𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦

BOOK 1:THE FIRST GLANCE

Jayna’s first day at college started the moment she walked through the gates—

and felt the shift.

It was quiet. Almost unnoticeable.

People didn’t stop talking. No one made it obvious. But glances lingered just a second too long before slipping away. Eyes followed, then pretended they hadn’t.

She ignored it.

She always did.

Her outfit was simple—black tube top, fitted black pants, a zip-up hoodie left open,Yet Elegant. Effortless. Her glasses rested lightly on her nose, drawing more attention to her blue eyes instead of hiding them.

Her long golden hair was twisted into a loose bun, soft strands falling around her face. Everything about her looked natural.

Unbothered.

Like she didn’t need anyone to notice.

And somehow—

that’s what made them look.

Jayna adjusted her bag and kept walking.

Inside, the hallway was louder.

Lockers slammed. Voices echoed. People moved in clusters, like they already belonged.

She checked her phone.

Late.

“Of course,” she muttered, picking up her pace.

She turned the corner—

—and brushed past someone.

Shoulder to shoulder.

Brief. Barely there.

“Sorry,” she said automatically, already moving.

“Yeah.”

Low. Distant.

She glanced up—just for a second.

Dark hair.

Dark eyes. Almost black.

No reaction. No pause. No interest.

He didn’t look at her the way everyone else had.

Didn’t look at her at all.

He just kept walking.

And so did she.

The hallway swallowed them both, noise filling the space like nothing had happened.

Because nothing had.

Just a passing moment between two strangers.

Gone before it could mean anything.

And with that… is how it all started...with just a glance

Episode Two: Unnoticed, Yet Remembered

The strange thing wasn’t that Jayna forgot about him.

It was that she didn’t.

Not really.

The day moved on the way first days always did—introductions, schedules, names she wouldn’t remember by tomorrow. Faces blurred together. Voices overlapped.

But every now and then—

her mind drifted.

Dark hair.

Dark eyes.

That voice.

Low. Distant.

Uninterested.

It didn’t make sense.

She had passed a hundred people that morning. Why him?

Jayna exhaled softly, tapping her pen against her notebook as the lecture dragged on.

Focus.

This mattered more.

Still—

her thoughts slipped.

Again.

—

Across campus, in a quieter part of the building—

Liam paused.

Just for a second.

It wasn’t obvious. No one would’ve noticed.

But something had shifted.

A flicker of irritation crossed his expression before disappearing just as quickly.

He adjusted his sleeve, jaw tightening slightly.

Annoying.

That’s what it was.

Nothing more.

A passing moment that should’ve stayed exactly that.

So why—

His gaze drifted, unfocused for half a second.

Blonde hair.

Blue eyes.

A voice that didn’t hesitate.

“Sorry.”

Like it didn’t matter.

Like he didn’t matter.

His expression hardened.

Right.

It didn’t.

He moved again, footsteps steady, controlled—like nothing had interrupted his thoughts at all.

—

Back in class, Jayna barely registered when the lecture ended.

Chairs scraped. Conversations picked up.

She blinked, coming back to herself.

“Hey—you’re new, right?”

Jayna looked up.

A girl stood beside her desk, smiling easily, like she belonged everywhere she stepped.

“Yeah,” Jayna replied.

“I’m Lira.”

“Jayna.”

Lira tilted her head slightly, studying her—not in the same way the others had. Not curious.

Just… observant.

“You’ve got that look,” Lira said.

Jayna frowned faintly. “What look?”

“Like you’re somewhere else.”

Jayna let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh. “Just tired.”

“Mm.” Lira didn’t look convinced—but she didn’t push. “Well, want to come with me to the Cafeteria?”

Jayna hesitated for a second—

then nodded.

“Sure.”

—

The cafeteria was louder than everywhere else combined.

Energy bounced off the walls. Laughter, conversations, the constant hum of people trying to be seen.

Jayna followed Lira through the crowd, barely paying attention—

until—

she slowed.

Not fully.

Just enough.

There.

Across the room.

Leaning slightly against the far wall, half-shadowed by the crowd—

him.

Same dark hair.

Same unreadable expression.

Like he existed just outside everything happening around him.

“Who’s that?” Jayna asked, before she could stop herself.

Lira glanced over, casual.

“Oh. Him?” A small pause. “That’s Liam.”

The name settled heavier than it should have.

Jayna didn’t respond.

“Not exactly the friendly type,” Lira added lightly. “Keeps to himself. People don’t really… approach him.”

Jayna hummed, eyes still lingering a second too long.

That explained it.

Maybe.

For a second—

their eyes almost met.

Almost.

But someone stepped between them, breaking the line of sight.

And just like that—

he looked away.

Like it hadn’t happened.

Like she hadn’t been there.

Jayna stared a second longer than she should have.

Then—

“Jayna?”

She blinked, turning back to Lira.

“Yeah.”

“You good?”

“Yeah.” A pause. “Just… thought I saw someone.”

