Chapter 1: Beginning
The first time I laid eyes on her, I was three weeks late.
The lecture hall was already swarming with students chatting and laughing, clustering into groups. The first task? Get to know one another and form project groups—you know, the typical ‘make friends in five seconds or you're screwed’ icebreaker every college student has ever faced.
Being a well-organized type, I had spent hours preparing a brief introduction for myself in all of the project courses I'd signed up for.
I imagined myself as a charming, slightly self-deprecating dude, quickly wooing others into my friendly grasp. But, as I scanned the room, my meticulous plans dissolved.
My heart raced, urging me to locate her in this sea of students. There she was. Vanshika: her eyes met mine, and she flashed a dazzling smile that lingered on her lips, like a secret she was waiting to share. She was already huddled in a group, but her magnetic grin drew me like a moth to flame.
Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her copper skin practically glowed. The delicate gold studs in her ears caught the fluorescent light and winked at me.
My pulse throbbed in my ears, and I barely heard the professor’s instructions as I forced myself to weave through the crowd. I knew I needed to join a group quickly, but my gaze refused to break away from Vanshika.
My labored footsteps thudded rhythmically on the cold tile floor, punctuated by the sound of chairs squeaking and students whispering.