Chapter 1: Clueless
The sun was kind, not harsh—its rays casting a gentle glow on the university campus. At exactly 10:00 a.m., the atmosphere was unusually still. Only a few students shuffled between classes. The department lobby, usually alive with laughter and footsteps, now felt like a ghost town. Three girls sat quietly, eyes glued to their phones, fingers dancing across the screens like pianists lost in a private concert.
Then he appeared.
A young man in crisp designer jeans, a blinding white T-shirt, and a sharp blue fez cap stepped into the lobby like a model strutting onto a silent runway. He wasn't carrying books—just his phone, which he tapped halfheartedly. But his attention wasn't on the screen. His mind was locked somewhere else... or rather, someone else.
His eyes landed on one of the girls.
Something about her—maybe the way she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, or the slight curve of her smile as she scrolled—froze him. The world around him blurred. All he could see was her. Thoughts stormed his mind. Should he go over? Say something? Make a move?
Just as he built the courage to walk over, fate punched him in the gut.
Another guy slid in—confident, relaxed, and already chatting her up. The girl's laugh pierced the air. Not forced. Not polite. Real. Joyous.
Henry's heart sank.
"Too slow," he thought bitterly. "The bold get the girl."
He watched them disappear down the hallway like a scene from a movie he didn't audition for. A bitter taste formed in his mouth. For a fleeting second, he considered trailing them. Maybe he could catch her alone. But the idea felt desperate. Pathetic.
He shook it off.
His eyes scanned the remaining two girls, still lost in their digital worlds. Another student entered—this one carrying two notepads, focused and indifferent. He sat close to the girls but didn't get so much as a glance. He didn't seem to care.
Moments later, a fourth guy arrived. He walked straight to one of the girls, exchanged a few words, and the two vanished together.
Henry felt like he was watching the world move on without him.
Then came a spark—his classmate strolled past, heading to class. Henry shot up and chased after him.
When he returned, only one girl remained. Her face was still lit by her screen. This was his moment. No more waiting. No more overthinking.
He stepped forward.
"Hi, Jane. How are you?"
She looked up, startled. Her eyes narrowed.
"Do I know you?"
"No."
"Then how do you know my name?"
"I heard a friend of yours call you yesterday. Right here."
"Oh." She paused, then returned to her phone. "So... what do you want?"
"I'm Henry. Law student."
She nodded. "Nice to meet you."
But she wasn't really listening. She never looked up. He was just noise. Still, he pushed through. He asked for her number. Surprisingly, she gave it. Then she got up and left.
Henry stood alone, number in hand—but unsure what it meant.
The lobby soon came alive with students lounging, laughing, doing nothing in particular. But Henry's mind was elsewhere. Jane. Her voice. Her face. Her silence. He forced himself into class, but every minute dragged like an hour.
As soon as the lecture ended, he bolted.
Back to the lobby.
No Jane.
He searched like a detective on a case, scanning every corner. Nothing. Then it hit him—he had her number. He called. Line busy.
Cursing under his breath, he stood frozen in place, not knowing what to do.
Then, fate answered.
There she was—walking past with two guys. Talking. Smiling.
He stepped forward quickly, heart racing.
"Jane , Jane !" calling romantically
She turned, her face lighting up in recognition. She smiled.
But one of the guys didn't. His eyes narrowed. He stepped in, possessively wrapping an arm around her shoulder, trying to pull her away.
Something inside Henry snapped.
"Hey!" Henry growled. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
The other guy stepped forward, sneering. "What are you, a wild animal? Roaring like a lion?"
Henry's vision turned red.
The slap cracked like lightning.
The guy staggered, then launched back with his own blow. Chaos erupted. Students swarmed in from all directions, shouting, grabbing, pulling them apart.
And through it all, Jane stood between them—silent, stunned, unreadable.