The story is fictional and any character and places doesn't resembles the real life,and it's not the lovey dovey story u might things it's has lots of emotions,you might cry out from heart,you may hate few characters,u may learn new things about love and you may laugh like crazy but at the end I hope you love the story ,every character is fictional but not their emotions and let me tell you one little spoiler the story may be created in 3 parts . Hopefully u guys like the story so I might get the end I want to write .

The title of the story is The First Move.

Chapter One : The Intro

Before stepping into the college, I took a deep breath. You might think, what’s the big deal? It’s just college. So let’s go a little back before I get another threat.

Yes, it’s me, as always, hating the morning. I sighed. Yeah, it was officially my first day of college, which would probably be better than the school life I had. My school life was the worst. I was the ugly girl wearing big, fat glasses, not even a good student, and unlike others, I didn’t even have a single friend. So here I am, trying my best to at least make one good lifelong friend in college.

Before I get late, let me freshen up a little.

Little did I know how far life would take me. It wasn’t going to be so easy to make my college life better.

A loud voice came from the hall.

“Nancyyyyyy! It’s already 8:30. Don’t you dare be late on your first day!”

Yes, you guessed it right — it was my mom.

“I’m coming!” I replied.

“Please, I beg you, be a little nicer. I also want you to have a few friends and a good college life. You know Chloe? She’s in the same college as you, so be nice to her. She can help you with your studies. She’s such a nice girl, always smiling, such a beautiful girl. Learn something from her,” she said.

“Yeah, yeah. Aren’t you done shouting? I’m getting late,” I replied.

“Just listen to what I’m saying, or else you aren’t even going to make it through your first year,” she said.

“Mummy, I am literally done with you. Chloe, Chloe — I understand! Let me live. I’ll decide who I want to be friends with,” I replied.

“You and your little attitude will leave you all alone, with nobody beside you. Just go,” she said.

“I’m going,” I replied, annoyed.

Still, I pecked her on the cheek and said, “You’ll always be here for me, I know.”

She smiled, hiding her face.

“I won’t,” she replied.

I quickly booked a cab and left before my mom could start another lecture.

The entire ride, I kept staring outside the window, nervously tapping my fingers against my bag. My stomach twisted with anxiety the closer we got to the college.

And there it was.

The infamous Westbridge University.

Let me give you a little brief about my college. Westbridge wasn’t just any college — it was one of the top three universities in the city. Getting admission here wasn’t easy. You either needed exceptional grades, a powerful background, or enough money to make doors open for you.

And trust me, people here had all three.

Luxury cars lined up outside the entrance like some kind of car exhibition. BMWs, Ferraris, Porsches — students stepped out of them wearing clothes that probably cost more than my yearly tuition. Designer bags hung from their shoulders, not because they needed them, but because showing them off was some kind of competition here.

Everything about this place screamed money.

And honestly?

I hated it already.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not poor either. My dad is a businessman. He owns sixteen hotels around the country along with a few mansions that we rent out. We live comfortably — more than comfortably, actually.

But Dad is always busy working.

Meetings, business trips, phone calls…

Sometimes it feels like he exists more in newspapers and business magazines than in our house. We barely talk.

You might wonder — if I’m rich too, then why did I come here in a cab instead of some luxury car?

Simple.

Because in this college, your value is decided by the car you step out of and the brand name written on your bag.

And I wanted no part in that.

I wasn’t here to impress people.

I was here to study, get good grades, leave this country, and hopefully build a better life for myself in Singapore while pursuing my master’s degree.

And until then…

I just needed to survive this place.

For my mom.

And before I could even take a proper breath, there she was.

The beauty with brains.

Chloe.

Yeah, the same Chloe my mom is absolutely obsessed with.

She was with me in high school too. Our family backgrounds were pretty similar, but the difference was — Chloe was extraordinary. Her grades were among the best in the entire city. Teachers adored her, parents admired her, and students practically worshipped her.

The perfect girl.

I sighed, not out of jealousy, but out of sympathy.

Because I knew it couldn’t be easy being that perfect all the time. Always maintaining your grades, your image, your smile… it sounded exhausting.

For a moment, her eyes landed on me.

And then she smiled.

A soft, familiar smile.

My heart skipped awkwardly, and I immediately looked away.

Not because I didn’t want to be friends with her…

But because if I did, people would compare us again.

And I was already tired of losing in comparisons I never asked to be part of.

The moment I looked back at her, a crowd had already surrounded her. Students kept talking over each other just to get her attention. Some were complimenting her outfit, while others were asking for help with classes and schedules.

She looked overwhelmed.

For a second, I could swear she looked at me for help.

But I quickly pushed the thought away.

It was better not to interfere.

And as I looked around the huge campus, my eyes suddenly landed on someone familiar.

Someone I had been trying so hard to ignore.

Not my first love or anything dramatic like that…

Just the only person I once thought would truly become my friend.

