Chapter 1: The First Glance That Changed Everything
Riverdale University — a prestigious engineering institute where children of influential families from all over the country came to study. But among them were also students from humble, middle-class backgrounds who couldn't afford the heavy fees. For such students, the government provided scholarships.
Ethan was one such student, who earned his place through a scholarship. Every morning, he took the same bus to the university. A few stops ahead, a girl would get on — her name was Lyla. She was also a student at Riverdale.
It was Ethan's first day at college, and an induction program had been organized for the freshers. The moment he saw Lyla for the first time, something inside him shifted. It was the first time in his life he felt drawn to a girl.
Ethan had never felt this way before. From grades 1 to 10, he had studied in an all-boys school and had hardly interacted with girls. Even during his 11th and 12th grades, he was so focused on his studies that he never gave much thought to relationships. He believed that distractions like love could harm his academic goals.
But Lyla was different. She wasn't from a wealthy background either. She had dreams — she wanted to achieve something big for her family. That made Ethan admire her even more. Still, he chose to hide his feelings and focused on his studies.
As weeks passed, extra classes for Chemistry were introduced for freshmen. The subject was tough, and many students struggled with it. Ethan joined the class, and to his surprise — so did Lyla. That day became unforgettable for Ethan.
Lyla was kind, cheerful, and always helping others — perhaps that's what made Ethan fall for her even more. She sat on the front bench with her friends, while Ethan sat near the back with his friend Jason.
While the professor was teaching, Jason nudged Ethan and whispered, "Hey... she's looking at you." Ethan looked up — and there she was, Lyla, smiling at him. He smiled back, unsure of what this feeling was that suddenly took over him.
Her smile stayed with him for days, appearing in his thoughts over and over. Eventually, he told his friends about it. They teased him a bit, but they knew — Ethan had fallen in love.
He never told them her name, except for Jason, who was his closest friend. He was afraid people would mock him if they knew.
After the second semester ended, Jason finally said, "It's now or never, man. Just tell her."
And Ethan did. He confessed his feelings to Lyla.
But... did Lyla feel the same?
Did she see Ethan as more than a friend?
Or was it all just a cruel joke played on his heart?