Chapter 3: Unexpected Conversations

The next morning felt calmer than the first day.

The roads were busy with students, buses, and small shops opening for the day.

Elena and Mia were walking together toward the university.

Elena held her bag close to her shoulder while Mia talked about almost everything she saw around them.

“I swear,” Mia said dramatically, “if university life is just assignments and boring lectures, I’m going to cry.”

Elena laughed softly.

“It has only been one day.”

“Exactly. I already want holidays.”

“You always want holidays.”

“Because they are peaceful.”

Elena shook her head with a smile.

The soft morning breeze moved through her hair as she looked around.

Everything still felt new.

The streets, the college, the people.

And for some reason, one person kept coming into her mind more than anyone else.

Before she could stop herself, her thoughts went back to Adrian.

The way he had caught her before she fell.

The way he looked at her.

The way he hardly smiled.

She quickly looked away from her own thoughts.

“Why are you smiling to yourself?” Mia asked suspiciously.

“I’m not smiling.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

Mia narrowed her eyes.

“Fine. Keep your secrets.”

Just then, Mia noticed someone walking toward them from the other side of the road.

“Speaking of secrets,” Mia said quietly.

Elena looked up.

Adrian was walking toward them with one hand in his pocket and his bag over his shoulder.

He looked calm as always.

When he noticed them, he slowed down a little.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Morning,” Elena replied softly.

“Morning,” Mia said with a small smile.

For a moment, the three of them stood there awkwardly.

Then Adrian looked at both of them.

“Shall we go together?”

Mia answered immediately.

“Yeah, of course.”

Elena looked slightly surprised, but she nodded.

The three of them began walking toward the university together.

At first, the conversation was small.

Mia did most of the talking.

“So where do you live?” Mia asked Adrian.

“About 5km from here.”

“Oh. Elena lives near me. We’ve been neighbors since school.”

Adrian gave a small nod.

“You two seem close.”

“We are,” Mia replied proudly. “She is basically my sister.”

Elena smiled softly.

“And Mia talks too much.”

“That is rude.”

“It is true.”

For the first time, Adrian smiled slightly.

It was only for a second, but Elena noticed it.

And for some reason, that small smile stayed in her mind.

When they finally reached the university, they walked toward their classroom together.

Inside, students were already taking their seats.

Adrian went toward his usual place near the window.

Elena and Mia sat a few rows ahead.

As Elena arranged her books on the desk, she suddenly felt someone looking at her.

She turned around slowly.

Adrian was already looking in her direction.

For a second, neither of them looked away.

Then Elena gave him a small smile before turning back around.

Adrian looked down at his notebook immediately.

“She is just a friend,” he told himself quietly.

But somehow, he still found himself noticing everything about her.

The way she smiled.

The way she tucked her hair behind her ear.

The way she laughed softly whenever Mia said something funny.

After a few classes, lunchtime finally arrived.

Students slowly started leaving the classroom and heading toward the canteen.

The canteen was crowded and noisy.

There were students everywhere, carrying trays, laughing loudly, and searching for empty seats.

Elena and Mia stood near the entrance, looking around.

Then Mia noticed Adrian sitting with Ryan, Ethan, Daniel, and Chris.

“Come,” Mia said.

Before Elena could answer, Mia had already walked toward their table.

“Do you mind if we join you guys?” Mia asked.

Ryan smiled immediately.

“Of course not.”

“Please sit,” Chris added.

“We need more decent people here,” Ethan said.

Daniel looked offended.

“What do you mean? I am very decent.”

“No,” Ryan said. “You are the problem.”

Everyone laughed.

Elena sat beside Mia while Adrian sat across from her.

For a while, everyone just talked normally.

Ryan kept making random jokes.

Chris and Daniel started arguing about football.

Ethan was already complaining about assignments.

“I don’t understand why teachers think we have no life outside college,” Ethan said.

“Maybe because we don’t,” Ryan replied.

Mia laughed.

“I already miss school.”

“No, you don’t,” Elena said immediately.

“Okay, maybe not.”

Adrian stayed quiet most of the time, listening to everyone.

But every now and then, he looked at Elena.

And somehow, every time he looked at her, she was already smiling or laughing.

At one point, Ryan looked at Adrian suspiciously.

“You are very quiet today.”

Adrian looked up calmly.

“I’m always quiet.”

“Not this quiet,” Daniel said with a grin.

Chris leaned forward dramatically.

“Maybe he likes someone.”

Adrian gave him a cold look.

“No.”

Ryan laughed.

“Relax. We’re joking.”

Elena looked down at her food, trying to hide her smile.

For the first time in a long time, Adrian did not feel completely distant from everyone around him.

And without realizing it, Elena was slowly becoming a part of his world.

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