I dragged Nina with me as my life depended on it.
"Hey, girlie—stop dragging me!" she protested. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Ha—ha—no, I'm not," I said, forcing an awkward laugh that probably convinced no one.
Nina narrowed her eyes. "Eerika… you weren't wearing any earrings today. So how exactly did you lose one?"
My soul froze.
"What? I didn't?" I blinked. "See, nonstop reading is making me crazy. I think I need rest."
Nina stared at my face for a solid three seconds.
"Yeah, girl. You do seem crazy."
"Are you serious? Look at my face."
She burst out laughing. "Relax, I'm joking. But seriously, you need rest. Let's go home."
For the next few days, I drowned myself in studies again. Assignments, deadlines, zero romance. I almost forgot about him.
Almost.
Then came the university festival.
The entire campus was buzzing—music, lights, students from every major. Of course, Nina and I went too. And of course… he was there.
Brian—one of my male best friends and a professional social-media stalker—was also there. He literally knows everyone on campus. According to him, Nina and I were a "boring duo with zero spice."
And honestly?
He wasn't wrong.
But I didn't want normal spice.
I wanted the kind of spice that ruins lives.
Brian kept introducing us to guys—different majors, different vibes. Poor Nina: the guys she likes don't like her back, and the guys who like her… she doesn't like them back. Tragic. Meanwhile, none of them caught my attention.
Maybe my eyes were already stuck on that guy.
While I was talking to Nina, Brian suddenly appeared with a group of science majors. Then he called my name.
"Eerika!"
I turned.
And my eyes locked onto him.
Tall. Fair-skinned. Shiny hair. Clean, perfect, unreal.
It was him. Again.
My brain went blank.
Is this a coincidence?
Or is destiny playing games with me?
"Eerika? EERIKA?" Nina hissed.
She pinched me.
"Ow! Yeah—yeah—what? Did I miss something?"
Nina looked at me like she was tired of my existence.
"Something? Girl, you missed everything."
"Where is the guy?" I whispered urgently.
"What guy?" she snapped.
"The tall freaking handsome guy Brian brought!"
Nina blinked. "Girl, what on earth are you living in?"
"Why? What did I do?" I asked, already afraid of the answer.
"They came. Brian introduced everyone. And you?" She pointed at me. "You stood there like a doll. Silent. Staring. With the strangest expression on your face."
My heart dropped.
"They almost thought you were a creep."
Hell nooooooooooooo.
What did I DO to deserve this level of embarrassment?
Why do I keep humiliating myself like this?!
And somewhere in the crowd, I swear—I felt a gaze on me.
Amused. Curious. Dangerous.
This festival wasn't here to save me.
It was here to expose me.