
He looked at me.
For a long moment.
And then—
"Maybe."
That night…
Something changed.
Between us.
Not visible.
Not spoken.
But real.
After that, things moved faster.
More naturally.
More deeply.
He started opening up.
Telling me about his life.
His pressure.
His expectations.
His dreams.
And I listened.
Always.
One day, during practice, he got injured.
Nothing serious.
Just a small cut.
But without thinking…
I ran to him.
"Are you okay?" I asked, holding his hand.
For a second…
He just looked at me.
Not at the injury.
But at me.
And something in his expression…
Changed.
"I'm fine," he said softly.
But he didn't pull his hand away.
Neither did I.
That moment…
It wasn't just concern anymore.
It was something else.
Something deeper.
Later that evening, as we sat together, he said—
"You care too much."
I smiled.
"Is that a bad thing?"
He shook his head.
"No… it's dangerous."
"Why?"
"Because people like me…"
He paused.
"…don't know how to return it."
I didn't reply.
Because somewhere deep inside…
I already knew.
But still…
I stayed.
Because by then…
It was too late.
I had already started falling for him.
And maybe…
He was falling too.
Even if he didn't realize it yet.
But what we didn't know…
Was that this story…
Was moving too fast.
Towards something…
We weren't ready for.
...,
We met in college…
We became everything to each other…
But soon…
Life was about to test us in the worst way possible.