Neli never expected the new school year to feel different. She'd always enjoyed the company of her friends, her routine, and the quiet rhythm of her days at Matunda High. But today, as she walked through the school gates, something shifted.
There he was. Rana.
He wasn't a stranger. They had always shared fleeting smiles, exchanged the occasional word, but that was it. He was just another face in the crowd. Until today.
Neli's heart skipped when their eyes met across the courtyard. He was standing by the lockers, his back against the wall, flipping through a book. His gaze locked with hers, and for a moment, the noise of the school around them disappeared. Time seemed to slow.
Rana didn't look away. His lips curved into a smile that made Neli's breath catch. She quickly turned her attention back to her friends, pretending she hadn't noticed, but the warmth in her chest refused to fade.
Was it just her, or had something changed between them?
That night, as Neli lay in bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that this year would be different. Something had begun to spark, something she couldn't quite name, but couldn't ignore.