I never thought that one simple day could change everything.
The sun was just peeking through the windows of the classroom, casting long shadows across the desks. I was hunched over my notebook, scribbling the last notes from yesterday's endless homework, when suddenly… he walked in.
The room seemed to pause. Every chatter stopped mid-word, every eye turned toward him. And yet, it wasn't just his presence that made my heart race. It was the way he looked — calm, confident, and yet… strangely distant, like he didn't belong anywhere but here.
"Who's that?" my best friend, Amara, whispered, nudging me with her elbow.
"I… I don't know," I whispered back, trying to keep my focus on my notebook. But no matter how hard I tried, my eyes kept sneaking back to him.
He stopped in front of the classroom, scanning the students with those piercing eyes. My stomach twisted in a way I didn't expect.
And then… our eyes met.
I froze.
Something inside me fluttered, strange and unfamiliar. A mix of curiosity, fear, and something else I couldn't name. My pen trembled in my hand.
He gave a faint smile — just enough to make my heart skip a beat — and turned to the teacher as if nothing had happened.
"New transfer student," the teacher announced casually, "Class, this is Adrian Cole. Please make him feel welcome."
Adrian Cole. The name sounded like it belonged in a movie, not a high school classroom. And somehow, it felt like he belonged far away from here, in a world I could only imagine.
Whispers spread around the room like wildfire. "Wow, he's handsome." "Where's he from?" "He looks so mysterious."
I tried to shrink into my seat, hoping no one would notice my cheeks burning. But Adrian… he was different. There was something about him that demanded attention — not arrogance, just… presence.
Amara leaned closer. "Angel… you're staring."
"I'm not!" I hissed, flipping my notebook over as if that would hide my betrayal.
"You are," she said, smirking. "It's written all over your face."
I glared at her, but she just laughed. "Relax. He's just a guy."
Just a guy? My heart disagreed.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class. I tried to focus on the teacher's lesson, but every word blurred together. My thoughts kept drifting back to him — the way his dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, the confident tilt of his shoulders, the intensity in his eyes.
By the time the lesson ended, I felt like I'd been caught in a whirlwind. I gathered my books slowly, hoping I could escape before he noticed me again. But as I turned to leave, Adrian's voice stopped me.
"Hey… you're in my class, right?"
My heart skipped. I turned, meeting his gaze. It was calm, but there was a hint of curiosity there.
"I… yes," I stammered, clutching my bag a little too tightly.
"I'm Adrian. Can we walk to the cafeteria together? Just to… get to know each other?"
My mind froze. Me? Get to know him? My stomach fluttered uncontrollably.
"Uh… sure," I managed to say, trying to sound casual.
As we walked, the hallways seemed unusually quiet. I couldn't stop stealing glances at him, and he seemed completely at ease, almost like he knew exactly what effect he had on everyone around him.
"So, where are you from?" I asked, trying to make conversation. My voice sounded smaller than I intended.
"Just moved here from another city," he said with a smile. "It's… different here, but I like it."
I nodded, unsure what to say next. Why did it feel like every word I said mattered more than usual?
We reached the cafeteria, and the chatter around us seemed distant, almost irrelevant. For the first time that day, I felt… noticed. Not just as a student, not just as another face in the crowd, but like someone who mattered.
He grabbed a tray and looked at me. "What are you having?"
"Uh… just some fries," I replied, trying to hide my nervousness.
He laughed lightly. "Simple. I like that."
And just like that, something shifted. It was as if the world had made a subtle adjustment, putting him and me in the same orbit.
By the time we finished eating, I realized something terrifying and exhilarating at the same time: my life had just changed, and I had no idea what was coming next.
And somehow, deep down, I felt that this encounter was only the beginning.
Because Adrian Cole… was not someone I was supposed to notice.
And yet, I couldn't stop thinking about him.