When I stepped out of the bathroom, Eva greeted me with a mischievous grin. She handed me a small box wrapped in bright paper. "Here," she said, "no more disturbances from the outside world." I opened it to find a new pair of earphones.
"Wow, thanks, Eva!" I hugged her tightly, touched by the gesture.
She chuckled, "Just don't suffocate yourself blocking out the world. If you try to stop the smoke from entering your lungs, I might have to attend your funeral."
We both laughed, and I gratefully accepted the gift, deciding to take them on a walk to clear my mind. The smell of smoke lingered in the corridor of our hostel, and I needed fresh air. Once outside, I put the earphones in, hoping to lose myself in music. The cool night breeze was a welcome change, and I relished the quiet.
I walked past the college, the familiar buildings fading behind me as I took the main road. My favorite songs played in my ears, and I found comfort in the rhythm. I dialed my parents for a quick chat, and after catching up with them, I started scrolling through Facebook.
That's when I saw it—friend suggestions. Familiar faces from class popped up, and I smiled as I hit "follow" on Ethan, Eva, and Joe's profiles. They all followed me back almost instantly, except Ethan. He took a few minutes, probably lost in his studies. My heart lifted when I saw his notification pop up.
Next, I scrolled through my school's common group, the feed filled with event photos and random moments. One post caught my eye—pictures of Zayn, surrounded by girls, each image making my stomach twist. It was clear the admin was some kind of Zayn fan, judging by the way they posted about him. My finger hovered over Zayn's profile when it appeared in my suggestions, but I quickly decided against following him. The mere sight of his face dampened my mood.
I sighed, putting my phone down and letting the music drown out my thoughts. I turned around to head back toward the hostel, realizing I had wandered farther from school than I'd intended. The streetlights flickered faintly, casting long shadows on the road ahead. As I walked, the signal on my phone dropped, and the music in my earphones cut off abruptly.
That's when I heard it—footsteps.
I froze, my pulse quickening. Slowly, I turned around, my breath caught in my throat. No one. The street was deserted, just a few houses and darkened buildings flanking either side. I scolded myself for being paranoid and continued walking, though my pace quickened. But as I walked, the footsteps seemed to return, echoing behind me.
My mind raced. Was it a ghost? I felt a chill run down my spine, my heart beating faster with every step. Without a second thought, I bolted, running as fast as my legs could carry me toward the school. The sound of my own footsteps filled my ears as I gasped for air.
By the time I reached the school's entrance, I was breathless, hunched over, clutching my knees. The night guard, who had been dozing off, jerked awake at the sight of me panting heavily.
"What happened?" he asked, looking at me with concern.
"I... I thought I saw a ghost," I stammered, still catching my breath.
He laughed softly, shaking his head. "Ghosts, eh? You should be more worried about people than ghosts, especially at night. Be careful out there."
I nodded, giving him a weak smile before heading back inside the hostel. As I lay in bed later that night, I couldn't shake the eerie feeling from earlier. Maybe it wasn't a ghost. Maybe it was something—or someone—worse.
I stepped into the school grounds, feeling a small sense of relief wash over me, as if I had narrowly escaped something far more terrifying than a ghost. With my phone in hand, I continued scrolling through social media, trying to shake off the lingering anxiety. Following the familiar path back to the hostel, I walked absentmindedly until I suddenly collided with someone.
I looked up and froze.
Zayn.
A cigarette hung loosely from his lips, his tall figure casting an imposing shadow under the dim lights. My heart pounded in my chest as if I had just walked straight into a lion's den. I quickly mumbled, "I'm sorry," without even daring to meet his gaze. But when I did look up, the words stuck in my throat. He stared back at me with that unreadable expression, his eyes sharp, like he could see right through me.
He took a slow drag of his cigarette, then blew out a cloud of smoke in my direction. It hit me before I could react, and I coughed uncontrollably, my body instinctively recoiling from the acrid smell.
Without thinking, I turned to head straight for my room, eager to put as much distance between us as possible. But something inside me stopped me in my tracks. I hesitated, my back turned to him, before finally spinning around and facing him again.
"Could you please stop smoking inside the campus?" I said, my voice trembling slightly. "There are other people who may get affected by it." Another cough escaped me as I finished speaking, and I could feel my cheeks flushing with both frustration and embarrassment.
Zayn stood there, unmoving, his cigarette burning slowly between his fingers. He didn't respond. He didn't even flinch. His eyes stayed locked on me, intense and unreadable, as if my words had barely registered.
The silence between us felt like it stretched on forever, the only sound being the soft hiss of the cigarette as he exhaled. I could feel the weight of his gaze, but I refused to let it break me. Without waiting for an answer, I turned on my heel and hurried toward my room, feeling his eyes on me the entire time.
As I closed the door behind me, my heart was still racing. I leaned against the door, trying to calm my nerves, but Zayn's presence lingered in my mind. Something about him—about that moment—left me shaken.
I exhaled a shaky breath. "Why does he always have to make everything so intense?" I whispered to myself, trying to push away the unsettling feeling that Zayn's presence always seemed to leave behind.