But I guess some relationships are simply too complicated to explain.

For a moment, our eyes met.

And the second they did, panic rushed through me.

I quickly turned away and started walking as fast as I could, almost running through the crowded campus just to escape that single moment. But no matter how far I walked, the feeling followed me.

The campus suddenly felt endless.

My fingers tightened around the straps of my bag as I kept replaying that moment in my head.

Just one look.

That was all it took to ruin the calm I had been trying so hard to maintain.

I forced myself to breathe and looked around again, trying to distract my thoughts.

Students wearing crisp clothes and bright smiles walked past me like they already belonged there.

And then there was me.

I adjusted my glasses for the tenth time and checked my reflection on my phone screen.

Same messy hair.

Same tired eyes.

Same awkward Nancy.

“New beginning,” I whispered to myself.

But deep inside, I knew one thing.

People like me don’t get new beginnings that easily.

Before I even realized it, I was already standing outside the classroom I would be spending the entire year in.

The noise coming from inside sounded like complete chaos. Loud laughter, people shouting over each other, chairs scraping against the floor — it already felt like hell.

A part of me wanted to turn around and go back home.

I didn’t belong here.

But the moment I turned around, I froze.

Not one.

But two familiar faces stood right in front of me.

The two people I really didn’t want to see.

Chloe stood there in her pink dress and high heels, wearing that huge beautiful smile that somehow made everyone around her feel warm.

And beside her was him.

The same person whose eye contact I still hadn’t recovered from.

Now standing there in black shoes and a red jacket, with those egoistic eyes that silently kept asking,

Why are you here?

Everything about them hurt my eyes — the bright colors, the confidence, the perfection.

While I was lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard a cheerful voice.

“Hey! It’s you, Nancy, right? I knew it! Oh my God, you look pretty!” Chloe said excitedly.

“Not as much as you,” I replied awkwardly before quickly turning toward the classroom door.

My mind was already whispering,

The real hell is inside, darling Nancy.

And then I heard another voice.

“It’s going to take her forever to enter at this rate.”

Elvan.

Of course it was him.

“That’s rude, Elvan,” Chloe immediately replied.

Something about his tone irritated me so much that I instantly pushed the classroom door open.

The loud noise inside suddenly died down.

Everyone turned to look at me.

My heart nearly stopped.

I had no words to explain the embarrassment crawling under my skin. Trying my best to avoid everyone’s eyes, I hurried toward the front row and sat down as quietly as possible.

Thankfully, the attention didn’t stay on me for long.

The moment Chloe entered the classroom, everyone’s focus shifted toward her instead.

The beauty.

People instantly started admiring her, surrounding her like she was some kind of celebrity.

And honestly…

Maybe she was.

Long before the class could calm down, the teacher finally walked in.

Mr. Joss.

Our classroom teacher.

The moment he entered, the entire atmosphere shifted.

And honestly?

He was one of the main reasons I wanted admission to this college in the first place.

Mr. Joss was one of the elite himself — intelligent, respected, elegant… the kind of person who somehow excelled in everything he did. He was our history professor, and surprisingly, the only person who made this place feel a little less unbearable.

The only person who could make me survive this hell.

He placed his books on the desk and gave the class a calm smile before introducing himself.

But before he could continue, a voice suddenly echoed from the back of the classroom.

“We know who you are. How about we start the lecture instead?”

The classroom instantly went silent.

Mr. Joss, however, didn’t seem offended at all.

“It’s my duty to introduce myself and get to know you all as well,” he replied politely. “We’ll be spending an entire year together after all.”

“Okay,” the boy replied lazily.

My eyes immediately drifted toward him.

And trust me, I wasn’t the only one looking.

So who was he?

Honestly…

I was wondering the same thing.

He was wearing a green T-shirt, black pants, Louis Vuitton shoes, and a watch that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe combined.

And unfortunately…

He was handsome.

But being handsome doesn’t cancel out a terrible attitude.

Not even a little.

Before I could continue judging him in my head, Mr. Joss suddenly looked toward me with the politest smile ever.

“Why don’t we start with introductions?” he said.

And because destiny clearly hated me, I was sitting in the front row.

Which meant… I had to go first.The regret hit me instantly. I should’ve never sat in the front row.

I tried my best to gather some courage.

See, I’m not timid.

At least not in my mind.

In my head, I’m confident, bold, and capable of handling anything. But the moment people actually look at me, all that confidence disappears somewhere I can never find.

Still, I tried my best.I stood up slowly and adjusted my glasses before speaking.

“Hello everybody, my name is Nancy Lopez, and I hope we’ll all be able to bear each other for a year.”

A few students laughed softly at my awkward joke, and for a second, I thought maybe it wasn’t going that badly.

But of course, peace never lasts long.

“Lopez?” one student suddenly asked. “As in the Lopez Hotels owner’s daughter?”

