Tara was a new joiner --- shy, introverted, and not the kind of girl who liked attention. "She'd prefer silence over the spotlight."
she wandered through the long corridor, eyes scanning the room numbers that all looked the same.
Her palms were slightly sweaty.
Room 214… 214… why does this place feel like a maze?
Feeling unsure, she finally gathered the courage to ask someone. A guy was standing nearby, talking to a girl and his back was facing her.
Tara couldn't see his face, but something about him made her hesitate to ask. Just ask. It's just directions. She lightly tapped his shoulder. He turned around.
And in that moment, Tara froze.
He had kind charming eyes, perfect lips, a muscular build body and his hair? It was long and soft, the kind you just wanted to run your fingers through. And his overall vibe was a mix of calm and charisma. The definition of a cute handsome guy. The kind you'd probably find in movies... or maybe a dream.
She just stood there, completely lost in his gaze, unable to speak a single word.
say something... say anything...
Why am I staring like a statue?!
He gave her a puzzled look, then turned back to his conversation without a word.
TARA MENTALLY SCREAMED.
Ughhh! Now it'll be super awkward to even ask him for directions. I looked like a total fool!.
Trying to escape the moment, she turned away -- only to bump into another girl. "I—sorry," Tara murmured, then quickly added, "Hey, do you know where this room is? "She showed her timetable, trying to distract herself from the embarrassment. The girl smiled. "Yeah, I'm going there too. "I'm Maya, by the way."
"T-Tara," she replied softly. Maya was different. A rebel kind of girl—sharp eyes, confident walk, the type who didn't talk to anyone unless she wanted to. But Tara's quiet energy balanced her out. Just like that, the day flipped --- from a face she could not forget to a friend she never excepted.
Days passed.
One morning, as Tara and Maya entered the campus gate together, Lav—the guy from the corridor—passed right by them.
Tara froze mid-step.
Again.
Tara's eyes followed him without her permission.
Maya nudged her playfully, "You're staring again."
"I'm not," Tara denied immediately, shaking her head a little too fast. "I have zero interest in him."
Maya only hummed, clearly unconvinced.
Tara's heart, however, had other plans.
No matter how hard she tried to distract herself—focusing on lectures, notes, or even Maya's endless commentary—her thoughts always drifted back to him. Lav. His calm walk, the way he talked to people, the effortless confidence he carried. She found him attractive—too attractive. And before she could stop herself, dangerous thoughts began creeping into her mind.
What if I tell him?
The idea scared her… yet thrilled her.
At home, when no one was around, she practiced. Standing in front of her mirror. Then giving up and using a pillow instead, holding it awkwardly.
"Hi… I like you," she whispered, then cringed." No, no. That sounds stupid."
She buried her face into the pillow, her cheeks burning even though no one was watching. Confessing felt impossible. So instead, she chose the quietest way she knew.
Food.
Every day, she cooked lunch for him. She woke up earlier, arranged the food neatly, making sure everything was warm and perfect. She packed lunch and left it near his bag without a word under a tree during lunch breaks. Once she walked away, the box was completely empty, she thought he'd pick it up silently, pretending like he accepted it willingly -- maybe because he didn't want to hurt her.
But reality was different.
The lunchbox was untouched by Lav.