Dave didn't notice when Sophia became part of his daily life.
It just… happened.
At first, it was only in class. Sitting together, sharing small jokes, complaining about lectures. But slowly, it went beyond that.
They started walking together after class.
"Where are you heading?" she asked one afternoon as they packed their bags.
"Hostel," Dave replied.
"Same," she said. "Let's go."
And just like that, it became a thing.
Days turned into weeks.
Dave found himself looking for her without realizing it. If she wasn't in class yet, he'd check the door more than usual. If she came in late, he'd feel… relieved.
It confused him a little.
He wasn't used to caring like that.
One day, she didn't come at all.
Dave sat through the lecture, staring at the empty seat beside him. It felt strange. Too quiet.
After class, he checked his phone.
Nothing.
He hesitated for a few seconds before finally texting.
"You didn't come today."
He stared at the message for a while before locking his phone.
A minute later, it buzzed.
"Yeah, I wasn't feeling well. I'm fine though."
Dave let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Okay. Get better."
He paused, then added:
"Class was boring without you."
He almost regretted sending that.
But then she replied.
"Aww, you missed me?"
Dave stared at the screen, thinking.
"Maybe."
Her reply came quickly.
"Liar 😂"
He smiled.
The next day, she was back.
"Wow, you actually showed up," Dave said as she sat down.
"Wow, you actually care," she replied, smiling.
He shook his head slightly. "I just didn't want to suffer alone in this class."
"Sure," she said, not believing him.
But she didn't push it.
Later that evening, they were at a small spot near campus (a place Sophia liked).
"You come here often?" Dave asked.
"Yeah," she said. "It's peaceful."
They sat quietly for a moment.
Then she spoke again.
"So… why are you always so quiet?"
Dave looked at her. "I'm not always quiet."
"You are," she said. "At least with other people."
He didn't answer immediately.
"I just don't talk unless I have something to say," he finally said.
Sophia nodded slowly. "That's fair."
Then she smiled.
"But you talk to me."
Dave looked away. "You talk a lot."
She laughed. "So I forced you?"
"Something like that."
They both smiled.
As time went on, Dave started to notice more things about her.
The way she played with her pen when she was bored.
The way she frowned slightly when she was thinking.
The way she always tried to make conversations feel light, even when she was tired.
And somehow… he started to understand her moods without her saying anything.
"You're quiet today," he said one afternoon
She looked at him, surprised. "Am I?"
"Yeah."
She smiled a little. "I'm just tired."
He nodded. He didn't ask more.
But he stayed.
And that seemed enough.
One evening, as they were about to leave, Sophia's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen and picked up quickly.
"Hey," she said, her tone changing slightly.
Dave noticed.
He didn't mean to listen, but he couldn't help it.
"Yeah, I'm still on campus… No, I'm with a friend… Okay."
She ended the call and looked at Dave.
"I have to go," she said.
"Alright," he replied.
She hesitated for a second, then smiled.
"See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
She waved and walked off.
Dave watched her leave.
He didn't think much of it.
At least, not yet.
That night, as he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, something felt different.
Not bad.
Just… different.
For the first time in a long while, his days didn't feel the same anymore.
They felt lighter.
And somehow, without even realizing it
Sophia had become part of that.