CHAPTER 2: Something That Shouldn’t Matter
1082 Words
Amara told herself it didn’t matter.
She repeated it in her head like it was something she could force herself to believe.
It doesn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter.
But the more she said it, the less true it felt.
Because if it really didn’t matter—
Then why was she still thinking about it?
“Are you even listening to me?”
Amara blinked, snapping out of her thoughts as she turned to her friend sitting across from her in the lecture hall.
“Yeah,” she said quickly. “You said… something about the assignment.”
Her friend narrowed her eyes slightly. “You didn’t hear a word I said.”
Amara exhaled softly. “I’m just tired.”
That was easier than explaining the truth.
That her mind had been stuck on one moment.
One conversation.
One look.
Kian.
Again.
“You’ve been acting weird since yesterday,” her friend said. “Did something happen?”
Amara hesitated.
What was she supposed to say?
That her best friend suddenly felt different?
That the way he looked at her made her overthink everything?
That she didn’t know how to act around him anymore?
“No,” she said finally. “Nothing happened.”
That wasn’t entirely true.
Something had happened.
She just didn’t know how to name it yet.
Later that afternoon, the campus felt warmer than usual.
Or maybe it was just her.
Amara walked slowly along the path, her bag hanging loosely from her shoulder as she tried to clear her head.
She needed a distraction.
Something normal.
Something that didn’t involve—
“There you are.”
She stopped.
Of course.
Kian.
Leaning casually against a low wall like he had been waiting for her.
Like he knew exactly where she would be.
“Were you looking for me?” she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Kian shrugged. “Maybe.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s enough of one.”
Amara shook her head slightly, but she could feel it again—that strange awareness settling in her chest.
“Why?”
He pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer.
“Because you disappeared after class.”
“I didn’t disappear. I left.”
“Same thing.”
“No, it’s not.”
Kian studied her for a second, like he was trying to read something she wasn’t saying out loud.
“You’re still acting weird,” he said.
Amara sighed softly. “Can you stop saying that?”
“Then stop being weird.”
“I’m not—”
“Amara.”
The way he said her name again—
Soft. Firm. Intent.
It made her pause.
“I’m fine,” she said more quietly this time.
Kian didn’t look convinced.
But before he could say anything else—
“Hey, Kian.”
Amara turned slightly.
It was the same girl from earlier.
The one from yesterday.
The one who had smiled at him like she knew him.
Like she had a reason to.
“I was looking for you,” the girl said, stepping closer.
Kian straightened slightly. “Yeah?”
“You didn’t text me back,” she said, her tone light but pointed.
Amara’s chest tightened.
Just a little.
Barely noticeable.
But enough.
“I forgot,” Kian replied easily.
“You always forget,” she teased. “So are you coming tonight or not?”
He hesitated for a second.
Just a second.
But Amara noticed.
Of course she did.
“I might,” he said.
The girl smiled. “You better. I’ll save you a spot.”
Then her eyes flicked briefly toward Amara.
A quick glance.
Assessing.
Before she turned and walked away again.
Silence followed.
And suddenly, everything felt… off.
Amara adjusted the strap on her bag, her fingers moving slightly faster than usual.
“You’re popular,” she said, her voice calm.
Too calm.
Kian glanced at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” she shrugged. “People are always looking for you.”
“That’s not new.”
“I didn’t say it was.”
Another pause.
Short.
Tense.
“You don’t like her,” Kian said suddenly.
Amara blinked. “What?”
“You don’t like her.”
“That’s not true.”
“You just met her.”
“Exactly,” Amara said quickly. “So why would I care?”
Kian tilted his head slightly, watching her.
Too closely.
“Yeah,” he said slowly. “Why would you?”
Her chest tightened again.
This time, she couldn’t ignore it.
“I don’t,” she insisted.
Kian didn’t respond immediately.
And somehow, that felt worse than if he had argued.
“Okay,” he said finally.
But the way he said it—
He didn’t believe her.
And that made something twist uncomfortably inside her.
“I have to go,” Amara said suddenly.
Kian frowned. “Already?”
“I have things to do.”
“You always have things to do.”
“And you always don’t,” she shot back lightly.
But her voice didn’t sound as steady as she wanted it to.
She turned before he could respond, starting to walk away.
“Amara.”
She stopped.
Of course she did.
She always did when he called her like that.
“What?” she asked, without turning around.
There was a brief pause behind her.
Then—
“You know you can’t avoid me, right?”
Her grip tightened slightly around her bag.
“I’m not avoiding you.”
“Feels like you are.”
She turned then, meeting his eyes.
“I’m not,” she said.
And for a moment, she almost believed it.
Kian watched her for a second longer, like he was deciding whether to push it further.
But then he didn’t.
“Fine,” he said.
Amara nodded once.
Then she walked away.
But even as she did—
Her mind stayed behind.
With him.
With that girl.
With the way something inside her had shifted the moment she saw them talking.
And the worst part?
She didn’t understand why.
Because it shouldn’t matter.
It really shouldn’t.
He was her best friend.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
So why did it feel like something was slipping out of her control?
And why—
For the first time—
Did the idea of someone else being close to him…
Not sit right with her at all?
- Writer