The entire classroom instantly turned toward me.

Even if I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t.

So I quietly nodded.

“Yes.”

The reaction was immediate.

Whispers.

Surprised expressions.

People looking at me differently now.

You might wonder why everyone reacted like that.

Well, our hotel chain had recently received the award for the most prestigious hotel brand in the country. Ever since then, my father had been everywhere — magazines, interviews, business articles, television…

And yet, not once had he ever mentioned me.

Not even once.

I quickly looked down, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under everyone’s attention.

Thankfully, Mr. Joss noticed the way every eye in the room was fixed on me.

With perfect timing, he changed the topic immediately.

“Alright,” he said calmly, looking toward the next student. “Why don’t we continue the introductions?”

As the introductions continued, I tried my best to calm myself down and return to normal.

Or at least pretend to.

I kept fixing my sleeves, adjusting my glasses, and staring at random corners of the classroom just to avoid thinking about the embarrassment from earlier.

But somehow, my eyes kept drifting toward Chloe and Elvan.

And that was strange.

Because back in high school, the two of them were never close. They barely even spoke to each other from what I remembered.

But now?

Now they somehow seemed comfortable together.

Too comfortable.

Chloe would lean toward him while talking, and Elvan — surprisingly — actually listened to her without looking irritated for once.

It confused me more than it should have.

Before I even realized it, I had been staring at them for too long.

And unfortunately…

Elvan noticed.

His eyes slowly shifted toward me, catching me completely off guard.

I immediately looked away, my heart skipping in pure panic.

Great.

Now he probably thinks I’m obsessed with him.

Exactly what I needed on my first day.

And then came the worst part.

Actually no.

The absolute worst part.

Someone suddenly sat between Chloe and Elvan, forcing both of them to shift places. And before I could even understand what was happening, I found myself sitting right between them.

Amazing.

Exactly how I imagined my first day would go.

As if this situation wasn’t already uncomfortable enough, I suddenly realized something even worse.

The person sitting right behind me was none other than Gawin Oliver.

Yes.

That Gawin Oliver.

The guy who just speak out to Mr joss and everyone in this city practically worshipped.

One of the top students in the country, always scoring A+ like it was the easiest thing in the world. But honestly, people didn’t admire him only because of his grades.

He was handsome too.

Annoyingly handsome.

The kind of handsome that makes people stare without even realizing it.

And to make things even more unfair, he came from one of the most influential families in the country. His father owned one of the biggest multinational companies, while his mother, Rosie Oliver, was one of the most famous actresses in the industry.

Basically, he belonged to the kind of world people like me only saw through screens and magazines.

And now?

That same Gawin Oliver was sitting directly behind me.

Wonderful.

Where exactly had my peaceful college life gone?

Oh right.

Straight to hell.

And the reason behind my suffering?

Mr. Joss.

In his very kind and slightly evil attempt to “help us make friends,” he decided our seating arrangement would be chosen by drawing numbers.

And because luck clearly hated me, I ended up trapped in the middle of this disaster.

Chloe on one side.

Elvan on the other.

And Gawin Oliver right behind me.

I was literally crying inside.

By the time the final bell rang, my social battery was already dead.

The classroom slowly started emptying while groups of students laughed and made plans like they had known each other forever.

And then there was me.Still trying to survive the first day.I quietly packed my books, hoping to leave before anyone noticed me.

“See you tomorrow, Nancy!” Chloe said cheerfully before leaving with a smile.

Elvan glanced at me once before walking away.

“Try not to run away before the second day,” he said lazily.

God, I already hated him.

A few moments later, the classroom became almost empty.

I finally let out a deep breath and grabbed my bag.But the moment I opened it, my heart stopped.

A folded paper sat inside.My fingers slowly opened it.

And the moment I read the words written on it, my stomach dropped.

You should’ve never come here, Nancy.

For the first time that day....

I felt genuinely scared.

I reached home, but home didn’t feel like home anymore.

The note.

Gawin.

Elvan.

Everything kept replaying in my mind like a broken record.

I tossed my bag onto the chair and collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. Maybe if I closed my eyes, the memories would stop.

They didn’t.

Elvan’s expression flashed through my mind again—the way he looked right through me, as if I was invisible. As if I had imagined every conversation, every glance, every moment that had convinced me I mattered.

My chest tightened.

Why was I even thinking about him?

I hated him.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

Then there was Gawin.

Unlike Elvan, he left questions instead of answers. Every word he spoke felt like it was hiding something underneath, something I couldn’t quite understand.

And that stupid note…

I pulled it out again.

For the hundredth time.

The paper was already creased from how many times I had unfolded it.

Maybe I was overthinking.

Or maybe this was the beginning of something I wasn’t ready for.

A sudden notification lit up my phone.My heart skipped.

Unknown Number.

One new message.

