CHAPTER THREE
872 Words
CHAPTER TWO
An Unexpected Collision
Monday, 8:07 A.M.
The College of Architecture was only a few buildings away.
Arielle adjusted the strap of her backpack while balancing a drafting tube under one arm and an iced latte in the other. Students hurried past her in every direction, some running to class while others gathered beneath the acacia trees, laughing over unfinished assignments.
Another ordinary Monday.
Exactly the way she liked it.
"...Belle!"
A familiar voice called from behind.
She turned around.
"Nerisse."
Her best friend jogged toward her, slightly out of breath, a half-eaten sandwich in one hand.
"I've been calling you!"
"I didn't hear you."
"Obviously."
Nerisse narrowed her eyes.
"You're wearing your earphones."
Arielle laughed.
"That explains it."
"You architecture people are unbelievable."
"What did we do now?"
"You all walk around like you're filming your own coming-of-age movie."
"I do not."
"You literally have coffee, earphones, and a tote bag."
"...Okay, maybe a little."
They both laughed.
---
"So..." Nerisse linked her arm with Arielle's.
"Did you finish the scale model?"
"Barely."
"How many hours did you sleep?"
"...Two."
"Belle."
"What?"
"You can't survive college like that."
"I'm surviving."
"That's called existing."
Before Arielle could answer—
Someone from across the courtyard shouted,
"Caelan!"
Both girls instinctively looked up.
A group of students in navy-blue business uniforms stood near the Administration Building.
At the center of them was a tall young man talking to one of the professors.
Neatly pressed uniform.
A black wristwatch.
Backpack slung over one shoulder.
He smiled politely as he listened, occasionally nodding.
"Who's that?" Arielle asked absentmindedly.
Nerisse glanced over.
"Oh."
"That's Caelan Villanueva."
"You know him?"
"Who doesn't?"
Arielle frowned.
"Should I?"
"He was Student Council President last year."
"Oh."
"And he still helps organize almost every university event."
"I see."
"Rumor has it he remembers almost everyone's name."
"That's... impressive."
Nerisse shrugged.
"I've never talked to him."
Neither had Arielle.
So she simply looked away.
The conversation ended there.
---
A few minutes later...
The hallway leading to the Architecture Building became crowded.
Students moved in opposite directions, trying to beat the morning bell.
Arielle carefully hugged her drafting tube closer to her chest.
"Let's go."
"I'm right behind you."
As they turned the corner—
Someone else turned the same corner at almost the exact moment.
Everything happened too quickly.
A shoulder bumped against hers.
The lid of her iced latte popped open.
Coffee splashed across the floor.
Her drafting tube slipped from her hands.
Rolls of tracing paper scattered across the hallway.
"...Oh!"
For a second...
Everything fell silent.
Arielle immediately crouched down.
"I'm so sorry—"
Another voice spoke at the exact same time.
"I'm sorry."
She looked up.
The same young man she had seen only moments ago was already kneeling on the floor, carefully picking up every sheet of tracing paper before anyone accidentally stepped on them.
"I'm really sorry," he said again.
"I wasn't looking where I was going."
"It's okay."
"No, it isn't."
He handed her the neatly rolled papers one by one, making sure none of the edges were bent.
"I almost ruined your plates."
"You didn't."
"I ruined your coffee, though."
Arielle looked at the puddle on the floor.
"...You kind of did."
He let out a quiet laugh.
"I'll buy you another one."
"You don't have to."
"I insist."
Before she could politely refuse again—
A teasing voice echoed from behind him.
"Caelan!"
A boy with messy hair walked over, grinning from ear to ear.
"So this is why you're late?"
Caelan sighed.
"Zev."
"What?"
"You finally bumped into someone instead of deadlines."
"Nakakatawa?"
"A little."
Zev turned to Arielle and offered an apologetic smile.
"Hi."
"I'm Zev."
"I'm... really sorry about his terrible driving skills."
"We were walking."
"Exactly."
Caelan closed his eyes for a second.
"I don't know him."
"You've known me for four years."
"Unfortunately."
Arielle couldn't help it.
She laughed.
A real one.
The kind that escaped before she even realized she was smiling.
Caelan looked at her for a brief moment.
Then...
He smiled too.
Not because the situation was funny.
But because somehow...
Her laugh made the awkward morning feel surprisingly light.
---
"Here."
He handed her the last roll of tracing paper.
"I think that's everything."
Arielle accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
There was a short pause.
Neither of them seemed to know what to say next.
Finally—
"I'm Caelan."
"Arielle."
"It's nice to meet you..."
He smiled.
"...even if it involved sacrificing your coffee."
She smiled back.
"I'll survive."
"I still owe you one."
"Maybe."
The bell suddenly rang across the campus.
Students groaned in unison.
Nerisse gasped.
"We're late!"
Zev looked at Caelan.
"So are we."
Caelan stepped aside to let Arielle pass.
"I hope your presentation goes well."
She blinked.
"...How did you know?"
He nodded toward the drafting tube in her hands.
"Lucky guess."
Arielle smiled.
"It was nice meeting you, Caelan."
"You too, Arielle."
And just like that...
They walked in opposite directions.
Neither of them knew...
That a spilled cup of coffee would become the first page of something much bigger than either of them expected.
---
End of Chapter Two. 🤍
- Writer
