Chapter 5
918 Words
Ethan arrived earlier than usual.
Much earlier.
So early that even Jason noticed.
“You’re here before me?” he asked, genuinely confused as he dropped his bag onto the bench.
Ethan didn’t respond immediately.
His eyes were fixed on the staff parking lot across the courtyard.
Waiting.
Watching.
He didn’t know why he had rushed out of the house that morning.
Didn’t know why the first thought in his mind wasn’t breakfast.
Or assignments…
Or anything that used to matter.
It was her.
He wanted to see her arrive.
Just see her.
Nothing more.
Jason followed his line of sight.
Then looked back at Ethan slowly.
“Oh.”
Ethan exhaled softly.
Not in frustration.
But anticipation.
Because every passing car made his chest tighten slightly.
Every staff member who stepped out sharpened his attention.
But none of them was her.
Then.
A dark sedan turned into the lot.
And his breath stilled.
She stepped out.
Graceful.
Effortless.
Unaware.
Dr. Nadia Cole adjusted her bag over her shoulder.
Her hair moved slightly in the morning breeze.
Her posture was as composed as always.
Calm.
Self-contained.
Professional.
And completely unaware.
Of the effect she had just had.
Ethan’s gaze locked.
And didn’t move.
Something about seeing her outside the classroom.
Outside structure.
Outside authority.
Made her feel closer.
More real.
Less distant.
And before he realized it.
His thoughts drifted.
Dangerously.
What it would feel like.
To hold her.
To feel her close.
To hear her speak without restraint.
To see her smile.
Not professionally.
But personally.
The thought came uninvited.
And stayed.
He imagined standing beside her again.
But closer.
Without distance.
Without titles.
Without boundaries.
“Bro!”
Jason’s voice snapped him back.
Ethan blinked.
“What?”
“Class,” Jason said slowly.
“You planning to just stand here all day?”
Ethan exhaled.
And looked away.
But the image lingered.
Inside the lecture hall.
He sat where he always did.
But today.
It felt different.
Because now.
He wasn’t just waiting for the lecture.
He was waiting for her.
When she walked in.
The shift happened again.
Subtle.
Yet unmistakable.
Nadia placed her notes down.
Calm as always.
Composed as always.
But today.
Her eyes avoided one direction.
Instinctively.
Deliberately.
Because she had seen him earlier.
From the corner of her vision.
Standing.
Watching.
And something inside her had reacted.
Before she could stop it.
She began teaching.
Her voice was steady.
Her movements are controlled.
Her focus.
Intentional.
But awareness sat quietly beneath it all.
Ethan didn’t hear most of it.
Not truly.
He saw her.
The way she spoke.
The way her hands moved slightly when explaining something.
The way her eyes shifted between students.
Careful not to linger on him.
Yet sometimes.
She did.
Briefly.
Unintentionally.
And every time.
She felt it.
The pull.
The distraction.
She turned toward the board.
Writing.
Because looking at him too long.
Made it harder to speak without losing rhythm.
And still.
She felt his gaze.
Persistent.
Unmoving.
When she turned back.
Their eyes met again.
And for a fraction of a second.
She forgot what she was saying.
Only for a moment.
But enough.
She recovered quickly.
Continuing the lecture.
But now.
Her composure wasn’t as effortless.
Because awareness had returned.
Stronger.
Louder.
When the lecture ended.
Relief came quietly.
Students gathered their things.
Voices rising again.
Normalcy returning.
But Ethan remained seated for a moment.
Still watching her.
Still lost.
Until Jason nudged him again.
“Lunch?”
Ethan nodded.
And followed.
The dining hall buzzed with conversation.
Trays clattered.
Laughter echoed.
Groups formed.
Stories exchanged.
At the far end.
Lila sat with her friends.
Her posture is confident.
Her expression was determined.
“I’m going to talk to him today,” she announced.
Her friends looked up immediately.
“Finally,” Tessa said.
“What are you waiting for?”
Lila smiled faintly.
“Nothing anymore.”
Across the room.
Ethan sat with Jason.
Unaware.
Distracted.
Still replaying the morning.
Still hearing her voice.
Still seeing her eyes.
Lila stood.
Smoothly.
Confidently.
And walked toward him.
Jason noticed first.
“Well,” he murmured.
“This should be interesting.”
Lila stopped in front of Ethan.
He looked up.
Calm.
Neutral.
“Hi,” she said.
He nodded slightly.
“Hi.”
“I was wondering if we could talk,” she said.
Jason quietly excused himself.
Leaving them alone.
“I like you,” she said directly.
No hesitation.
No games.
“And I’d like us to be together.”
Silence followed.
Short.
But clear.
Ethan’s expression didn’t change.
“I’m not interested,” he said simply.
The words landed harder than expected.
Lila blinked.
Surprised.
Because rejection.
Was unfamiliar.
“I don’t think you understand,” she said lightly.
He met her gaze.
“I do.”
His tone wasn’t rude.
But it was final.
“I’m not interested.”
And just like that.
He stood.
And walked away.
Behind him.
Lila remained still.
Her composure was cracking slightly.
“No one rejects me,” she murmured.
Her friends gathered quickly.
“What happened?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“He said no.”
Gasps followed.
“Try again,” Tessa said.
“He must have a reason.”
Lila’s jaw tightened.
And slowly.
A new determination formed.
“I will.”
She looked toward where he had gone.
And her voice lowered.
“Because something is behind this.”
And whatever it was.
She intended to find it.
- Writer
