The day was moving well. Students were scattered across the campus, some heading to lectures, others sitting under trees or standing in small groups, talking quietly. I walked slowly, keeping my bag close, trying not to bump into anyone or draw attention.
My next lecture was still an hour away, and I wanted to sit somewhere for a while before heading there.
I walked toward the fountain near the lounge. It was one of the quieter spots I knew and a few students were sitting on the edges too, reading or chatting softly, and the gentle sound of water made it easier to focus.
I picked an empty bench and sat down, pulling out my notebook and flipped through the pages, trying to review yesterday's lecture. Most of it made sense, but a few points were confusing.
I frowned at a complicated section, biting my lip.
"Why is this so difficult?" I muttered quietly to myself.
I was just still staring at the words when I noticed the noise in the courtyard change. A few students nearby suddenly stopped talking and turned their heads. Then more students began to glance in the same direction.
I knew that energy, It was the same I had felt before when someone important walked by.
It is Rowan Ashford, walking toward the fountain. He moved slowly and calmly, not rushing at all, but everyone seemed to notice him. Students whispered to each other and stepped aside, giving him space. Some waved or greeted him politely, and he nodded at each one without saying much. His presence made everything around him seem relieving.
I immediately looked down at my notebook, pretending to be busy so I won't get noticed. But then he stopped right in front of me.
"Is this seat taken?" he asked calmly.
"No, it's not," I said quickly
He nodded and sat down beside me. I forced my eyes back to the notebook, trying to act normal but my heart was still beating fast.
"You look confused," he said after a moment, glancing at my notes.
I froze. "I'm just trying to understand something from the lecture," I said quietly.
He leaned slightly closer and pointed at a line in my notebook.
"This part? Yeah, it confuses a lot of people at first, but it's not too hard once you break it down," he said.
I listened as he explained it slowly. His words were simple, easy to understand, and by the time he finished, I actually got it.
"Oh," I said softly. "Now it makes sense,"I added.
"See?" he said with a faint smile.
I nodded, feeling my face warm. "Thanks I didn't think anyone could explain it like that."i said.
"No problem," he replied.
A short silence passed between us. Around the fountain, students moved and talked, but it felt like they were far away. I kept my notebook in my lap, unsure if I should speak again.
"You're new here, right?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "First year,"I added.
"I guessed," he said. "You watch and notice things and that's how I could tell,"he added.
I laughed nervously. "I'm just trying not to get lost all the time."I said.
He chuckled. "Fair enough. That's smart."
Another silence followed. I felt both nervous and curious. I wanted to ask him so many things, but I also reminded myself not to draw too much attention.
"So… Do you come here often?" I asked finally, pointing to the fountain.
He smiled slightly. "Sometimes. It's calm here, it helps me think between classes."
I nodded. "Yeah, it's nice. I like it too."
We sat quietly for a few minutes. I pretended to look at my notebook, but my eyes kept drifting to him. He looked calm, relaxed, but there was something about the way he moved that made it hard to ignore him.
Then he spoke again. "Are you in any clubs or groups yet?"he asked.
I shook my head. "Not yet. I don't really know where to start."I said.
"You should try something," he said. "Even a small club. Helps you meet people and understand the place better."
"I'll think about it," I said.
Then he looked at my notebook again. "You're taking notes in your own way, right? That's good. A lot of students just copy what the lecturer says and never think about it,"he said.
I smiled a little. "I like writing it in a way I can understand later."
"That's smart," he said again.
I kept my notebook closed now, my hands resting on it. I wanted to talk more, but no words seemed to be coming out of my mouth.
I wasn't used to talking to someone like him, and especially not like this, casually, sitting next to him.
"Do you live on campus?" he asked after a moment.
"Yes, with a roommate," I said.
"Nice. Having someone to show you around helps, I bet."
"Yes, she's in year two," I said. "She knows a lot about the campus."
He nodded. "That's good. A lot of first years get lost or confused the first few weeks."
I laughed quietly. "I already felt lost a few times."
He smiled, and it was easy, not forced. I noticed for the first time that he didn't seem intimidating at all when he talked like this.
"I should probably go soon. My next lecture starts in a few minutes,"I said.
He nodded. "Good luck. And don't worry about the confusing parts in the lecture. You'll get it,"he said.
"Thanks," I said again.
I stood up and held my bag over my shoulder, as I walked back to the lecture room. My heart was still beating fast, but not as much as before and as I walked away, I could feel the students near the fountain glancing at him, and maybe at me too. I reminded myself not to think about it and
just focus on class.
As I walked toward the building, I thought about what had just happened. I had spent days trying to stay invisible, trying not to be noticed. And yet, somehow, Rowan Ashford had not only noticed me, but had sat next to me, talked to me, and helped me understand something I could not figure out on my own.
************
Sitting down, I tried to focus on the lecturer, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him. I wondered if he noticed how nervous I was. I wondered if other students saw how close he had been.
After the lecture, I walked out slowly, not wanting to run into anyone just yet. But I could not stop thinking about him. The way he had spoken, the calm in his voice, the way he had explained things. It was strange to feel this nervous and excited at the same time.
I found a quiet corner near the edge of the campus and sat for a few minutes. I pulled out my notebook again, not to take notes, but to scribble down what I had learned today not from the lecture, but from the conversation beside the fountain.
Rowan Ashford had walked into my day and changed it in ways I could not explain. And somehow, I knew this was just the beginning.