chapter 3

**Ariana's POV**

As I walked home after buying groceries, I glanced up at the sky.

Dark clouds had gathered, and the weather didn’t look good at all. It was definitely going to rain—and of course, I had forgotten my umbrella.

“Great,” I muttered.

Adjusting the bag in my hand, I kept walking until I noticed someone ahead of me.

A guy.

He was stumbling, barely able to walk straight.

Drunk.

I hesitated for a second, then walked toward him. Before I could say anything, he suddenly lost his balance and fell.

“Hey—” I rushed to his side, kneeling beside him and shaking him lightly. “Mister, are you okay? You don’t look fine. Let me help you.”

He slowly looked up at me, his eyes unfocused.

“Hey… are you trying to kidnap me?” he slurred.

I froze.

“What? Are you crazy?” I snapped. “I’m trying to help you and you’re calling me a kidnapper?”

Before I could react—

He leaned forward.

And kissed me.

My mind went completely blank.

I pushed him away immediately, my heart racing. “What are you doing?! I’m helping you and you just kissed me?!”

“Ca… can you send me home?” he mumbled, like nothing had happened.

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered. “Fine. Give me your address.”

He told me, barely conscious.

I called a cab, helped him inside, and sent him home.

As the car disappeared, I stood there for a moment, still confused.

“What a careless guy…”

—

That night, even after reaching home and lying in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

That kiss.

Why did he do that?

I sighed and turned to my side.

Eventually, sleep took over.

—

The next morning, my alarm dragged me out of sleep.

I got ready quickly and somehow managed to reach college on time.

But the moment I stepped inside the campus, something felt… different.

Too many people.

Too much noise.

Students were gathered in groups, whispering, some even rushing toward the main building.

“Luka… he’s here…”

“The rockstar…”

I frowned slightly.

So this is about him.

“ARIANAAA!”

Ava ran toward me, almost out of breath.

“You’re late!”

“I’m on time,” I said. “What’s going on?”

“He’s here!” she said excitedly, grabbing my arm. “Come on!”

Before I could refuse, she dragged me straight into the crowd.

I hated crowds.

Too loud. Too close. No space to breathe.

“Ava, slow down—”

“Just one look!” she insisted.

“I don’t care about—”

And then I saw him.

At first, it was just a glimpse.

A figure surrounded by people, security trying to control the crowd, cameras flashing.

But something about him felt… familiar.

I frowned.

No.

It couldn’t be.

I looked again.

And this time—

Everything clicked.

The rain.

The unsteady steps.

That voice.

My eyes widened slightly.

“That’s…” I whispered.

“That’s Luka,” Ava said, almost squealing. “He’s even more handsome in real life!”

I wasn’t even listening.

That was him.

The same guy from last night.

The one I helped.

The one who—

Before I could finish the thought—

He looked up.

His gaze moved across the crowd.

And then—

It stopped.

On me.

For a second, everything went silent.

He frowned slightly, like he was trying to remember something.

And I knew.

He recognized me.

Not fully.

But enough.

My heart skipped.

Then—

He looked away.

Just like that.

Like I didn’t matter.

Like I was just another face.

I frowned, something about that bothering me more than it should.

“Come on,” Ava said, pulling me again. “We’re going to be late!”

I let her drag me away, but my mind stayed behind.

—

We entered the classroom just before the bell rang.

I barely sat down when Ava hugged me from behind.

“Hey—leave me! I can’t breathe!”

“Oops, sorry!” she laughed.

“It’s okay,” I said. “But why are you so excited?”

“How can you forget? Luka is joining our class today!”

“Oh,” I said. “That.”

“That?” she looked offended.

“Leave him,” I said. “I need to tell you something. Something happened last night—”

The bell rang.

“I’ll tell you later.”

She sighed. “Fine.”

The professor entered.

“Good morning, students. As you know, a new student is joining today. None other than Luka, the rockstar.”

The class buzzed with excitement.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

I turned toward the door.

And there he was.

The same guy.

Standing there like nothing had ever happened.

“Come in, Luka,” the professor said.

“Sorry, sir,” he replied.

“Go find a seat.”

He walked inside.

As he passed by me, his eyes met mine again.

This time, the look lasted a second longer.

Recognition.

Confusion.

Something unspoken.

I looked away first.

This was bad.

Really bad.

He walked past me—

And took the seat right behind mine.

I stared ahead, trying to focus.

But I could feel it.

Everything had changed.

And somehow…

This was only the beginning.

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