The next day, the sun was already high by the time I stumbled toward the campus gate,barely awake my backpack weighing down my shoulder, a crumpled assignment barely clutched in one hand, then something happened.
I wasn't expecting to see him.
Not so soon.
Maybe not ever again.
But there he was — leaning casually against the gate, chatting with a guy from yesterday's party his laugh and aura floating on the warm morning air.
For a second, I considered walking the other way.
Maybe he wouldn't notice me.
Maybe he wouldn't remember.
But the moment his gaze flickered up and landed on me, he straightened.
A slow, lazy grin stretched across his face.
God help me.I said.
"Viola," he called, stepping away from the gate with that easy confidence that made my stomach twist.
I smiled — awkward, too wide — and walked toward him before I could change my mind.
"Hey," I said, my voice a little too breathless.
We stood there for a heartbeat, the morning sun making me squint up at him.
He shoved a hand through his messy hair, looking just as gorgeous as he had at the party.
"You rushing to class?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Just dropped off an assignment. You?"
He shrugged. "Waiting for a friend... but I'm glad I ran into you."
The words warmed something deep inside me.
He pulled his phone from his back pocket, holding it out to me without hesitation.
"Here," he said, voice casual. "Put your number in."
For a second, I just stared at it, stupidly stunned.
Then my fingers moved on their own, entering my digits with trembling sweaty hands.
I handed the phone back, half-expecting him to immediately text me something silly.
But he just slipped it into his pocket and grinned.
"I'll hit you up later," he said.
And with that, he turned and walked off, leaving me standing there in the sunlight, heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird.
He didn't text.
Not that day.
Not that night.
Every time my phone buzzed, my heart jumped — only to crash back down when it was someone else.
I hated how much it affected me.
How much I wanted a simple message from a boy I barely knew.
Pathetic, I scolded myself as I tried to focus on my homework.
But late into the night, I found myself lying awake, staring at my phone, wondering if maybe, just maybe, I had imagined the way he looked at me.
The next afternoon, I spotted him outside the cafeteria.
He was with a bunch of guys, all laughing loudly, tossing a football between them like oversized kids.
The moment James saw me, his face lit up.
And — God — his friends noticed.
I could feel their curious stares, their low chuckles as James jogged a few steps forward to meet me.i could see them tapping on each other's shoulders as they pointed at me.I noticed some of them from yesterday's party.Some of them grinned and gave James these knowing glances, nudging him playfully.
It was obvious.
They knew about me.
Had he told them? What had he said?
I felt my cheeks flush hot under their gazes.Exicted and embarrassed at the same time.I should have been flattered.
Instead, it made me squirm, shy under their stares.
"Hey, Viola," James said, flashing that crooked grin that had no right being so devastating.
"Hey," I mumbled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
His friends kept joking behind him, nudging each other, smirking others whistling.
It made me feel exposed, like some inside joke I wasn't part of.
James noticed.
He glanced back at them with a mock glare and made some signs with his hands before turning to me, lowering his voice like we were sharing a secret.
"Ignore them. They're idiots," he said, smiling.
I laughed despite myself, the awkwardness melting just a little.
Before I could say anything else, one of his friends called out something I didn't catch, and James winced playfully.
"Rain check?" he told me, nodding toward his chaotic group.
"Sure," I said, heart hammering.
"See you around vee" he said.
And just like that, he jogged back to them, throwing a wink over his shoulder that left me stunned and grinning like a fool."vee" i mumbled while smiling like a goof.
The next day,while studying in my class my phone finally rang.
I stared at the screen like it was a mirage.
It was him,James.I almost shouted.
I fumbled to answer, trying to sound casual, but my voice still cracked a little when I said, "Hello?"
"Hey," he said, and just hearing his voice made my knees go weak. "You busy?"
"Um... no, not really," I lied — I had a paper due tomorrow, but who cared?
"Come hang out," he said, the smile practically audible through the phone.
"We're down at the field, the one near the old gym. Some of us are kicking the ball around."
I hesitated for a split second — but the truth was, my body had already decided for me.
"I'll be there," I said.
"Good," he said warmly. "I'll be waiting."
The line went dead, and I was left standing there, heart thundering, knowing I was about to do something reckless.
What was I doing?
I had a boyfriend.
James probably had a girlfriend.
This was dangerous.
But it was also thrilling.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I stuffed my books into my bag and headed toward the field, my heart pounding harder with every step.
I had no idea what I was walking into.
But deep down, I already knew:
There was no turning back now.
But for once, I didn't want to be careful.
Not around him.
Not anymore.