Chapter 3
664 Words
Elinya
The dorm room was quieter at night.
Outside, snow brushed softly against the window, the city lights blurring into distant stars. Isabella sat cross-legged on her bed, scrolling through her phone, while I unpacked the last of my books, carefully lining them up on the desk like familiar friends.
“So,” she said casually, not looking up, “Russia. First day impressions?”
I smiled faintly. “Cold. Beautiful. Overwhelming.”
She laughed softly. “That sounds about right.”
I hesitated, then added, “And… interesting people.”
Her eyes flicked up immediately, sharp and knowing.
“Igor.”
Heat rose to my face again. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only because everyone reacts the same way,” she replied gently. “Don’t worry. You’re human.”
I sat down on my bed, hugging a pillow to my chest. “He just… has a presence.”
“He does,” Isabella agreed. Then her tone softened. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, Elinya.”
I looked at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice.
“I will,” I said, meaning it.
She smiled, satisfied, and the conversation drifted to lighter things—classes, professors, how lost we both felt navigating the campus. Laughter came easily, and for the first time since arriving, I didn’t feel alone.
When the lights finally went off, I lay awake longer than I expected.
My thoughts betrayed me, drifting back to dark eyes, effortless smiles, and the way my heart had reacted without permission.
It’s just a crush, I told myself.
Nothing more.
Eventually, sleep found me.
The next morning arrived faster than I wanted it to.
The campus buzzed with renewed energy as students hurried to their lectures, breath visible in the cold air. Isabella and I walked side by side toward the medical wing, our steps syncing naturally.
“I’ll see you after classes,” she said, squeezing my arm before turning toward her building.
I nodded and continued alone.
That’s when I heard my name.
“Elinya.”
I turned.
Igor stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, expression relaxed—too relaxed. Up close, he was even more striking. His eyes held a quiet confidence, like he was used to being noticed.
“Yes?” I replied, hoping my voice didn’t betray me.
“You’re new,” he said, more like a statement than a question. “India, right?”
I blinked. “Yes.”
He smiled. “I thought so. I’m Igor.”
“I know,” I admitted before I could stop myself.
His smile widened, amused. “Of course you do.”
Embarrassment crept in, but he didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he fell into step beside me as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Orthopaedics?” he asked, glancing at the book in my hand.
“Yes. You?”
“Business.” He shrugged lightly. “Not as noble as healing people, I guess.”
“That doesn’t make it less important,” I said automatically.
He looked at me then—really looked at me—and something unreadable crossed his eyes.
“You’re different,” he said softly.
I frowned. “Different how?”
“Most people don’t talk like that.”
The compliment settled somewhere warm and dangerous in my chest.
From that moment on, Igor seemed to appear everywhere.
Outside lecture halls. In the cafeteria. Along the snow-lined paths between buildings. Always polite. Always charming. Never crossing a line—yet always just close enough to make my heart beat faster than it should.
I told myself it meant nothing.
But as days passed, I found myself looking for him in crowds without realizing it.
And somewhere deep inside, a quiet voice—one that sounded suspiciously like Isabella’s—whispered a warning I wasn’t yet ready to hear.
Some people don’t chase you.
They wait for you to walk into them.
- Writer
