Meera's POV
College had become routine again.
Morning lectures. Notes. Assignments. Lunch breaks that were too short and study sessions that were too long. For months my world had been nothing more than this cycle, and honestly, I liked it that way.
Simple things were easier.
Complicated things distracted you.
And lately, one particular complication had been following me everywhere.
Ethan Moretti
Or as the college knew him — Ethan Carter.
I was still not sure what bothered me more: the fact that he suddenly appeared in my class a month ago, or the fact that he had somehow managed to become part of my daily routine.
Not intentionally.
Not willingly.
But still… there.
Every morning he sat behind me.
Every lecture he leaned forward occasionally to ask a question.
Every lunch break he appeared beside me as if the campus map only had one direction — wherever I was going.
And it was incredibly irritating.
At least that's what I kept telling myself.
That afternoon, after our second lecture, Ethan stopped me near the staircase.
"Meera."
I turned slowly.
"What?"
"Show me a fun place."
I blinked.
"What?"
"A place students go for fun."
I stared at him for a moment.
Then I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was ridiculous.
"I don't know any."
He frowned slightly.
"You've been here months."
"Yes."
"And you don't know a single place?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I'm here to study."
His expression didn't change, but his eyes did.
Like he was trying to understand something unusual.
"What do you do after class?"
"Go to the dorm."
"Then?"
"Study."
"And weekends?"
"Call my parents."
He looked mildly horrified.
"That's your entire life?"
"Yes."
"And you're satisfied with that?"
"Very."
I crossed my arms.
"Also, showing you entertainment places is not part of my mentoring duties."
His mouth curved slightly.
"I see."
"Yes."
"So if I want to explore the city…"
"Go with your other friends."
His gaze lingered on my face.
"I don't have any."
"That sounds like a personal problem."
He laughed quietly.
Which somehow annoyed me more.
The truth was simple.
I really didn't know any fun places.
My life in this country had been extremely small.
College.
Dorm.
And one tiny Indian grocery store where I bought things like rice flour and coconut milk.
That was it.
No restaurants.
No cinemas.
No late-night hangouts.
Not because I didn't want to enjoy life.
But because my parents trusted me here.
And I didn't want to break that trust.
Ethan looked like he was about to say something else.
Instead, he simply nodded.
"Alright."
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
Which was strange.
Because usually he would follow me.
The next day felt… normal.
Until it wasn't.
Morning classes passed quickly.
Ethan sat behind me as usual.
He asked questions during the lecture.
He even corrected a calculation I had written incorrectly once.
Which was embarrassing.
But after the second class ended, something unusual happened.
He disappeared.
Not gradually.
Not slowly.
Just… gone.
At first I didn't notice.
I was packing my notebook when Marcus suddenly leaned across the desk.
"Where's your shadow?"
"What?"
"Suit boy."
I frowned.
"He's not my shadow."
Marcus shrugged.
"He usually follows you everywhere."
I ignored that comment.
But as I walked out of the classroom, I realized something.
Ethan really wasn't there.
The hallway was crowded.
Students moving between lectures.
Groups laughing.
People rushing.
But Ethan wasn't among them.
Which was… unusual.
For the past month he had appeared everywhere I went.
Library.
Cafeteria.
Study hall.
Even near the dorm path sometimes.
Not in an obvious way.
But always somewhere nearby.
Now suddenly he wasn't.
And that felt strange.
---
I went to the cafeteria with Marcus.
He was talking about an upcoming assignment.
But my mind kept drifting.
I glanced around the room once.
Then again.
Still no Ethan.
Marcus noticed.
"You're looking for him."
"I am not."
"You just scanned the entire room."
"I was looking for an empty table."
Marcus grinned.
"Sure."
I sighed.
This was ridiculous.
Why would I look for Ethan?
He was annoying.
Arrogant.
Suspicious.
And constantly invading my space.
His absence should have been peaceful.
Yet something felt… off.
Like when you suddenly stop hearing a background noise you didn't realize was there.
And the silence becomes noticeable.
---
Lunch ended.
Afternoon classes began.
I sat in my usual seat.
The one behind me was empty.
The professor started lecturing.
I tried to focus.
But my mind kept drifting to that empty seat.
To the fact that he wasn't there.
To the strange awareness that something was missing.
It made no sense.
I had spent months alone before he appeared.
I had eaten lunch alone.
Studied alone.
Walked to my dorm alone.
And I had been fine.
Perfectly fine.
So why did this one afternoon feel different?
Why did the campus feel slightly empty?
---
By the time the last lecture ended, I was annoyed.
At Ethan for disappearing.
At myself for caring.
At this whole situation for making me feel things I didn't want to feel.
I walked out of the building.
The evening air was cool.
Students were heading in different directions.
And then I saw him.