“Stop looking for answers, Nancy.”

I stared at it.

A prank.

It had to be a prank.

I locked my phone and threw it aside, forcing myself to ignore it.

And then—

A loud noise shattered the silence.

BANG!

I shot upright.

My breathing stopped.

“Ahhh!! Who is there? Mom, are you alright?” I shouted.

No reply.

The house felt too quiet after that sound… like it had swallowed everything.

It was already 12 at night.

My heart was racing now, not from thoughts—but from fear.

I slowly got up and walked downstairs.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

“Mom?” I called again.

Silence.

And then I saw it.

A cake.

On the dining table.

Decorated. Fresh. Beautiful.

I froze.

“Mom… are you okay?” I asked, confused and worried.

“I’m alright,” she replied from the kitchen.

“Then what was that noise? I thought something happened.”

“It’s just… I got surprised,” she said, coming out slowly. “It’s midnight and suddenly I received a box… and no one was around. I got scared.”

“A box?”

She pointed at the cake.

“It’s from your dad.”

I blinked.

“My dad?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “Today is our engagement anniversary.”

She smiled… then suddenly her expression changed.

“And this letter…” she added, holding a small envelope. Her voice trembled. “I don’t know… it made me emotional.”

I watched her carefully.

She was smiling and crying at the same time.

I sighed under my breath.

Typical mom.

Always dramatic over small things… but in a way that made everything feel important.

“Yeah… I know,” I said quietly.

But as I looked at the cake, the letter, the late-night surprise…

I couldn’t shake the feeling.

Something about tonight felt… connected.

Like the universe wasn’t just random anymore.

Like everything was quietly aligning toward something I didn’t understand yet.

And somewhere deep inside me—

I felt it again.

That same uneasiness.

Like I was being watched.

I went upstairs and tried my best to sleep.

Tomorrow was still waiting for me—maybe it would be better than today, I thought.

And somehow, I drifted off.

“Nancy… Nancy!”

My mom’s voice broke through my sleep.

“It’s already 8! Get up!”

For a moment, I didn’t even hear the alarm. My sleep felt heavy… like yesterday had drained something out of me completely.

“I’m up,” I replied, still half-asleep.

I dragged myself to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and freshened up.

Then I changed into my clothes.

A grey T-shirt.

My favorite one.

The one I used to wear in high school trips.

Something about it felt comforting today.

I quickly went downstairs.

“Nancy, baby, why are you always late?” my mom said, pretending to be annoyed.

“Mom, nothing,” I replied casually.

“Are you alright?” she asked again, softer this time.

“Yes, I am,” I said.

She came closer and hugged me suddenly.

“Baby, if there’s anything… you know you can tell me.”

“I know, mom. Don’t worry,” I replied, trying my best to sound normal.

“Have breakfast.”

We both sat and ate together.

For a moment, everything felt… normal.

Too normal.

And just as I was about to get up—

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang.

“Nana, open the door,” my mom called out.

Nana—our oldest helper—opened the door. She was like a grandmother to me now.

“Who are you?” Nana asked from the entrance.

And then I heard a familiar voice.

“I’m here for Nancy.”

My mom looked up from inside.

“Who is it, Nana?” she asked.

The voice echoed again, clearer this time.

“It’s Chloe aunty… Chloe,” she said.

My mom blinked in surprise.

“Chloe dear? You… now what happened?” my mom asked, walking closer.

“Aunty, I just thought I’d pick Nancy up since we live nearby and go to the same class,” Chloe replied politely.

“Oh darling, you’re so sweet,” my mom smiled. “Did you have breakfast?”

“Yes, aunty,” Chloe replied.

I finally walked toward the door.

“Chloe… suddenly?” I said, surprised. “You came to pick me?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “We’re friends, right? And we live close… so why not go together?”

Before my mom could add anything else, I grabbed Chloe’s hand lightly and stepped outside.

“Bye, mom!” I called.

“Bye bye! Take care, Nancy—and Chloe, you too dear!” she replied warmly.

Once we sat in Chloe's car, I still couldn't digest what was happening.

"You're awfully quiet," Chloe said as she started the engine.

I narrowed my eyes at her. Something felt off.

"You know, Nancy, I'm so happy we're all going together today," Chloe said excitedly.

"We all?" I asked. "It's just the two of us."

"Well... we are, but..." Her voice trailed off as she glanced nervously through the windshield.

My frown deepened.

Then I looked outside.

The house in front of us looked familiar.

Too familiar.

And the person walking toward the car was someone I definitely didn't want to see first thing in the morning.

Elvan.

"Elvan?" I turned sharply toward Chloe. "Are you serious right now? What is happening? Why is he coming with us?"

Chloe immediately looked guilty.

"I just thought it would be nice if we all became friends," she said, trying her best to act innocent.

Friends.

Right.

As if she didn't know exactly what had happened between us.

