The days after I met Aiden felt like a strange mix of exhilaration and anxiety. The simple act of introducing myself—saying my name to him, seeing his smile in response—had ignited something in me. I couldn't stop replaying our brief conversation in my mind. It felt like I had uncovered a small piece of a puzzle that, until now, had only existed in my dreams. But what did it mean? Was it just a moment of politeness for him, or was there something more?
I couldn't help but wonder. I told myself it was nothing, just a passing exchange that didn't mean anything significant. But the way his eyes had looked at me, the way he had smiled—there was something in it. Something that stayed with me, pulling me back to the moment over and over.
For the next few days, I found myself drifting through campus, searching for any signs of Aiden. I kept my eyes peeled for him in the student center, in the library, even near the cafes. But I couldn't find him. It was as if he had disappeared, slipping between the cracks of my reality, and I was left with nothing but the memory of his gaze.
It wasn't until Friday afternoon that I saw him again.
I was sitting in the library, trying to focus on my readings for an upcoming exam, but all I could think about was Aiden. Every time I turned a page, my thoughts would drift back to him. I kept picturing his eyes, the way they had lingered on mine when we first met. That moment had stayed with me like a secret I couldn't quite understand.
Then, just as I was trying to focus, I heard a voice.
"Emilia?"
I looked up, my heart skipping a beat as I saw Aiden standing a few feet away. He was holding a book in his hand, looking as calm and composed as ever. My mind immediately went blank, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say.
"Hey," I managed to say, trying to sound casual but feeling the heat rising in my cheeks. "What's up?"
"I was just… looking for a place to sit," Aiden said, glancing around. "Is this seat taken?"
I shook my head, motioning to the chair across from me. "No, it's free."
He smiled and sat down. For a brief moment, we both fell into an awkward silence. I couldn't stop staring at him, trying to figure out what had brought him over here. Why was he talking to me? Was it because of our brief conversation the other day, or was this just a coincidence?
Aiden opened his book, but I could sense that he wasn't really reading it. He kept glancing up at me, as if waiting for me to say something.
"So… how's the project going?" I asked, my voice betraying my nervousness. It was the most obvious thing to ask, but it was all I could think of.
"It's going fine," Aiden replied, his voice relaxed. "I've just been trying to get ahead on some of the reading."
I nodded, trying to focus on the conversation. I didn't want to seem too eager, but it was hard not to. Every time he spoke, I felt a flutter in my chest, a quiet excitement that I couldn't explain.
"How about you?" he asked, his eyes meeting mine. "How's everything going with your studies?"
I smiled, trying to hide the fact that I was completely distracted by his presence. "Same. Just trying to stay on top of everything."
We lapsed into another awkward silence. I could hear the low murmur of voices around us, the sound of pages turning, and the faint hum of the air conditioning. But all I could focus on was Aiden, sitting across from me, so close yet so far away. I wanted to say something more, to keep the conversation going, but the words seemed to escape me.
Finally, Aiden broke the silence. "So, um… are you doing anything this weekend?"
I looked up, surprised. Was he asking me to hang out? Or was it just a casual question?
"I'm not sure," I said slowly. "I might be studying for the exam, but I don't have anything planned."
He nodded, as if considering something. "Well, if you're free, I was thinking of going to the student center to work on some stuff. Maybe you could join me?"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Aiden was asking me to spend time with him? I tried to keep my voice steady, but I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
"Sure," I said, trying to sound casual. "I could do that."
Aiden smiled, a small but genuine smile that made my heart skip again. "Great. I'll see you then."
With that, he stood up, gathering his things. I watched him walk away, my mind racing. Had that just happened? Was he really asking me to spend time with him? I couldn't quite believe it. It felt like a dream, one that I wasn't sure I was ready to wake up from.
As I sat there, trying to collect my thoughts, I realized that something had shifted. This wasn't just some passing moment anymore. Aiden wasn't just a boy I had seen once and admired from afar. He was someone who seemed interested in me, someone I wanted to get to know better.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of hope.
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Later that evening, I sat at my desk, staring at my textbooks but unable to focus. I couldn't stop thinking about the invitation Aiden had extended. I had no idea what it meant, but the fact that he wanted to spend time with me made my heart race.
The weekend stretched ahead, full of possibilities, but I also felt an undercurrent of anxiety. What would it be like, spending time with him outside of class? Would we talk easily, or would there be awkward silences? What if he didn't feel the same way I did?
I tried to push these doubts aside. I had to take a chance, to put myself out there. I had already taken the first step by talking to him, by acknowledging the connection we had—however small it was—and I wasn't going to back down now.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. I barely remembered what I had studied, too consumed by the thought of seeing Aiden again. The thought of him became my constant companion, whispering through my thoughts, pulling me in a direction I wasn't entirely sure I was ready for.
But maybe that was the beauty of it—taking a leap into the unknown, trusting that something would catch me. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't a fleeting moment. Maybe it was the beginning of something real.
The weekend could change everything.
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