Unwritten Desires

EPISODE 4

"Emma, we can't be late," Sarah called to her younger sister, who was also enrolled in the course she would be instructing that morning at TERAC institute. Emma hurriedly got ready, sharing the buzz of excitement that lingered in the air. Sarah, with a glance at the clock, urged Emma to hurry.

The sisters made their way to the car, the engine humming to life as they embarked on the ride to TERAC Institute.

Arriving on campus, Emma, eager and vibrant, dashed into the lecture hall ahead of Sarah. Unbeknownst to them, a twist of fate was weaving into the fabric of the ordinary morning.

In her role as an instructor, Sarah had received news that new students were to be assigned to her class. Stepping into the lecture hall, she noticed the unfamiliar faces among the eager students. With a poised demeanor, she decided to start the day by having the newcomers introduce themselves.

"Good morning, everyone. I have some new faces joining us today, so let's start with introductions," Sarah announced, her eyes sweeping over the expectant students.

The introductions commenced, each student sharing their full name.

Among the new students, a young man grappled with a particularly obstinate shoelace. Chuckles and sympathetic glances from his peers filled the air.

As the laughter subsided, Sarah, with her poised demeanor, interjected with a reassuring smile. "Take your time. You're the last to introduce yourself before we dive into the lecture," she said, injecting a note of encouragement that eased the young man's evident tension.

"Thanks," he mumbled, still engrossed in the shoelace dilemma. The class watched with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

Amid the continuation of introductions, Sarah's attention flickered between the unfolding stories and the persistent struggle of the young man. When it became apparent that his shoelace wasn't yielding easily, genuine concern prompted her to approach him.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, moving closer to him.

As Sarah and the young man engaged in a brief exchange of words, The young man, finally looking up, met her gaze, and their eyes locked in a moment that defied the ordinary. Time seemed to pause, recognition sparking between them.

Their eyes locked in an intense gaze, and an awkward silence enveloped the room. Unbeknownst to Sarah, the images of her that Daniel had glimpsed at the bathroom door still replayed in his mind, freezing him in place.

The lecture hall hung in a suspended moment, the air thick with an unspoken tension as Sarah and Daniel were locked in a gaze that seemed to defy the flow of time. Emma, seated close to Sarah, sensed the strange atmosphere and, reacting swiftly, stood up and whispered Sarah's name into her ear.

“Sarah, what are you doing?”

“Are you okay?” she added and Sarah nodded, her gaze still fixed on Daniel.

The gentle intrusion jolted Sarah back to the present, and she cleared her throat, a sound that shattered the frozen exchange of stares with Daniel. The room breathed again, yet Daniel remained caught in the echo of the moment.

With a composed demeanor, Sarah addressed the lingering awkwardness. "Let's continue with the introductions. Why don't you go next?"

Daniel, still somewhat frozen, stood as Sarah's invitation reached him. The unexpected turn of events had left his mind in disarray, and the image of Sarah in a towel lingered in his thoughts. As he began to introduce himself, his words stumbled in unexpected places, a proof to his bewildered state of mind.

"I, uh, hi, I'm Daniel," he managed, his voice betraying the internal chaos. Stammering in unexpected places, he voiced out the introduction, confusion and obsession taking over him. He could not take his eyes off her, not even for a second. . .

TO BE CONTINUED