The weeks bled into months, each one blurring into the next with a monotonous rhythm of lectures and study sessions. The STEM-heavy coursework was a relentless grind, and if it weren't for Lina, Jay probably would have lost his mind from boredom.
They continued to meet, maintaining their strange, undefined relationship. He still didn't have her number. She would always insist on meeting in person, usually at their designated spot in the student union café, a table suspiciously close to where a group of cocky third-year rugby players always seemed to hang out. Many of them would shoot Jay dirty looks, which he'd return with a deliberately smug grin. A fight never broke out, but he enjoyed provoking them, especially when Lina was watching.
One afternoon, while Jay was having lunch with Leo and Finn, Lina appeared at their table. She wasn't alone. With her was a girl who Jay had never seen before.
And she was, to put it mildly, absolutely stunning.
"Mind if we join?" Lina asked, already pulling up a chair.
The new girl was clearly from a different world. She wasn't from their faculty, she had the polished, effortlessly expensive casual look of a London socialite. Her hair was tied up in a perfect messy-chic bun, she wore designer jeans, pristine white trainers, and a flannel shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing just a hint of a delicate necklace. A light, pleasant perfume wafted from her as she sat down.
"I'm Annie," she said, extending a hand directly to Jay, completely ignoring Finn's already outstretched one.
"Jay," he replied, shaking her hand.
"Oi!" Finn protested, looking genuinely offended. "I had my hand out first! Why'd you introduce yourself to this git?"
Jay, Leo, and Lina all burst into laughter at once.
"Sorry," Annie said, turning to Finn with a dazzling smile. "I'm Annie, and you are?"
"I'm Finn!" he said, laughing awkwardly as if he'd just told the funniest joke in the world.
Leo leaned back in his chair. "Don't even bother, mate. You're outmatched with me and Jay here."
"Sod off! You two bastards make me feel ugly just by existing," Finn shot back, though he was laughing with the rest of them. It was the first time he'd actually landed a joke.
Jay noticed that Leo hadn't introduced himself, and Annie hadn't acknowledged him. A strange, silent pact of mutual ignorance.
"So, what brings you two here?" Finn asked, recovering.
"To eat, obviously," Lina said sarcastically. "What else, to wash the dishes?"
"Well, I thought maybe you were looking for this idiot," Finn said, pointing at Jay.
"That, too," Lina admitted. "I saw him heading this way and figured I'd track him down."
Jay leaned forward. "You were looking for me? What's up?"
"My friend here," Lina began, gesturing to Annie, "is looking to meet a new guy. Doesn't have to be a model, just someone who is understanding, funny, and smart. And since everyone at this table is smart, we just needed to find the funny and understanding one. So, Jay, meet Annie."
Jay's brain stalled. What the hell is she doing? Just yesterday, things had been tense, but fine. Now she was trying to set him up with her friend? It was bizarre. Then again, Annie was gorgeous. It wasn't the worst fate in the world. But he immediately checked himself. His target was, and always had been, Lina.
"Annie, why didn't you say hi to Leo?" Jay deflected, trying to regain his footing. "He's a good-looking lad. Not very funny, but still."
"Lina gave me a very… thorough description of you, Jay," Annie said, a playful glint in her eye. "So I already knew who you were. You're not bad, but you're way too skinny."
"It's a fast metabolism," Jay retorted. "So, what exactly did Lina tell you about me?" He had to know.
"Everything," Annie said, taking a sip of her water. "Your general appearance, your habits, even the fact that you've been desperately trying and failing to get her number. It was… incredibly detailed."
Jay was floored. Lina knew him that well? Down to the smallest details? A wave of pride, shock, and confusion washed over him. She acted so aloof, so indifferent, but she had been paying attention the whole time.
"Happy, Jay?" Lina asked suddenly, her voice flat. "Pleased with yourself?"
"It's alright," he said, trying to sound cool and unfazed. "But I'm surprised you pay that much attention."
"You think it's just 'alright'?" she said. "Okay, then. My work here is done. My job as matchmaker is complete."
"Whoa, what are you talking about?" Jay asked, stunned. "Why are you trying to set me up with Annie?"
"Lina told me she had a candidate for me, and that was you," Annie explained calmly.
"You heard her," Lina said, her voice now carrying a sharp, deliberate edge.
"Yeah, but this isn't how it's supposed to work," Jay protested weakly.
Lina and Annie just stared at him before silently returning to their food. Leo and Finn could only offer Jay helpless, wide-eyed looks. The rest of the meal passed in a tense, awkward silence.
Just before they all got up to leave, as Jay was putting his phone back in his pocket, Annie quickly leaned in. She took the phone from his hand, typed something in, and handed it back.
"That's my number. Save it," she whispered.
"Huh? Oh. Right. Will do," Jay mumbled.
Two months passed in a strange new rhythm. Jay found himself texting Annie frequently. Their conversations were easy and fun. But he still made time for Lina, meeting her at the library or walking with her between classes.
One afternoon in the library, he caught her staring at him. He could feel her gaze on him for a solid minute before he finally looked up. He waved a hand in front of her face. Her expression was blank, but her eyes were locked onto his.
"What's up?" he whispered. "Mesmerized by my beauty?"
"I was just looking at you," she said, her voice completely flat. "You're actually quite cute, you know."
"Everyone knows that, Lina," he shot back, a nervous, cocky grin spreading across his face.
THWACK.
She hit him over the head with a thick textbook. It genuinely hurt.
"Ow! What was that for?" he hissed, rubbing his head. "What did I do?"
"Nothing. Just felt like it," she said without a flicker of emotion. "Wanted to see how tough you are."
"Tough? What, are you planning on us working out together? We could go for a swim, if you like?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What's the point of swimming? You only see half of everything. I'd rather see it all."
Jay's mind went blank. What did that even mean? What was wrong with her today? "Huh? Sorry, I'm not following."
"You've wanted my number all this time, right?" she said, changing the subject. Her expression was still unnervingly calm. "I'll give it to you. But you have to come and get it from my room."
Jay's heart leaped. "Seriously? Lina, thank you! Finally!" he exclaimed, his voice a little too loud for the library.
"Yes," was her only reply.
BZZZT. BZZZT.
His phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at the screen. It was Annie.
Annie: You coming over to my halls later?
Jay: Yeah, but can it be this evening? Got a lecture till 5.
Annie: K. Don't forget to bring that thing I ordered. Cya.
Jay: Ok.
"Who was that?" Lina asked instantly.
"Annie," he replied honestly. "She ordered something online and had it delivered to my place since the seller is near me. I'm just dropping it off for her."
"How serious are things between you and her?"
"Not serious at all. We just text. We barely even see each other."
"Oh. Okay," Lina said. That same, flat tone again.
"I'll come to your room tonight, after I'm done with my coursework," Jay said.
"Okay," she replied, a hint of something unreadable in her eyes. "I'll be waiting."
After that, they walked to their next lecture together. It was a module they both opted to take, so the class was a huge, lively mix of students from both their departments. As they walked, Lina's mood shifted completely. She became expressive and animated, laughing and talking freely. They found seats at the back of the lecture hall, and spent half the time discussing the lecture and the other half whispering jokes about how scruffy and unkempt all the engineering seniors looked.