I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms, deciding it was safer to ignore both of them than start an argument.

"Hey, Elvan!" Chloe greeted cheerfully.

"Hey," Elvan replied.

His eyes landed on me for a brief moment.

Not on my face.

On my grey T-shirt.

The one that used to be my favorite from high school.

Then he looked away without saying a word.

For some reason, that irritated me even more.

Elvan opened the passenger door and sat beside the driver.

"Thanks for joining us," Chloe said. "I'm really happy. Feels like a high school reunion."

I tried my best not to show how annoyed I was.

"Chloe asked," Elvan replied casually. "How could I say no?"

I looked out the window.

So he knew I was coming.

And he still agreed.

Wonderful.

The rest of the ride was painfully quiet.

Chloe attempted to start conversations every few minutes, but neither of us seemed interested.

By the time we reached college, I had already exhausted every bit of patience I had for the day.

The moment the car stopped, I grabbed my bag.

Before Chloe or Elvan could say anything, I stepped out and headed toward the entrance.

"Nancy!" Chloe called from behind.

I pretended not to hear.

Right now, distance felt like the safest option.

Present Day (Opening Scene)

I took a deep breath.

Please… just today, no threats. No strange messages.

I stepped toward the college entrance, trying to feel normal again.

But before I could even enter—

Someone pushed past me, making his way through the crowd like I didn’t exist.

I stumbled slightly, frowning.

Of course.

How could I forget where I studied?

And how could I forget him?

Gawin.

He turned just enough to glance at me, a lazy smirk forming on his face.

“The entrance isn’t for standing,” he said casually. “It’s for people who actually come and go.”

I stared at him for a second.

Then calmly replied, “I know.”

And without waiting another moment, I pushed past him and walked forward.

“As if you’re the only one allowed to pass,” I added, not turning back. “The entrance isn’t for standing and having conversations either—it’s for entering and exiting.

I kept walking, letting a small smirk form on my face.

For once, I didn’t feel like backing down.

But as I moved ahead—

I heard it.

A laugh.

Low. Confident. Familiar.

I didn’t need to turn back to know.

Gawin was laughing.

And somehow…

That made everything worse.

Gawin's laugh still echoed in my head as I walked toward the classroom.

I tried to ignore it.

Tried to focus on anything else.

But before I could enter the classroom, someone tapped my shoulder.

For some reason, I was so sure it was Gawin that I turned around immediately.

"Gawin—"

The word left my mouth before I could stop it.

But the face in front of me wasn't Gawin.

It was Elvan.

I froze.

For a brief moment, Elvan looked surprised too.

Almost as if he had been about to say something.

Something important.

But the second he heard Gawin's name, whatever it was disappeared.

His expression became unreadable.

"Move," he said calmly. "You're blocking the entrance."

That was it.

Just those few words.

Yet I couldn't shake the feeling that he had wanted to say something else.

Something he decided not to.

I opened my mouth.

"Elvan, I—"

Before I could finish, another voice interrupted.

"Wow."

A familiar smirk appeared beside us.

Gawin.

"I think you really enjoy standing in people's way."

I rolled my eyes immediately.

Gawin leaned against the door frame.

"Seriously, Nancy. The entrance is for entering classrooms, not for decorating them."

A small laugh escaped him.

"Why are you always standing in the middle of someone's path?"

I wanted to argue.

The annoying part was...

He wasn't entirely wrong.

My thoughts always moved faster than my body.

Sometimes I got so caught up in my own head that the world around me seemed to pause.

Unfortunately, everyone else kept moving.

Without replying, I walked past both of them and entered the classroom.

I sat down quietly.

Maybe if I ignored everything, today would become normal.

At least that was the plan.

It lasted less than five minutes.

Tap.

My bench moved slightly.

I ignored it.

Tap.

Again.

I looked down.

A shoe.

Gawin's shoe.

I didn't even need to turn around.

Tap.

This time harder.

When I finally glanced back, Gawin was looking directly at me.

Not speaking.

Just watching.

Like he was trying to figure something out.

As if he could tell something was wrong.

I quickly mouthed, "Stop."

Instead of stopping, he grinned.

Of course he did.

Then my eyes drifted to the other side of the room.

Elvan.

He wasn't looking at the teacher.

Wasn't looking at the board.

His gaze kept drifting toward me.

Or more specifically—

Toward my grey T-shirt.

The same T-shirt I used to wear during our high school trip.

The trip where things had been different.

Where we had been different.

For a second, I wondered if he remembered it too.

If the shirt reminded him of those days.

Of our friendship.

Of us.

But I immediately pushed the thought away.

No.

If he cared about those memories, things wouldn't be like this now.

Right?

I looked back at Gawin and mouthed another warning.

"Stop. Or else."

The grin on his face only grew wider.

And somehow...

That worried me more than if he had actually listened.

The rest of the classes passed by surprisingly fast.