Ethan was walking across the courtyard.
His pace was steady.
His expression calm.
But something about him looked different.
His sleeves were pushed up slightly.
His hair was messier than usual.
And there was something in his eyes.
Something controlled.
Like he had just finished something intense and was forcing himself to appear normal.
He saw me.
For a moment, his gaze sharpened.
Then he walked over.
"You're still here."
I crossed my arms.
"Where else would I be?"
He didn't answer.
Just stood there.
Looking at me.
I frowned.
"You missed the entire afternoon."
"Yes."
"Where were you?"
"Something came up."
"What?"
"Personal."
I waited for more.
He didn't offer any.
And that irritated me more than it should have.
---
"You can't just disappear like that."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I can't?"
"No."
"Why?"
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
Why?
Why couldn't he disappear?
He wasn't my friend.
Wasn't my boyfriend.
Wasn't anything to me.
So why did his absence bother me?
I looked away.
"Forget it."
"Meera."
I didn't respond.
"Meera, look at me."
I didn't want to.
But my head turned anyway.
His eyes were intense.
Studying me.
Like he was trying to understand something important.
"You noticed I was gone."
"It's hard not to."
"Why?"
I hesitated.
"Because you're always there."
Something flickered in his expression.
Satisfaction?
Pleasure?
I couldn't tell.
"I had to handle something."
"Handle what?"
"Nothing you need to worry about."
I hated that answer.
Hated how vague he was.
Hated how mysterious he made everything.
"You're very secretive."
"Yes."
"That's annoying."
"I know."
He smiled faintly.
And despite my irritation, something in my chest fluttered.
We walked towards the library.
Like we always did.
Like the afternoon hadn't happened.
Like he hadn't disappeared for hours without explanation.
But something had shifted.
I was aware of him beside me.
Aware of the space he occupied.
Aware that when he wasn't there, things felt wrong.
That realization was terrifying.
Because Ethan Carter was not someone I wanted to need.
He was strange.
Too intense.
Too watchful.
Too present.
And yet…
When he had been gone today, I had noticed.
I had looked for him.
Had felt his absence like a missing piece.
I didn't say any of this.
We walked in silence.
The library doors appeared ahead.
He held one open for me.
I walked past him.
And tried very hard not to think about how natural this felt.
We studied until evening.
Or rather, I studied.
Ethan sat across from me.
Reading something on his phone.
Occasionally glancing up.
Watching me.
I was used to it by now.
His constant attention.
His quiet presence.
It should have been uncomfortable.
It probably was uncomfortable.
But somewhere in the past month, it had become… normal.
And normal things didn't feel strange until they were gone.
Like today.
When normal had suddenly disappeared.
I looked up from my notes.
He was watching me.
As always.
"You're staring."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I like looking at you."
My face heated.
"That's a weird thing to say."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
He smiled.
Said nothing else.
I looked back at my notes.
But the words blurred.
And I was acutely aware of his eyes on me.
Later, when the library closed, we walked towards my dorm.
The path was quiet.
Trees lining both sides.
Streetlights casting soft pools of light.
"So," I said eventually.
"So."
"Where did you really go today?"
A pause.
Then quietly.
"Away."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I can give."
I stopped walking.
Turned to face him.
"Why?"
He stopped too.
Looked down at me.
"Because some things are better left unknown."
"That's not fair."
"Life isn't fair."
I stared at him.
Trying to understand.
But his face revealed nothing.
Just those dark eyes.
Watching me.
Waiting.
"One day," I said slowly.
"One day what?"
"One day I'll figure you out."
He smiled.
Genuine this time.
Soft.
"I hope you do."
He left me at the dorm entrance.
As always.
Watched until I was inside.
As always.
I climbed the stairs.
Entered my room.
I changed quietly.
Lay in bed.
Stared at the ceiling.
Today had been strange.
He had disappeared.
I had noticed.
He had returned.
I had felt relieved.
That relief was dangerous.
Because it meant something.
Something I didn't want to name.
I closed my eyes.
And his face appeared behind my lids.
Watching me.
Like always.
I fell asleep eventually.
And somewhere in the darkness between dreams, I wondered if he was watching now.
If he ever really left.
If this strange pull between us was real or imagined.
I didn't have answers.
But one thing was certain.
Ethan Carter had become a habit.
And habits were hard to break.
The next morning, he was there.
Waiting near the humanities building.
Coffee in hand.
My order.
He held it out.
I took it.
Our fingers brushed.
Warmth spread through my hand.
Up my arm.
Into my chest.
"Good morning, little star."
I wanted to correct him.
Wanted to tell him not to call me that.
Instead, I just nodded.
"Morning."
We walked to class together.
And for the first time, I didn't mind.
Not really.
That should have scared me more than it did.