Like in the Movies

Lea Santiago always believed that love stories begin with something magical — a bump on the shoulder, a spilled drink, or maybe even an accidental smile across the room. She grew up watching romantic movies every weekend, imagining herself as the girl who would one day find her own leading man. But life, as she was about to learn, doesn’t always follow a script. It was her first day as a college freshman at Verde University. The air was thick with the sound of chatter, laughter, and hurried footsteps. Lea clutched her notebook close to her chest, her heart racing with both excitement and nerves. Her first subject was Introduction to Literature. The classroom was big, the walls covered with old posters of Shakespeare and classic novels. She took a seat near the window — her favorite spot since high school. Moments later, the door opened. A tall man in his late twenties walked in, carrying a stack of books and wearing a crisp white shirt. The room immediately went quiet. “Good morning, everyone,” he said, his voice calm and deep. “I’m Professor Adrian Cruz. I’ll be your Literature instructor this semester.” Lea’s attention was instantly caught. There was something different about him — confident but not arrogant, gentle yet commanding. His eyes seemed to scan the room, sharp and thoughtful, until they briefly landed on her. For a second, she froze. Did he just… look at me? The class went on smoothly. Professor Cruz discussed poetry, metaphors, and the beauty of emotions in words. Lea couldn’t help but admire his passion for teaching. When he quoted a line from The Great Gatsby, her heart fluttered a little — just like in those romantic movie scenes. At the end of the class, as everyone began to leave, Lea accidentally dropped her pen. When she reached down to pick it up, another hand picked it up first. It was him. “You dropped this,” Professor Cruz said, handing it back with a small smile. “Th–thank you, sir,” she stammered, her cheeks warming. He smiled again, this time longer. “You remind me of someone from one of my favorite stories,” he said softly before walking away. Lea stood frozen for a moment, unsure what he meant. It was just a simple interaction — but somehow, it felt… special. That night, she replayed the moment in her head while scrolling through her list of favorite romance films. She laughed at herself for being too dreamy. “It’s just my professor,” she whispered, smiling. “It’s nothing.” But she didn’t know — for him, it was the beginning of something much deeper.