Stage of Love: Dilkashi (Attraction)

The morning sun spilled like honey across the gates of Westbridge High, casting golden halos around cherry blossoms in full bloom. Petals floated lazily through the air, gliding past polished shoes and ironed uniforms as students streamed into the school grounds. There was something magical about this moment—like time itself was stretching to take a breath.

Elena Carter walked through the front gates with her usual grace, her long black hair swaying gently behind her like a silk ribbon. Conversations hushed as she passed, though she never seemed to notice the way eyes followed her. Tall enough to command attention but humble enough not to seek it, she was the girl you noticed first and remembered last.

"Morning, Elena!" a classmate called out cheerfully.

She smiled politely, the kind of smile that could make someone believe the day was already worth it.

Inside the classroom, the atmosphere was buzzing with the energy of a new school term. Desks were being shifted, chatter bounced from wall to wall, and students tried to sneak in final moments of gossip before the bell rang.

At the back of the room, Ethan Blake sat alone. Tall and lanky with slightly unruly hair falling over his glasses, he looked completely absorbed in the sketchpad on his desk. The soft scratch of his pencil was the only sound in his world. He wasn’t like the others—never had been. Too quiet, too distant. But today… something would change.

The classroom door creaked open.

"Good morning, everyone," said the teacher as she stepped in. “Before we begin, there's a slight change in the seating chart.”

A collective groan followed.

“Elena, you’ll be moving to the back. You’ll sit next to Ethan Blake.”

Ethan's pencil paused mid-line.

Elena blinked, then nodded without question. Her heels clicked softly against the tile floor as she walked past rows of desks, stopping beside his. She didn’t hesitate. She never did.

“Hey,” she said as she sat down, her voice light and warm.

Ethan glanced sideways, barely meeting her eyes. “Hi,” he murmured.

And that was it.

Simple. Ordinary.

Except… it wasn’t.

For a moment, something shifted—something unspoken. As she reached into her bag, their hands brushed. Just for a second. Just enough.

He pulled his hand back. She looked at him—curious, amused—and said nothing.

The class dragged on. At least for him. Her presence beside him made the air feel a little warmer. A little louder. A little more alive.

Toward the end of the period, Elena leaned over, her eyes catching something in his sketchbook. A pencil-drawn girl stared back up at her—soft eyes, wind-tossed hair, and stars tangled in her expression.

“You drew this?” she asked.

Ethan cleared his throat. “Yeah… just something I do.”

“She looks a little like me.”

He froze.

She smiled again—genuinely this time—and faced the front as the bell rang.

Students scattered, grabbing bags and noise as they rushed for lunch.

Ethan stayed seated, eyes on the door she’d just walked through.

Maybe this year wouldn’t be so quiet after all.

Did their fingers really brush? Or did the universe just blink?

(Tap ♥ if you believe in first glances...)

Do you think Ethan sketched her on purpose?

Would you like to see the sketch by Ethan...?

✨ Official Site for *When We Were Us* 🎨 Bonus art\, quotes\, and sketches:

https://sites.google.com/view/when-we-were-us-official-site-?usp=sharing

Stage of Love: Uns (Attachment)

“Some bonds aren’t built with words.

They grow in glances, in silence, and in borrowed things.”

— Elina Vale

The days that followed the seat change at Westbridge High passed like gentle waves—soft, quiet, and unspoken.

Elena Carter and Ethan Blake now sat side by side in every first-period class. What started as a simple adjustment on the seating chart was becoming something else entirely. Something unnameable. Something that didn’t need explaining.

They still didn’t talk much. But they noticed everything.

Elena noticed how Ethan never used pens—only pencils, worn down from constant sketching. He noticed the way she always chewed the end of hers when she was deep in thought. She began sitting just a little closer. He started drawing just a little slower.

☁ Tuesday Morning

The heater in the classroom had stopped working, and the air was chilled. Students huddled into their sweaters and scarves. Elena rubbed her hands together beneath her desk, trying to chase the cold from her fingers.

“Typical,” she muttered to herself.

Ethan hesitated. Then, without looking at her directly, he slid his scarf across the desk toward her. It was soft and still warm smelling faintly of mint gum and graphite.

Elena blinked at him.

“Are you sure?” she asked softly.

He nodded. “You’ll return it.”

She wrapped it around her neck without another word, but the way she smiled said more than thank you. She wore it for the rest of the day.

☔ After School – Rain

When the final bell rang, the sky had darkened, and rain poured steadily over the school grounds. Students rushed past with umbrellas and jackets pulled overhead.

Elena stood under the awning just outside the building, hugging her books tightly to her chest. She didn’t have an umbrella, but she didn’t try to run for it either. She just stood there—still, quiet, waiting.

Across the courtyard, Ethan spotted her. He stood frozen for a moment, his hand tightening around the handle of his umbrella. He could have walked past. Could have pretended not to see her.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he crossed the courtyard toward her. Without saying anything, he lifted the umbrella and held it over both of their heads.

She looked up at him, slightly surprised.

“You’ll get wet,” she said.

“I’ll manage,” he replied quietly.

They walked together across the campus path, side by side, their shoes splashing softly in the puddles. The rain fell around them like a lullaby, and neither said a word. They didn’t need to.

It wasn’t grand. It wasn’t dramatic.

But something shifted in that moment—like rain settling into the soil, quiet and lasting.

🖊 Later That Night

Ethan sat by the window in his room, watching the city blur behind the raindrops streaking down the glass. His sketchbook lay open in his lap, his pencil resting between his fingers.

He didn’t draw her eyes. He didn’t draw her hair.

He didn’t even try to capture her smile.

Instead, he drew two umbrellas.

One slightly larger. One slightly smaller.

Side by side, sharing the rain.

There was no signature. No detail.

Just the quiet echo of what had happened—and what was starting to take shape.

Somewhere between a scarf and an umbrella, between quiet glances and borrowed warmth... something unnamed had begun.

And Ethan—quiet, unnoticed Ethan—was beginning to feel it.

🌸 A Note from Elina Vale Thank you for reading this chapter 💌

Ethan may not say much… but his sketch says everything. 🖼️ Curious to see what he actually drew? I’ve shared Ethan’s sketch of Elena—just as described in the episode—on my official story website! 👉https://sites.google.com/view/when-we-were-us-official-site-?usp=sharing (Trust me, it’ll make your heart flutter.)

💬 And tell me in the comments: What moment between Ethan and Elena made you smile today? — Elina ♡