The weather was gorgeous the next morning. The sky was clear and blue; the sun was shining warmly on Sarah's face. Sarah walked around the campus buildings and smelled the fragrance of blooming flowers in the gardens. When she stepped into the library, she was greeted by the smell of old books and the quiet hum of people studying. The space was huge. The bookshelves reached the ceiling, and windows let in beams of sunlight. For the first time that day, Sarah felt calm and at home.
As she wandered through the aisles, trailing her fingers along the spines of books, she finally found the novel she had been searching for. Just as she pulled it from the shelf, a voice sounded somewhere.
"Hey, Sarah! Happy to meet you here. Do you still remember me?" the voice was filled with surprise and amusement.
Startled, Sarah turned to see Michael standing beside her, with a playful grin.
"Hi, of course, I remember you. You are Michael Smith. I did not expect to run into you here." She said jokingly, emphasizing his full name.
Michael laughed softly, and his hands casually tucked into his pockets. "Well, I forgot to tell you I am a bookworm last time when we met on the train. The library is a magical place that mysteriously draws me in. You too, I guess?"
Sarah smiled, glancing around the library. "Yeah, I plan to make the library my second home already. I love these books so much that I want to spend hours here."
Michael's eyes sparkled with interest as he glanced at the book in her hands. "Oh, you got to that novel first," he said with mock disappointment. "I was hoping to pick that up today."
Sarah chuckled. "Sorry about that! It is so unfortunate that I get the last one. I will try to finish reading it soon. You can check back next week."
Michael grinned, shaking his head. "Ah, I am a bit too impatient for that. How about you give me a heads-up when you are ready to return the book? I can get it first before anyone else does."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, feeling surprised by his eagerness. "Sure, I can do that. Do you mind leaving your phone number?"
Michael's grin widened, clearly pleased. "Definitely," he quickly rattled off his phone number. "And I cannot believe we had not exchanged phone numbers earlier, on the train. I guess it is destiny for us to have a second chance."
Sarah laughed, and the tension eased between them. "Yeah, seems like it."
As Michael tucked his phone back into his pocket, he glanced at the book again. "So, are you a super fan of writer Ann's books?" he asked, leaning casually against the nearest bookshelf.
"That's for sure," Sarah replied, the conversation taking a more comfortable turn. "I have read every book she has written. Her way of weaving emotions into the story is just… I do not know, it is special. It quickly draws the readers in."
Michael nodded with a thoughtful expression. "Exactly. It is like you are living among the characters. Everything feels so real. It has been a while since I found someone who appreciates that as much as I do."
Sarah's smile widened. "Same here. It is rare to find someone who loves reading as much as I do. Most people I know are into movies or social media, but books… they find reading is boring."
"Absolutely," Michael agreed, and his voice became softer as he spoke. "It is like, with movies, you are a passive observer. But with a book? You are right there, experiencing it all firsthand. I always get lost in the world the author creates and cannot help but digest every word. It is like a temporary escape from the reality of the present world."
Sarah nodded, feeling a growing sense of connection. "I know what you mean. Sometimes, I get so caught up in a story that I forget where I am. It is one of the best feelings."
Michael glanced at her with a warm smile, his gaze lingering a moment longer than expected. "You know, we should talk about it once we are done with this book. We could meet up again here?"
Sarah blinked, surprised by the idea but not opposed to it. "Yeah, that sounds nice," she replied, a shy smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Great," Michael said, his enthusiasm became clearer. "I'm looking forward to it."
They shared a few more casual remarks about their classes and college life before parting ways. As Sarah left the library, clutching the novel in her hands, she replayed their conversation in her head. It was rare to connect with someone so effortlessly, especially over something as personal as books.
Later that evening, as she sat in her room, Sarah found herself smiling. It was not just the book she had borrowed that excited her. It was the unexpected encounter with Michael and the potential of a new friendship. Just maybe, this was the beginning of something special. Whether it was a friendship or something more, only time would tell. For now, she was content to let it unfold naturally.
As she saved Michael's number in her phone, she felt a quiet sense of anticipation. The library, which had always been her sanctuary, now held a new kind of promise—one filled with possibilities she had not even begun to imagine.
On the other hand, Michael could not shake thoughts of the girl he had met on the train and again in the library. Seriously, what was it about her? There was this charm—her quiet beauty, tall and slender frame, and those long, waterfall-like hair cascading over her shoulders. What type a girl was she? At first sight, she seemed shy, but once the conversation turned to topics that intrigued her, such as books, she lit up like a firework. Her eyes sparkled, and her voice practically buzzed with excitement.
After they parted, he started to hope they would encounter each other again on campus. "Why am I so eager to know more about her?" he asked himself, feeling an unexpected pull toward her. He was wondering, "What is she up to now? What is her daily life like?" There was something almost magical about her that he just could not resist.
In the next few days, Michael made daily trips to the library, scanning the aisles and tables, hoping to spot Sarah. But each time, she did not show up. With every day that passed, he felt a little more deflated. How had he not thought to ask for her phone number? Now all he could do was wait, and the silence from his phone was like a ticking clock—each moment stretched the anticipation thin.
By the fifth day, restlessness hit him harder. He strolled through the small woods in front of his dormitory, kicking leaves around as he tried to shake off the disappointment. Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket, which made his heart race.