THE BOY FROM THE LECTURE HALL

Lila had never believed in love at first sight—especially not in a crowded, overheated lecture hall. She came to university to focus, to study, to make her mother proud. Romance was a distraction she couldn’t afford. Then Adrian walked in. Tall, confident, with a calm smile that made it impossible for her to look away. “Is this seat taken?” he asked. She shook her head. He slid into the chair next to her, and suddenly the room felt smaller, the world quieter. They became study partners by accident. One afternoon, while poring over political theory notes in the library, he leaned over. “You write fast,” he said, teasing. “You talk too much,” she replied, smirking. He laughed, and it was like a spark had ignited in the air between them. Over the next weeks, Adrian was everywhere—sharing notes, walking her to class, texting her late at night. He made her feel seen, understood, alive. But there was something she didn’t know. Something important. He wasn’t free. One evening, she glanced at his phone accidentally. A message from Nadia ❤️ flashed across the screen. Her chest tightened, but Adrian smiled at her like nothing mattered. And that was the first moment Lila realized love could hurt.