Chapter 4: A Strange Interest
1092 Words
A week had passed since the Leadership Summit.
The event was considered a huge success, and everyone involved received praise from the university administration.
Everyone was happy.
Well, almost everyone.
Midnight sat in his office reviewing documents, trying to focus on his work.
Trying—and failing.
His eyes kept drifting toward the window.
His thoughts kept wandering.
And every time they wandered, they somehow ended up on the same person.
Sabrina.
He frowned.
Why?
He barely knew her.
She was annoying.
Talkative.
Stubborn.
Completely different from him.
Yet somehow, she kept appearing in his mind.
Midnight closed the file in front of him and rubbed his forehead.
This was ridiculous.
He had important responsibilities.
An upcoming academic competition.
Organization projects.
Scholarship requirements.
He didn't have time to think about one overly cheerful girl.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
One of the organization officers entered.
"President, we're heading to lunch."
Midnight nodded.
"I'll stay here."
The officer wasn't surprised.
"You always do."
After the officer left, Midnight returned to work.
Five minutes later, he gave up.
For some reason, the office felt unusually quiet today.
Meanwhile, Sabrina was sitting under her favorite tree near the library.
A sandwich rested on her lap while she read a novel.
It was one of the few peaceful moments she had all week.
Until someone suddenly dropped into the seat beside her.
"Found you!"
Sabrina looked up.
It was her best friend, Chloe.
A journalism student known for being curious about absolutely everything.
"You look excited."
"I have news."
Sabrina groaned.
"That never ends well."
Chloe ignored her.
"You've been spending a lot of time with Midnight."
Sabrina nearly dropped her sandwich.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"We're not spending time together."
"You literally argue every day."
"That's not spending time together."
"It absolutely is."
Sabrina rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible."
Chloe smirked.
"And you're blushing."
"I am not."
"You totally are."
Before Sabrina could defend herself, Chloe pointed toward the walkway.
"Speak of the devil."
Sabrina turned.
And there he was.
Midnight.
Walking across campus with his usual serious expression.
Several students immediately stepped aside to let him pass.
Some whispered.
Others stared.
He barely acknowledged any of them.
Then something unexpected happened.
His eyes met Sabrina's.
Just briefly.
A second later, he continued walking.
Yet Sabrina noticed it.
And so did Chloe.
"Oh."
Sabrina groaned.
"Don't start."
"Oh, this is interesting."
"There is nothing interesting happening."
Chloe grinned.
"Sure."
Later that afternoon, Sabrina headed toward the library to return several books.
The moment she entered, she spotted Midnight sitting at a corner table.
Surrounded by textbooks.
Of course.
The boy practically lived in libraries.
She considered walking away.
Then she noticed something unusual.
Midnight looked exhausted.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes.
His shoulders seemed tense.
He hadn't even noticed her.
Curiosity got the better of her.
She approached carefully.
"Hey."
Midnight looked up.
For a moment, surprise flashed across his face.
"Sabrina."
"You look terrible."
His eyebrow rose.
"That's a strange greeting."
"You look tired."
"I'm working."
"That's not an excuse."
Midnight returned to his textbook.
Sabrina sat down across from him.
"What are you studying?"
"Advanced economics."
She stared.
"That sounds painful."
"It isn't."
"It definitely is."
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
It vanished so quickly that Sabrina almost thought she'd imagined it.
Almost.
"You smiled."
"No, I didn't."
"You did."
"No."
"You totally did."
Midnight sighed.
For some reason, arguing with Sabrina felt different from arguing with everyone else.
Less frustrating.
More... enjoyable.
The realization immediately bothered him.
Over the next several days, something strange began happening.
Midnight kept noticing Sabrina everywhere.
In the cafeteria.
At the library.
Near the student center.
Walking between classes.
It wasn't intentional.
At least that's what he told himself.
Yet somehow, his eyes always found her.
Today she was helping a student carry books.
Yesterday she was tutoring a classmate.
Last week she spent thirty minutes helping a lost freshman find a building.
She was always helping someone.
Always smiling.
Always making people feel comfortable.
It didn't make sense.
People weren't usually that kind.
At least not in Midnight's experience.
One evening, while leaving campus, he spotted Sabrina sitting alone on a bench.
She was feeding pieces of bread to a small stray cat.
The tiny animal purred happily.
Sabrina laughed softly.
The sight stopped him.
For a brief moment, everything around him seemed quieter.
Simpler.
Then the cat noticed Midnight.
It immediately ran away.
Sabrina looked up.
"Oh."
Their eyes met.
"You scared him."
"I did nothing."
"You have a scary face."
Midnight sighed.
Again.
Sabrina laughed.
The sound made something warm stir inside his chest.
A feeling he didn't understand.
And didn't particularly want to understand.
A few days later, the university announced a volunteer outreach program.
Students would travel to a nearby community to assist local families and children.
Participation was optional.
Naturally, Sabrina signed up immediately.
Naturally, Midnight planned to avoid it.
Until his faculty adviser spoke to him.
"You should attend."
"I have work."
"You always have work."
Midnight remained silent.
The professor smiled knowingly.
"It will be good for you."
That was exactly what worried him.
The following afternoon, volunteers gathered outside the administration building.
Sabrina arrived carrying several boxes of supplies.
She looked around excitedly.
Then she froze.
Midnight was standing near the bus.
"No way."
He glanced toward her.
"No way what?"
"You're actually coming."
"I was instructed to."
Sabrina laughed.
"That's the most Midnight answer ever."
He ignored the comment.
But secretly, he was glad she seemed happy to see him.
A realization that immediately made him uncomfortable.
The bus ride began shortly afterward.
Students filled the seats.
Conversations echoed throughout the vehicle.
Laughter spread from row to row.
Sabrina sat near a window.
A few moments later, someone occupied the empty seat beside her.
She looked up.
Midnight.
"You chose this seat?"
"It was available."
"Sure."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You think too much."
"You noticed me."
"I notice everyone."
"Liar."
Midnight looked away.
Sabrina smiled to herself.
For some reason, teasing him had become her favorite hobby.
Outside the window, the city slowly disappeared as the bus continued toward the community project.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But the trip ahead would change everything.
Because sometimes love doesn't begin with grand gestures.
Sometimes it begins with small moments.
A shared conversation.
A quiet smile.
A strange interest that grows stronger each day.
And whether Midnight wanted to admit it or not, Sabrina was becoming impossible to ignore.
- Writer
