Ferdinand locked his bike outside the university building and made his way towards the main campus, adjusting his backpack over his shoulder. The crisp morning air had done little to wake him up fully after the chaotic weekend he'd just had with Elara, but he wasn't complaining. The comforting rhythm of his daily routine was just what he needed, or so he thought.
As he entered the campus, something felt… different. At first, he couldn't put his finger on it. The familiar faces of students on their way to classes passed him by, the usual cliques gathering around benches, chatting, and laughing. But something seemed off. There was a subtle shift in the air, like he was being noticed in ways he wasn't used to.
It started as a few side glances, students nodding in acknowledgment, something that was rare for him. Usually, he moved through the university like a ghost, unnoticed, unbothered. But today, people were looking at him. Not just looking—staring.
He frowned, feeling the weight of their eyes on him as he walked through the courtyard. A group of girls sitting by the fountain giggled as he passed, their voices hushed but not quiet enough for him to miss the murmur of his name. Ferdinand? Ferdy? Since when did anyone call him that?
He quickened his pace, pulling out his phone, trying to distract himself from the growing sense of unease. As he scrolled through the usual notifications, his mind raced with questions. What was going on? Why were people looking at him like that? Did he have something on his face? Was his shirt inside out?
Shaking off the paranoia, Ferdinand headed straight for his classroom, hoping that the strange attention would disappear once he was in the familiar confines of a lecture hall. But as he approached the door, more heads turned, eyes following him as if he were some sort of campus celebrity. A girl whispered to her friend, glancing at him with a coy smile. Another girl waved—waved!—at him before looking away, blushing furiously.
What in the world?
Ferdinand made it inside and found his usual seat near the back, hoping to remain unnoticed. But even here, the energy was off. His classmates, people who barely acknowledged his existence before, were suddenly hyper-aware of him. Girls turned to glance at him with shy smiles, and even the guys seemed to give him nods of acknowledgment.
As he sat down, the feeling of unease only grew stronger. He tried to focus on the lecture, but his mind kept wandering. Every time he shifted in his seat, he could feel eyes on him, whispers floating around the room. It was unnerving, to say the least.
Thirty minutes into the lecture, Ferdinand had had enough. He pulled out his phone, deciding that he needed to tell someone about this strange turn of events. Naturally, the first person he thought of was Daisy. She was always good at making sense of things, and right now, he needed her perspective.
Ferdinand:"Weirdest thing, Daisy. I walked into campus today, and everyone's looking at me like I've grown a second head. What's going on?"
He hit send and watched his phone, expecting the usual quick reply from her. But this time, no response came. He waited for a minute, glancing at the lecture, only half-listening to the professor drone on about the intricacies of economic theory. Still nothing.
Ferdinand frowned. It wasn't like Daisy to ignore his texts. He could imagine her being busy, maybe caught up in her own classes, but it felt odd, especially after the weekend they had both experienced. Maybe she was still recovering from the emotional rollercoaster she had gone through just a few days ago.
With a sigh, he decided to send another message, hoping to catch her attention.
Ferdinand:"I feel like a celebrity for no reason. People keep staring at me. Did something happen that I don't know about? Or maybe I look weird today? I don't know."
Again, he pressed send and waited. Nothing.
Now his unease was turning into full-blown confusion. Something was definitely off, and if Daisy wasn't going to help him figure it out, he was going to have to investigate on his own. He leaned back in his seat, his eyes scanning the room as he tried to make sense of what was going on.
The girl sitting two rows in front of him kept glancing back over her shoulder, her eyes darting toward him every few minutes before she turned back to her notes. Another girl, sitting near the front, had her phone out, and though he couldn't see the screen, he was sure she was typing something furiously—about him. The whispers didn't stop.
He couldn't take it anymore. Ferdinand pulled out his phone again, this time shooting Daisy a more direct message.
Ferdinand:"Seriously, what's going on? I feel like I'm being watched by the entire campus. Did I accidentally do something?"
The seconds ticked by, but still no reply from Daisy. His heart sank a little, and he felt a pang of frustration. What was happening? And why wasn't she responding?
Finally, after what felt like hours, Ferdinand made up his mind. He needed to get out of there. As soon as the class ended, he grabbed his backpack and bolted for the door, ignoring the lingering gazes that followed him out of the room. His heart was pounding in his chest, the feeling of being in the spotlight still gnawing at him.
He pulled out his phone one last time as he exited the building and walked toward the campus café, hoping that Daisy would finally answer him. The message was short, straightforward, and to the point.
Ferdinand:"Can we meet for breakfast? Usual place."
This time, he didn't wait for a reply. He shoved his phone into his pocket and made his way across campus, his thoughts racing with possibilities. What could have caused this sudden attention? Did something happen over the weekend? Or was it something he wasn't aware of yet?
As he crossed the yard, he couldn't help but feel like the entire world was watching him. Girls whispered to each other as he walked by, and even the guys seemed to give him knowing looks. Whatever this was, it was bigger than he had anticipated, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
But for now, all he could do was wait until he met Daisy. Maybe she had some answers.