Before I knew it, the final bell rang.

Students immediately began packing their bags and rushing out of the classroom.

Finally.

Freedom.

I grabbed my bag and stood up, only for Chloe to instantly hook her arm around mine.

"Come on!" she said excitedly.

"Chloe, I'm literally right here. I'm not going to disappear," I muttered.

"You never know," she replied dramatically.

I rolled my eyes but let her drag me along.

As we stepped out of the classroom, I noticed Gawin and Elvan walking beside us.

Great.

Just what I needed.

A dinner with the two most complicated people in my life.

Chloe, however, seemed completely unaware of the tension.

Or maybe she was ignoring it on purpose.

"You remember our high school sports day?" she asked suddenly.

Without waiting for an answer, she continued.

"And that time Nancy almost fell off the stage during the annual function?"

"What?" I immediately protested.

"I did not!"

"You did!" Chloe laughed.

"I saved you."

"You pushed me!"

"I guided you."

"You pushed me."

Gawin chuckled quietly.

I glared at Chloe.

Traitor.

Meanwhile, Chloe continued talking nonstop.

One memory after another.

The school trip.

The farewell.

The teachers we hated.

The classmates we loved.

I mostly nodded along, only half listening.

My thoughts were somewhere else.

Every now and then, I could feel Gawin glancing at me.

Not long enough to be obvious.

Just enough to make me notice.

And whenever I accidentally looked his way, he'd immediately look ahead as if nothing had happened.

Then there was Elvan.

Walking silently beside us.

Saying almost nothing.

Yet somehow his silence felt louder than Chloe's endless stories.

For a brief moment, Chloe mentioned our high school trip.

I saw Elvan's expression change.

Just slightly.

So slight that anyone else would have missed it.

But I noticed.

And for some reason, he looked at me.

Not directly.

Just a quick glance.

A memory.

A question.

A regret.

I couldn't tell.

So I looked away first.

The evening sun painted the campus in shades of gold as we walked toward the parking lot.

Chloe was still talking.

Gawin was still pretending not to watch me.

Elvan was still pretending not to care.

And I...

I was pretending everything was normal.

Even though deep down, I knew it wasn't.​

The restaurant is quiet in that carefully polished way—soft lighting, low music, plates that arrive like they belong to a different world than conversation.

Chloe sits across from them, smiling as she eats. She keeps glancing between Nancy and Elvan, as if still adjusting to how naturally they sit in the same space.

Then, casually—almost too casually—she says,

"Do you remember our last week before graduation?"

For Chloe, it's just nostalgia. A harmless thread from the past.

But for Nancy—

everything pauses.

Not visibly at first.

Just internally.

Her hand stills mid-movement.

Her expression doesn't change, but something behind her eyes does.

Chloe continues lightly, unaware.

"I suddenly remembered something from that time…"

She tilts her head slightly, thinking.

"You were wearing that top… isn't this the same one you wore on that trip too?"

A simple sentence.

No weight in her voice.

Just recognition.

But for Nancy, the air shifts.

Her fingers tighten around her glass, just slightly.

Not enough for anyone to notice.

But enough for her to feel it.

She doesn't respond.

Across from her, Elvan hears it too.

His gaze drops to his plate almost immediately, like he's choosing not to follow where that memory leads.

His jaw tightens for a moment—small, controlled—then relaxes again.

Chloe smiles, still unaware she has brushed something invisible.

"I always liked that one on you. It suited you."

Gawin, sensing the faint change in atmosphere but unable to understand it, glances between them.

"Oh… you guys went on trips together?"

Nancy gives a small, polite smile.

Too quick.

Too practiced.

But inside—

something pulls tight.

Not a memory she can place cleanly.

Just a feeling of being somewhere she doesn't fully recognize anymore.

Across the table, Elvan stays quiet.

But his grip on the spoon shifts slightly before settling again.

Chloe continues eating, humming softly to herself, still comfortable in the past she remembers.

And that's what makes it worse.

Because no one else seems to feel what just moved through the table.

Nancy slowly places her napkin down.

The sound feels sharper than it should.

She stands.

"I… I should go."

Chloe looks up immediately, confused.

"Wait—did I say something wrong?"

Nancy shakes her head quickly.

"No… it's not you."

Her voice is steady, but careful—like she's holding it together by habit.

She avoids looking at Elvan.

Because even a glance feels dangerous now.

Gawin half-stands.

"I can drop you—"

"No. I'm fine."

It comes out faster than intended.

A boundary drawn before anyone can question it.

She picks up her bag.

For a moment, no one moves.

Not because they agree.

But because they don't understand what just changed.

Nancy looks briefly at Chloe.

Soft expression.

No anger.

Just distance she can't explain.

Then she turns and leaves.

The door closes behind her quietly.

And the table stays full—

of people who suddenly feel like they're remembering something differently.

