Katrina stepped out of the car as it stopped in front of the university gates. The campus was grand and elegant, filled with students dressed in expensive clothes, laughter echoing through the wide pathways.
The moment she walked in, heads began to turn.
"OMG, look at her."
"She's so beautiful."
"She looks like a doll."
Whispers followed her everywhere. Katrina was used to attention, but it still made her slightly uncomfortable. She kept her posture graceful and walked calmly toward her classroom.
Just as she reached the door, a familiar voice called out from behind her.
"Hi, Katrina! How are you?"
She froze for a second, then quickly turned around.
Her eyes widened.
"Arice? Ella?!"
Her two childhood friends rushed forward and hugged her tightly.
Arice smiled brightly. "We're good! We can't believe you're here!"
Ella nodded. "We've missed you so much!"
Katrina's face softened for the first time that day. "I missed you guys too."
They entered the classroom together, chatting happily.
At that very moment, the classroom door opened again.
Ethan stepped inside.
He stopped.
His breath hitched.
His steps faltered when he saw her sitting there.
Katrina.
In his class.
For a second, the world around him felt silent. He swallowed hard and forced himself to walk to his seat, trying to act normal.
Katrina, unaware of his reaction, settled into her chair as the lecture began.
Break Time
After class, Katrina and her friends headed to the cafeteria. The place was buzzing with students.
At one of the tables nearby, Ethan was sitting with his friends, talking casually.
Suddenly, Katrina walked past him.
His voice faded mid-sentence.
His friend nudged him. "Bro? You okay?"
And then it happened.
Katrina's eyes met his.
This time, she didn't immediately look away.
She glanced at him… then turned her head slightly as if confirming something.
Ethan froze.
His heart pounded.
His friend followed her with his eyes. "OMG, did you see that? That girl was looking at you!"
Ethan quickly looked down. "Please. It's nothing. She's just my neighbor."
His friend laughed. "Yeah, right. Like a girl that beautiful would look at you."
Ethan forced a small smile, but something inside him tightened.
Across the room, Katrina was thinking:
So… that guy from the house in front studies here too.
"Hey Katrina," Arice said, grabbing her arm. "Class is about to start!"
She nodded and followed them.
Evening
After classes ended, Katrina returned home.
"Welcome back, Miss Katrina," the maid greeted.
"Hi, Miss Maria," Katrina replied gently.
She went upstairs, changed into comfortable clothes, and as usual, walked toward her balcony. It had already become her favorite place again.
She loved the quiet there.
The soft breeze.
The feeling of being alone with her thoughts.
Suddenly, she saw movement.
Ethan stepped out of his house across the street.
The moment she noticed him, something inside her shifted.
Her chest felt tight.
Without thinking, she stepped back and quickly went inside her room.
She sat down on the corner of her bed, hugging her knees slightly.
Why do I feel so weird and awkward whenever I see him?
She didn't understand it.
It wasn't like they talked.
It wasn't like they were close.
Yet every time their eyes met, something stirred — something unfamiliar, unsettling… and impossible to ignore.
Outside, the evening sky darkened slowly.
And somewhere across the street, Ethan stood on his own balcony, staring at her empty one.