Before we knew...

New friends

By the start of the next week, campus was starting to feel a little less overwhelming. I had learned where most of my classes were, remembered the cafeteria schedule, and even had a few familiar faces that made walking through crowded halls a little easier.

But the best part of the week happened when I met Lina.

I ran into her in the library, of all places. She was sitting at a corner table surrounded by a small pile of books, typing on her laptop with complete focus. I hesitated for a moment—I wasn’t sure if I should interrupt—but then she looked up and smiled.

“You look lost,” she said, half teasing, half serious. “First semester?”

I laughed, relieved. “Yeah… just trying not to get lost in this huge library.”

“I’m Lina,” she said, extending her hand. Her smile was warm, easy, the kind that made strangers feel like old friends..

“I’m Mara,” I replied, shaking her hand.

And just like that, a friendship began.

We started studying together a few times a week. Lina was funny, confident, and quick to notice when I was nervous around people. She gave me advice about classes, professors, and campus life in a way that felt honest and practical..

“You’re too quiet sometimes,” she said one afternoon as we walked between classes. “People notice, and not everyone will be kind about it. You need to speak up, Mara.”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I agreed. I liked staying quiet sometimes. But I realized she had a point—especially when it came to Elias.

Yes, Elias. Even after our study session and casual encounters, he still lingered in my thoughts more than anyone else. And now, with Lina around, I found myself explaining tiny moments to her—moments I hadn’t meant to share with anyone, like the way Elias smiled, or how his voice made simple things sound interesting.

“You like him,” Lina said suddenly one day, pointing out the obvious in a way that made me want to hide.

“I… I don’t know,” I mumbled.

“Sure you do,” she said with a teasing grin. “Everyone notices when you like someone. And trust me, he’s noticed you too.”

I wanted to protest, but I couldn’t. It was true. Every time he was near, I felt my heart beat faster, my thoughts scatter. And now that I had someone to talk to, someone who didn’t judge me for noticing, it felt… easier.

Lina became my partner in navigating campus life. She helped me figure out the cafeterias, introduced me to other students, and even helped me prepare for classes.

She made me feel like I wasn’t alone anymore.

And with every day that passed, every study session, and every brief interaction with Elias, I realized that my life on campus was changing faster than I expected

Not just because of new friends like Lina.

Not just because I was learning to adjust.

But because of him.

Every time we were in the same room, every time our eyes met, every time he smiled or spoke to me, it felt like something was quietly growing. Something I couldn’t name yet, but couldn’t ignore.

Lina noticed, of course, and she teased me endlessly about it. But somehow, talking to her about it made the feelings feel less overwhelming. Less dangerous.

Still, I knew one thing for sure: campus life was no longer just about classes and assignments.

It was about him.

And slowly, I was starting to understand just how much he was already becoming a part of my life whether I wanted it to or not.

Before we knew .....