Do you really hate me?

The school gate was chaos. Old students laughed with friends they hadn’t seen all summer. New ones clutched their schedules like lifelines, eyes darting everywhere. Uniforms, backpacks, voices all crashing together in a messy symphony of first-day anxiety. And in the middle of it all stood him. Six-five. Cold stare. Arms crossed like the world owed him space and he wasn’t giving any back. Caleb. Elira didn’t notice him until it was too late. She was running. Late. Always late. One hand balancing a paper coffee cup that was already leaking through the lid, the other pushing her hair back from her sweaty forehead. Dorm building near gate. Room 112. Don’t be late, dear. Aunty Alicia’s text was still open on her phone. Elira was already five minutes late. Make that six. “Watch out—” Too late. “BOOM.” Hot coffee exploded across his white shirt. Brown liquid bled down the expensive fabric, spreading fast, soaking through in seconds. It dripped onto the pavement in thick, ugly drops. The world went silent. “Oh my god! I’m so SORRY!!, i really didn't see you , I'm so sorry!!” Panic f_ck I messed up. Fix it, fix it now!! Panic shot through Elira’s chest, sharp and electric. She dropped to her knees on the dirty pavement without caring, yanking tissues from her bag. Her hands shook. She reached for his shirt, desperate to wipe the stain before it set. Caleb jerked back like her touch burned him. “Tsk.” He stepped away before her fingers could even graze the stain. His eyes gray, flat, annoyed dragged over her face once. Cold. Calculating. Then he dismissed her completely. “No need. Just leave, fangirl.” He turned and walked off. Shoulders stiff. No glance back. Elira stayed frozen on her knees, coffee dripping from her fingers onto the wet pavement. The cup had rolled away, forgotten. The f_ck is his problem?? I was just helping! I even apologized twice! She scrambled up, cheeks burning from embarrassment and anger. Her voice came out too loud, echoing in the sudden quiet. “I was just helping! I even apologized twice!” she shouted Students were staring now. Whispering. Phones were definitely out. Someone snorted. Someone else whispered “Another one.” Such a rude person. I hope I don’t interact with him in the future. Ever. I hope I never see his stupid cold face again. She yanked her bag higher on her shoulder and forced herself to walk. Fast. Away from him. Away from the circle of eyes. *On Caleb’s side* Caleb peeled his shirt away from his skin as he walked. Sticky. Cold. The smell of cheap coffee clung to him like a bad joke. Another obsessive fan. God for heaven’s sake, they really piss me off. He didn’t believe her “accident” for one second. Girls at this school had been spilling drinks on him since freshman year. “Accidentally” touching his arm. “Accidentally” dropping their phone near his feet. Pathetic. All of them. All the same script, different faces. “Caleb!” Theo’s voice cut through his thoughts. His best friend was jogging toward him, backpack bouncing. Theo: “Bro, I’ve been looking for you at the gate and here you are, pouting like a dog someone kicked.” Caleb tugged at his wet shirt. Caleb: “Someone spilled coffee on me. I have to change. I’m on my way to the dorm. Mrs. Alicia asked me to help her move out some boxes there. She said it’s urgent. I might need extra help. Wanna tag along?” Theo grinned, unbothered. Theo: “Sure, why not. Free workout. Plus I wanna see Mrs. Alicia. She makes the best cookies.” They started walking. Caleb kept his hands in his pockets. The stain was dark against his chest. Clumsy fangirl. She’s just like them tried to pull of this trick like it's never been the most obvious trick in the history He pushed the thought away. They were all the same. *On Elira’s side* Aunty says she’s somewhere in this building... Elira stared up at the dorm. Three floors. Too many doors. The building was old brick, ivy crawling up one side. Her shoes echoed on the concrete as she walked the perimeter, reading room numbers. “MRS. ALICIA?” Eli said lowly I'm dead how am i gonna find her here? Where the heck was room 112 how many rooms are there? 100+? Maybe 200? Noticed the room 199 and shocked no freaking way! It's 200?!! How am i gonna find that room my aunt's gonna kill me "Aunt alie?" she said im quite voice as she look in each classroom No answer. Just wind and distant voices from inside. “Eli, dear!” mrs.alicia called out on her Elira spun. At the end of the hall, a woman with kind eyes and graying hair waved from a doorway stacked with boxes. Mrs. Alicia. Elira: “Aunty Alie! Gosh, I’ve been looking for you. I didn’t expect this building to be this big!” Mrs. Alicia laughed, it sounds warm and familiar. Mrs.alicia “Right? It’s a maze the first week. Even the teachers get lost. Oh, are you here to pick up your dorm key?” Elira nodded, forcing a smile despite the coffee incident still stinging her pride. Elira: “Of course. But I’m also here to see my pretty aunt.” Mrs.alicia: “Quit bluffing and get my bag from inside that dorm. It’s on top of the boxes. Be careful, it’s heavy. I packed my entire kitchen in there.” “On it!” Elira saluted and slipped inside. The room was cramped. Boxes everywhere, stacked to the ceiling. Sunlight filtered through a small window, catching dust in the air. She climbed over a stack, stretching for the bag on top. Her fingers brushed the handle just as voices echoed from the doorway. Two tall boys. Caleb and Theo. Theo and caleb: “Hi ma’am, we’re here for the boxes.” That voice. I knew that voice. elira gasped Mrs. Alicia’s voice: “Ah, Caleb. It’s inside. Thanks for the help. And sorry for the—” Theo: “No need to apologize, ma’am. We insist on helping.” Footsteps. Closer. Each one louder than the last. Shit, he’s coming here. He’s actually coming here. Caleb: “I’ll go inside first to change my shirt.” Elira’s heart slammed against her ribs. God please have mercy on me. Don’t let that man see me! Not like this he'll think I'm his fan and a weird stalker. Mrs. Alicia: “Oh yeah, what happened to your shirt?” Caleb, flat and unbothered:“Some clumsy girl spilled her coffee on me.” Elira closed her eyes. Please don’t recognize me. Please! Don’t open that door. The door to the small changing corner creaked open. No don't come closer , don't enter! Heavy footsteps stopped three feet behind her. She could hear his breathing. Slow. Controlled. Caleb’s voice, low and sharp, right behind her ear: “You.” this fangirl freaks me out first she spilled coffee on me and then followed me here..., so she likes to play this game? Let's see how long can you last in your own game Elira didn’t turn around. Her entire body went rigid. Shit, don’t look at me!! Don’t turn me around. Don’t His breath was warm against her neck. Close enough to feel, not close enough to touch. “Do you really like me that much, ms.fangirl? That you followed me here?” To be continued...