Lena was late. Again. The hallways of her school were bustling with students, each caught in their own little worlds as they made their way to their next class. Lena's sneakers slapped against the linoleum floor as she rushed through the crowd, her backpack bouncing against her back. She had just finished her workout at the gym, and despite the feeling of pride and strength she had gained from her earlier triumph, the weight of school responsibility quickly pull her back..God I can't for internship to begins.
Her mind was still spinning with the aftereffects of her workout, the rush of endorphins still fresh, but she couldn't shake the anxiety of being late to class. It was a Business lecture, a class she usually enjoyed, but today, it felt like the clock was mocking her with every passing second. She rounded a corner too quickly, her foot catching on the edge of the hallway floor, and before she could even process what was happening, she felt herself tipping forward.
Lena gasped, her arms flailing instinctively as she tried to catch herself. But she was too off balance. She knew she was about to hit the ground hard.
But then, just as quickly as she was falling, strong hands gripped her by the waist, pulling her upright with surprising ease. The sudden halt sent a jolt through her body, and Lena blinked, her heart racing as she steadied herself, her breath shallow from the near fall.
"Easy there," a voice said, low and steady.
Lena slowly lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, there he was. The from the supermarket and from the gym, the one who had smirked at her before, was standing before her once aging. He still wore that same confident, almost cocky expression—one corner of his mouth quirked up, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
Lena blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly, but she quickly gathered herself. "Thanks," she muttered, straightening her posture and pulling away from his grip. She hadn't expected him to be the one to catch her, and she certainly hadn't expected to see him again so soon.
He said nothing, just gave her a slow, knowing look, his smirk deepening. There was something about the way he looked at her—like he was constantly evaluating her, deciding what to make of her. His eyes lingered for a moment longer than necessary before he stepped back, giving her the space to regain her composure.
Lena felt her pulse quicken at the awkward silence. Was he going to say something? Would he mock he? She hated the idea of him of him doing that, But to her surprise, he said nothing. He simply turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing as he disappeared down the hallway.
Lena stood there for a beat longer than she intended, blinking rapidly, feeling her heart still racing from the unexpected encounter. She hadn't expected to see him again, much less have him catch her in such a vulnerable moment. The weirdest part was that he didn't even acknowledge the awkwardness of the situation. He just… left.
What was his deal? Lena shook her head, trying to shake off the lingering unease.
Just as she was about to continue her trek to class, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun around, startled, but then saw a familiar face smiling at her.
"Are you alright?" Claira's voice was full of concern, her wide eyes scanning Lena for any signs of injury. .
"Yeah, I'm fine," Lena replied quickly, brushing off the moment of embarrassment. "Just… a little too fast on my feet today." She gestured vaguely down the hall.
"So who was the man that caught you" asked Claira.
" I don't know him, though I have seen him for two times now, At the supermarket and at the gym " Lena replied
Claira raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "So… you almost fell and got caught by someone? Not just someone either. But the same man you met for two times? " Claira teased, her tone light but with a hint of curiosity.
Lena sighed, feeling her cheeks flush even more. "Yeah, it was him," she confirmed. "He just caught me and, well, didn't say much. It was weird."
Claira chuckled, nudging Lena's arm. "He sounds like a mystery. What's the deal with him? You've run into him a couple of times now."
Lena let out a breath, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear as she processed the oddity of the situation. "I don't know. He's… hard to read. He's always got that smirk, like he's watching everyone and sizing them up. It's like he thinks he knows something I don't, but he's not saying it."
Claira's eyes sparkled with interest. "Hmm. Mysterious guy, huh? Sounds like the type who likes to keep people guessing. Do you think you'll run into him again?"
Lena shook her head. "Honestly? I hope not. I don't have time for whatever game he's playing."
Claira gave a thoughtful hum. "Fair enough. But just know that if you run into him again, I'm here to help you navigate the awkwardness," she said with a wink.
Lena laughed, grateful for her friend's lightheartedness. "Thanks, Claira. I appreciate it."
As they walked toward the lecture hall together, Lena couldn't help but think about the man from the gym. The encounter had left her feeling unsettled, but she pushed the thoughts aside. She didn't need distractions right now. She was on her own journey, working to become the person she wanted to be—not worrying about some guy who seemed to have a habit of showing up at the wrong moments.
The lecture began, and Lena tried her best to focus on the professor's words, but her mind kept drifting back to the man with the smirk. He was like a puzzle she couldn't quite solve. He had an air of arrogance about him, yet there was something about him that intrigued her. Why had he caught her and said nothing? Why did he leave without so much as a word?
By the time the class ended, Lena was eager to get out of the crowded lecture hall. She grabbed her things and headed toward the door, Claira walking beside her, chatting about the next set of assignments for their history class.
Just as she was about to exit, she froze for a second. Across the room, standing by the doors, was the man from earlier—his posture relaxed, but his gaze still sharp. He hadn't noticed her yet, but Lena could feel her heart race. Her immediate instinct was to slip out unnoticed, to avoid the tension she felt when he was around.
But something stopped her. She wasn't that person anymore. She wasn't going to shrink away from an encounter just because it made her uncomfortable. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and walked toward the door.
Just as she reached the threshold, the man turned, his eyes meeting hers. And for the briefest moment, their gazes locked. He didn't smile or give her a cocky look this time. He just looked at her, as if considering her. And then, as if nothing had happened, he walked past her, his presence lingering in the air even after he was gone.
Lena's heart thudded in her chest as she let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
Maybe she wasn't done with this mystery after all.