Nancy leaves the restaurant quietly.

No one stops her this time.

The door closes behind her, soft—but final in a way that doesn't need sound to feel heavy.

Outside, the air is colder.

Not enough to matter at first.

But enough to make everything inside her suddenly too loud.

She walks a little away from the entrance.

Not far.

Just enough that she won't be seen if someone casually looks out.

A dark corner near the side of the restaurant, where the glow from inside barely reaches.

She sits down.

At first, nothing happens.

Just silence.

Then her breathing breaks slightly.

And then she can't hold it anymore.

Tears come fast—unexpected, unorganized, like something she had been postponing for too long.

Her hand covers her mouth immediately, trying to silence it.

But there is no audience here.

No need to be strong.

So she stops trying.

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere continues for a few seconds like nothing changed.

Chloe is still eating, unaware of the weight she left behind.

Elvan sits still.

Not speaking.

Not moving.

Just present, but not participating anymore.

Gawin, however, pushes his chair back.

"I'll go."

Chloe looks up. "Huh?"

But he is already standing.

He doesn't explain.

Doesn't look at Elvan for permission or response.

He simply leaves.

Outside, Gawin steps out into the quiet street.

He pauses.

Looks around.

At first—nothing.

Just cars passing, faint noise, restaurant glow spilling onto the pavement.

Then—

a sound.

Soft.

Broken.

Not loud enough for anyone to notice unless they were already listening for it.

He turns slightly.

And sees her.

Nancy.

Sitting in the dark corner.

Head lowered.

Still.

He doesn't move immediately.

Something in him says go.

Something else says don't make it worse.

So he stays at a distance.

Hidden in plain sight.

Watching without being obvious.

Nancy wipes her face quickly when she hears movement nearby.

Her breathing tightens.

She forces herself upright.

Composes her expression.

By the time she stands, she is already pretending nothing happened.

She takes a step out of the corner—

and stops.

Gawin is there.

Casual posture.

As if he had just stepped out normally.

Not like he had been standing there for the past several minutes.

"Oh—hey," he says first, light tone.

Nancy quickly fixes her expression.

"You… aren't you having dinner?"

"I did," Gawin replies easily. "Got a call from home. Had to leave."

A pause.

Nancy nods slowly.

"Oh… then you should—"

Her voice almost cracks, but she covers it.

Neither of them mentions what is obvious.

Her eyes are slightly red.

Her face too controlled.

Her hair slightly messy from her hands trying to fix herself too many times.

But Gawin looks at her like he didn't notice anything.

Or like he chose not to.

It is hard to tell.

He glances at her briefly.

"Why are you still here? It's been a while since you left."

Nancy tenses for half a second.

Then answers too quickly.

"I… couldn't get a cab."

Gawin nods once.

"Let me drop you."

"No, it's okay. I booked one—it's coming."

A beat.

Silence stretches.

Gawin looks at her properly now.

Not intense.

Just steady.

"Don't lie."

The words are simple.

Not harsh.

But they land directly.

Nancy goes quiet.

Because she knows she has no better answer.

After a moment, she exhales slightly.

"…Fine."

They walk to his car in silence.

The kind of silence that is no longer uncomfortable—but careful.

Like both of them are avoiding stepping on something fragile.

Inside the car, Gawin starts driving without asking much.

Nancy looks out the window.

Hands folded tightly in her lap.

Trying to return to normal.

Failing slightly.

After a few minutes, Gawin reaches into the side compartment and pulls out a wet tissue packet.

He places one on the console.

"Here."

Nancy looks at it.

Then at him.

Confused.

He doesn't turn fully.

Just says casually,

"Your face… makeup got messy."

A pause.

Then, almost as if adding distance on purpose:

"Don't wear too much. It doesn't suit you."

Nancy stares at him for a second.

Then grabs the napkin a little sharply.

"Wow, thanks."

She wipes her face while looking at the mirror, slightly annoyed—but also grateful in a way she won't admit.

Gawin continues driving like nothing happened.

After a while, Nancy notices the route.

Her brows knit.

"That's not my way."

"I know."

She turns fully now.

"…Are you trying to kidnap me or something so you can make money?"

Gawin finally smiles.

"Yes. Obviously. I needed fuel money anyway."

Nancy scoffs.

"You're very bad at crime."

"Yeah, I specialize in honest crimes."

That gets a small laugh out of her.

Short.

But real.

And for a moment, the car feels lighter.

They stop near a small ice cream shop.

Nancy looks at it.

Then at him.

"Ice cream?"

Gawin unbuckles his seatbelt.

"Yes. After dinner. Mandatory."

"I don't want."

"You don't get a vote."

She exhales, half annoyed, half amused—but still gets out.

Inside, they stand in line.

Nancy keeps insisting she won't take anything.

Gawin orders anyway.

Two cones.

When he hands her one, she hesitates.