Lira smiled faintly. “Trust me. Not everyone’s worth noticing.”

Jayna didn’t answer.

Because somehow—

he was.

—

Across the room—

Liam noticed.

Not her.

That she had noticed.

Subtle.

Barely there.

But enough.

His gaze shifted, just slightly—

finding her again through the crowd.

This time, he didn’t look away immediately.

Just long enough to confirm it.

Then—

he turned.

Conversation resumed around him.

Noise filled the space.

And once again—

nothing happened.

But something had.

Something small.

Something quiet.

Something neither of them would admit.

Unnoticed.

Yet remembered.

The bell rang—

sharp and sudden.

Jayna winced slightly as the cafeteria erupted into movement.

“Time to go,” Lira said, standing and grabbing her bag. “What do you have next?”

Jayna checked her phone quickly. “Literature.”

Lira smirked. “Same. Stick with me.”

Jayna nodded, standing as they merged into the поток of students pouring into the hallway.

—

“Man, you’re unusually quiet today.”

Liam didn’t look over as Tyler walked beside him, hands shoved

"I ’m always quiet.”

“Yeah, but this is different.” Tyler glanced at him. “You look like you’re thinking.”

“I am.”

“That’s concerning.”

Liam ignored him.

They turned the corner—

and that’s when he saw her again.

Jayna.

Not directly.

Just a glimpse at first.

Blonde hair through the crowd.

That same calm, unbothered presence.His steps didn’t slow.

But his focus shifted.

Locked—

before he could stop it.

He didn’t know why.

Didn’t care to.

But it was there.

Again.

Tyler followed his line of sight, tight, then smirked slightly. “Oh. So that’s why.”

Liam looked away instantly. “Don’t start.”

“Didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

Tyler huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. I was.”

—

Liam's gaze was still fixed on Jayna's silhouette disappearing into the crowded hallways.

Tyler notices this and scoffs,"Dude, you look like a lovesick fool".

Liam grits his teeth at tyler's words. The image of him looking like a lovesick fool for her? Never.

"I do not.." He hissed harshly.

“Liam.”

The voice cut through the noise.

Sharp. Controlled.

Kylie.

Tyler muttered, “There it is,” under his breath.

Liam stopped.

Slowly.

Kylie stepped in front of him, like she had every right to interrupt.

Her hand brushed his arm lightly.

“You didn’t answer my messages.”

“I was busy.”

“You’re always busy.”

“And you’re always texting.”

Tyler turned his head, clearly entertained.

Kylie ignored him, eyes locked on Liam. “We still on for tonight?”

A pause.

Small.

But there.

Liam’s gaze flicked past her—

just for a second.

Catching sight of Jayna disappearing into a classroom.

Then—

back to Kylie.

“…Yeah.”

Flat.

Unmoved.

But enough.

Kylie smiled, satisfied. “Good.”

Her eyes shifted briefly toward the classroom Jayna had just entered.

Noticing.

Then she stepped aside.

—

“Damn,” Tyler said once they started walking again. “You sound thrilled.”

Liam didn’t respond.

Because his attention wasn’t on Tyler.

It was on the classroom door ahead.

—

Inside—

Jayna slipped into a seat near the back, pulling out her notebook as students filled in around her.

Lira dropped into the seat beside her. “I swear this class is either going to be amazing or painfully boring.”

“Probably both,” Jayna murmured.

The door opened again.

Jayna didn’t look up.

Didn’t need to.

She already knew.

Footsteps.

Measured.

Unhurried.

Closer.

Then—

a bag dropped onto the desk beside her.

“I think you’re in my seat.”

Jayna glanced up.

Liam.

Up close again—

just as unreadable.

She tilted her head slightly. “I was here first.”

“No,” he said calmly. “You weren’t.”

A pause.

Then—

Jayna almost smiled.

“You’re really starting this?”

“You started it.”

“I sat down.”

“In my seat.”

Jayna leaned back slightly, unimpressed. “Did your name come with it?”

A beat.

Tyler, standing a few seats away, let out a quiet, “Oh, this should be good.”

Liam ignored him.

His gaze stayed on Jayna.

Steady.

Assessing.

Then—

he pulled the chair beside her instead.

Sitting.

Like it didn’t matter.

Like he hadn’t just made it one.

“Problem solved,” he said.

Jayna blinked once.

Then let out a soft breath through her nose.

Unbelievable.

The professor walked in before she could respond.

“Settle down. You’ll be working in pairs.”

Of course.

Jayna glanced sideways.

Liam didn’t look at her.

Didn’t react.

But he didn’t move either.

And neither did she.

“…Looks like we’re partners,” she said quietly.

“I know.”

There it was again.

That tone.

Jayna tapped her pen once against her notebook.

“Good. Then try not to make it painful.”

A pause.

Then—

“Can’t promise that.”

For a second—

just a second—

something almost amused flick and again

The silence between them felt less normal..