The next morning, I woke up with the biggest smile on my face.
For the first time in years, I wasn't wondering whether he remembered me or not.
He did.
The message from last night was still there.
"Hello. I think I know you. Junior, right?"
I had read those words so many times that I could probably recite them in my sleep.
My roommate laughed as she watched me stare at my phone.
"You're smiling like a crazy person."
"I'm not."
"You are."
I quickly locked my phone.
She rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Get ready. We're already late."
Within minutes we were rushing toward college.
The morning air felt fresh.
Everything felt lighter.
Even anatomy class didn't seem scary today.
As we entered the college gate, I noticed unusual activity around the campus.
Students were gathered in small groups.
Some teachers were standing near the auditorium.
Banners were being arranged.
"What happened?" I asked.
My roommate shrugged.
"No idea."
We continued walking.
Suddenly one of my classmates ran toward us.
"Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"There's an inter-college medical and technology event today."
"Oh."
"Students from different colleges are visiting."
I nodded.
That explained the crowd.
Without thinking much about it, I headed toward class.
The whole morning passed in lectures.
Biochemistry.
Anatomy.
Physiology.
The usual routine.
But during lunch break, everything changed.
I was walking toward the canteen with my friends when my phone vibrated.
A new message.
My heart immediately jumped.
It was him.
"How's college going?"
I smiled instantly.
Before I could reply, my best friend called.
"Madam!"
"What?"
"Still smiling because of his reply?"
I laughed.
"A little."
"A little? You sound happier than when your NEET result came."
"Shut up."
She laughed loudly.
After talking for a few minutes, I disconnected the call and started walking toward the canteen again.
That was when I saw him.
Or at least I thought I did.
A familiar figure stood near the auditorium.
My footsteps slowed.
No.
It couldn't be.
My heart began beating faster.
I blinked.
Looked again.
The crowd shifted.
And suddenly I saw his face clearly.
My breath stopped.
It was him.
Not someone who looked like him.
Not a senior with the same name.
Not a random stranger.
Him.
The boy I had loved for four years.
Standing less than fifty meters away.
In my college.
In front of my eyes.
For a moment, the entire world went silent.
I couldn't hear my friends.
I couldn't hear the crowd.
I couldn't hear anything.
All I could see was him.
My hands started shaking.
My mind refused to process what was happening.
Why was he here?
How?
When?
I felt completely frozen.
"Hey."
My friend's voice brought me back.
"What happened?"
I pointed toward the auditorium.
She followed my gaze.
Then her eyes widened.
"No way."
I nodded slowly.
"No way," she repeated.
The two of us stood there staring like statues.
After all these years.
After countless memories.
After endless nights thinking about him.
He was actually standing there.
Reality felt stranger than imagination.
My friend grabbed my arm.
"Go."
"What?"
"Go talk to him."
"Are you crazy?"
"You literally messaged him yesterday."
"That's different."
"How?"
"That was through a phone!"
She sighed dramatically.
"Destiny has practically dragged him into your college."
I couldn't stop staring.
He was talking to a few students.
Laughing.
Exactly the way I remembered.
Yet somehow different.
More mature.
More confident.
Older.
Years had passed.
But seeing him again brought back every memory instantly.
My first day of school.
The classroom.
The farewell.
The tears.
Everything.
I didn't even realize someone had walked up beside me.
"Are you okay?"
I turned.
It was my senior.
My practical partner.
My friend.
He looked concerned.
"You suddenly stopped walking."
I quickly looked away.
"N-nothing."
His eyes followed my gaze.
He noticed the group near the auditorium.
Then he noticed one particular person.
A strange expression crossed his face.
"That's him, isn't it?"
I froze.
The senior knew exactly who I was looking at.
After all, he knew my entire story.
Slowly, I nodded.
For a few seconds neither of us spoke.
Then he smiled gently.
"So this is the famous guy."
I couldn't help laughing.
"Yeah."
"He's real."
"Obviously."
"You talk about him so much that he felt like a fictional character."
I rolled my eyes.
The senior chuckled.
Then his expression became serious.
"Do you want to meet him?"
My heart nearly stopped again.
"I don't know."
"You've waited four years."
"I know."
"Then maybe it's time."
I looked down.
Fear.
Excitement.
Nervousness.
Every emotion was fighting inside me.
Before I could answer, someone from the organizing committee called for participants near the auditorium.
The crowd became larger.
Students started moving everywhere.
For a moment I lost sight of him.
When I found him again, he was walking inside the building.
And just like that, he disappeared.
I stared at the entrance.
Part of me wanted to run after him.
Another part wanted to hide.
The senior noticed.
"You don't have to decide today."
I nodded.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe I needed time.
The rest of the afternoon felt unreal.
I couldn't focus on anything.
During practical class, I mixed up labels twice.
The senior laughed.
"You're officially distracted."
"I'm trying."
"Clearly."
Even my professor noticed.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, sir."
But honestly, I wasn't sure.
My mind was somewhere else.
Hours later, classes finally ended.
Most students were heading back to their hostels.
I packed my books slowly.
The event was still going on.
Visitors were everywhere.
Maybe he was still on campus.
Maybe he wasn't.
I didn't know.
As I stepped outside the building, my phone buzzed.
A new message.
From him.
My hands immediately became cold.
I opened it.
"Looks like we're in the same city now."
My heartbeat doubled.
He knew.
He knew I was studying here.
I quickly typed a reply.
"Yes. Government Medical College."
A few seconds passed.
Then another message arrived.
"Nice. I'm actually here today for an event."
I stared at the screen.
He was really here.
This wasn't a dream.
We exchanged a few more messages.
Simple conversation.
Nothing special.
Yet every word felt important.
Then came a message that made my heart skip a beat.
"Are you still on campus?"
I stopped walking.
My fingers hovered above the keyboard.
What should I say?
Before I could answer, someone called my name.
I looked up.
The senior was waiting near the parking area.
"Coming?"
I nodded absentmindedly.
Then I looked back at my phone.
I typed:
"Yes."
The reply came almost instantly.
"Great."
Just one word.
Great.
But it was enough to make me nervous again.
What did that mean?
Was he planning to meet me?
Was he nearby?
I looked around.
Hundreds of students.
Visitors.
Teachers.
Anyone could be him.
The senior noticed my expression.
"What happened now?"
I showed him the message.
He read it.
Then raised an eyebrow.
"Oh."
"What?"
"I think something interesting is about to happen."
I swallowed nervously.
The sun was beginning to set.
The campus was glowing in soft orange light.
Students were slowly leaving.
The crowd was becoming smaller.
And for some reason, my heart was beating faster with every passing second.
Then my phone vibrated one last time.
A new message from him.
I opened it.
And the moment I read those words, I froze completely.
"Turn around. I think I can see you."
To Be Continued... 🔥