Then finally takes a bite.

The change is small—but visible.

Her shoulders loosen slightly.

Her eyes soften in a way that wasn't there ten minutes ago.

Gawin notices.

"So it's true," he says.

"What?"

"People really feel better with ice cream."

Nancy rolls her eyes.

"Everyone likes ice cream. It's not gender-based therapy."

He nods.

"Fair."

Outside again, they walk back to the car.

At one point, ice cream melts slightly onto Nancy's hand.

Without thinking, Gawin reaches out and wipes it gently with a napkin.

It happens naturally.

Too naturally.

Both of them freeze for half a second.

Nancy steps back slightly.

Gawin clears his throat.

"…Sorry. Reflex."

Nancy takes the napkin from him quickly.

"Yeah. It's fine."

But neither of them fully returns to how they were before that moment.

The rest of the drive is quieter.

Not tense.

Just thoughtful.

Finally, they reach her place.

Nancy looks at the gate.

"Here."

Gawin parks.

"Okay."

She opens the door, pauses.

Then turns slightly.

"…Thanks for today."

A small, honest smile.

"I really needed the ice cream."

Gawin leans back slightly.

"Anytime. Ice cream is important business."

She smiles a little more this time.

Then gets out.

He waits.

Doesn't leave immediately.

Watches until she goes inside.

Until the door closes.

After Dinner (Elvan & Chloe)

The table in the restaurant feels emptier the moment Nancy leaves.

Not physically.

But something in the atmosphere shifts, like a sound that suddenly got muted mid-note.

Chloe sits still for a second, spoon paused halfway.

Then she lowers it slowly.

"I feel like…" she starts, hesitating. "I said something I shouldn't have."

Elvan doesn't look up immediately.

His gaze stays on the table, on nothing in particular.

Then he answers, calm but flat.

"No. You just need to think twice sometimes."

Chloe glances at him.

There's something off in his tone—not anger exactly.

More like distraction that refuses to leave.

He's physically here, but not fully in the conversation.

Chloe follows his line of sight unconsciously.

But he isn't looking at her.

He isn't really looking at anything.

She exhales softly.

Something clicks in her mind.

He's still stuck there.

Not on her words.

Not on the dinner.

On Nancy.

Chloe lowers her voice a little.

"…Do you think Nancy might've reached home by now?"

Elvan doesn't respond.

Not even a glance.

Chloe pauses.

Then reaches for her phone.

She dials Nancy.

It rings.

No answer.

Her fingers tighten slightly.

She tries again.

Still nothing.

A small crease forms between her brows.

Then she changes the contact.

Nancy's home number.

"Hello?" a voice answers.

"Chloe here," she says quickly. "I dropped Nancy earlier, is she there?"

A pause.

Then—

"Nancy? No… she hasn't come home yet."

Chloe straightens immediately.

"…Not yet?"

Now there's concern in her voice.

"Nana, are you sure?"

The other end shifts.

"What happened? Why isn't she home?"

Chloe quickly forces calm into her tone.

"No, no—it's okay. I was just asking. I'll call her. Don't worry."

A beat.

"You're sure everything is fine?"

"Yes, yes. I'll call her right now."

The call ends.

Chloe lowers the phone slowly.

Her expression changes.

"It's strange," she says softly. "She's not picking up. And she hasn't reached home."

She looks at Elvan now.

A little uncertainty creeping in.

"What if… something happened?

Elvan's jaw tightens slightly.

Just a flicker.

But he doesn't look at her.

Doesn't answer the question.

Instead, he pushes his chair back.

"Let's go. Are you done?"

Chloe stares at him for a second.

Then nods.

"…Yeah. Let's go."

They leave the restaurant.

The night air outside feels heavier now.

Like the world got quieter in the wrong places.

In Chloe's car, both sit in the back while the driver starts moving.

Chloe keeps checking her phone.

Waiting.

After a few minutes—

It rings.

Nancy.

Chloe immediately picks up.

"Are you okay? Did you reach home?"

Nancy's voice comes through, slightly rushed.

"Yes, yes. Don't worry. I'm home."

A pause.

Chloe exhales in relief.

"Okay… fine. Then we'll talk tomorrow."

"Yes. Bye."

"Bye."

The call ends.

Silence returns inside the car.

But this time it feels different.

Lighter.

Chloe lowers her phone.

Then looks at Elvan.

"There. She reached."

Elvan finally speaks.

"I heard."

No relief in his voice.

Just acknowledgment.

But Chloe notices something else.

A slight change in his face.

Subtle.

Controlled.

But there.

Like he was holding something too tightly… and only now let it loosen a fraction.

And still—

he doesn't say her name.

(nancy and gawin )

After nancy went inside

Only then does Gawin speak softly to himself.

"Don't speed up, idiot…"

A pause.

"…you only need her for one year."

The car starts.

And drives away.