As I stepped into the university courtyard, the warm sunlight and lively chatter enveloped me, momentarily distracting me from my thoughts.
That's when I saw her – Thando, with her bright, captivating smile and piercing dark eyes that seemed to hold a thousand secrets. My heart skipped as we locked eyes, and I felt an inexplicable jolt of nervousness.
As I gazed at her, Thando's warm smile caught my attention, and I felt my face grow hot. Her dark eyes sparkled as she greeted me, and I was momentarily lost in their depths.
The sounds around me faded into the background, and all I could focus on was the gentle cadence of her voice. For a moment, I forgot about the presence of my friends, the bustling surroundings, and the weight of my own insecurities. It was just Thando and me, suspended in a fleeting moment of connection.
As I struggled to compose myself, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was drowning in the depths of her eyes. My voice cracked as I responded, and I forced a smile to hide my true emotions.
As I reflect on that moment, I'm still unsure what happened. Was I really crushing on her, or was it just a fleeting infatuation? The uncertainty still lingers, and I'm left wondering what the future holds.
But what I didn't know then was that Thando had a darker side, one that would leave me heartbroken. And the events that followed would change my view of her, my friends, and myself forever.