Chapter 2: New Faces

The university auditorium was filled with noise, music, and excited students.

It was the day of the fresher’s program.

Elena sat beside her best friend Mia, who had been with her since school. Mia was completely different from Elena.

She was confident, sharp, and always knew how to handle people.

While Elena quietly looked around the hall, Mia was already observing everyone.

“This place is bigger than I thought,” Mia said as she looked around.

Elena smiled softly.

“I know. It still doesn’t feel real.”

The program started with speeches, music, and small games. Students cheered loudly while seniors welcomed the freshers.

Elena tried to enjoy everything, but her eyes kept searching the crowd without even realizing it.

And then she saw him.

Adrian.

He was standing near the back with a few boys around him.

Even though he looked calm and distant, people seemed naturally drawn to him.

Soon, he ended up becoming friends with a group of boys named Ryan, Ethan, Daniel, and Chris.

Ryan was funny and never stopped talking.

Ethan was smart and serious.

Daniel was playful and always had something to say.

Chris was friendly and easygoing.

Even Adrian, who usually kept to himself, slowly began spending time with them.

After the fresher’s program ended, students began leaving the auditorium and heading toward their classrooms.

Elena and Mia walked together quietly.

When they entered the classroom, Elena stopped for a moment.

Adrian was there.

He was sitting near the window, looking outside.

As Elena walked in, Adrian looked up.

For a second, both of them looked surprised.

“Oh,” Adrian said calmly. “You again.”

Elena smiled awkwardly.

“Yeah… me again.”

“Looks like we’re in the same class.”

“Looks like it.”

Adrian gave a small nod.

“Nice to meet you properly.”

Elena smiled softly.

“You too.”

Mia stepped forward with a calm smile.

“I’m Mia,” she said. “Elena’s best friend since school.”

Adrian looked at her for a second.

“Adrian.”

“Thank you for helping her this morning,” Mia said politely.

“It was nothing,” Adrian replied.

Soon, Mia started talking to everyone in class and introduced herself to Ryan, Ethan, Daniel, and Chris.

By lunchtime, everyone was sitting together.

Ryan kept talking about random things.

Daniel joked about how confusing the campus was.

Chris spoke about sports.

Ethan talked about classes and studies.

Even Adrian joined the conversation sometimes, though he was quieter than everyone else.

Elena slowly started feeling comfortable around them.

For the first time that day, she felt like maybe university would not be so scary after all.

When classes ended, Elena and Mia walked out of the university together.

The evening sky was soft and orange.

“I think today went better than I expected,” Elena said quietly.

Mia looked at her.

“It did.”

“And everyone seems nice.”

Mia nodded.

“Especially Adrian’s group.”

Elena smiled a little but said nothing.

Meanwhile, Adrian reached home and walked inside quietly.

His house was large and elegant, but strangely silent.

His mother was sitting in the living room reading something, while his father was busy on a work call.

“How was your first day?” his mother asked.

“It was fine,” Adrian replied simply.

“Made any friends?”

“A few.”

His father gave a small nod before returning to his call.

That was all.

No long conversation.

No excitement.

Adrian was used to it.

He went upstairs to his room, dropped his bag on the chair, and lay down on his bed.

Within minutes, he fell asleep.

But sometime later, he suddenly woke up.

His breathing was uneven.

For a moment, he looked around the dark room in confusion.

He had seen Elena in his dream.

Not clearly.

Just her eyes.

The same nervous eyes that had looked at him that morning when he caught her before she fell.

Adrian sat up slowly and ran a hand through his hair.

“Why am I thinking about her?” he whispered to himself.

He had only met her once.

So why did she suddenly feel impossible to forget?

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