(Elif's Narration)
As the crowd slowly dispersed, I felt as if his presence were still with me. My steps quickened, but I couldn't escape; it was as if an invisible pull were holding me in place. My breathing became erratic, but a single thought still echoed in my head: "Why can't I take my eyes off him?"
The voices within me still clashed. One side of me was shouting: "Run! He's dangerous!" But the other side whispered: "Careful... try to understand... maybe there's something important." This second voice was the voice of involuntary curiosity. It made sense to run, but my mind realized it was trapped in an unsolved riddle about him.
Eren's gaze... was still before my eyes. It carried a dangerous weight, an authority, and at the same time, an inexplicable curiosity. I couldn't figure him out, but somehow I felt compelled to try. My hands were clenched, my palms sweating. My heart was pounding, my breathing quickened.
Memories from my past clashed. I'd learned to avoid dangerous people in my childhood, and the bullying I faced at school had always kept me on guard. But Eren was a being unlike any of that past. Dangerous, uncontrollable, and… captivating.
I wanted to run away, but an involuntary state of alertness and vigilance had built up within me. I noticed his every step, measured his every move. It was as if we were in a game, but neither of us knew the rules yet.
The words "Don't run away from me" still rang in my ears. A simple command, but behind it lay a weight; a boundary, yet an invitation. I felt both fear and curiosity. I felt I couldn't move on without figuring him out. I wasn't yet attached to him, not yet in love; his presence had simply pushed the boundaries of my world, shaking the safe distances within me.
As I quickened my pace and turned the street corner, I realized his gaze was still following me. This thought, while slightly increasing my fear, also fueled my curiosity. A realization dawned on me: This encounter couldn't be a coincidence. I would see him again, or I would be drawn involuntarily into his world.
The night streets had darkened, the city lights dimmed. But the tension and curiosity within me were as vivid as the brightest light. Should I flee, or should I watch more closely? I couldn't decide yet. But all I knew was that this man's presence had left a mark on my life, and that mark was impossible to erase.
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