Shimmer Between Us

Chapter 4: Lunch With a Stranger (Almost)

The next day started like any other. I went for my lectures, sat through the usual back-to-back classes, and by the afternoon, I was exhausted. The sun was a little too hot, the lecture hall a little too stuffy everything felt normal.

Until it didn’t.

I was walking out with Clara and the girls when I saw him.

Standing in the school field, phone in hand, casually dressed in a crisp tee and jeans, like he belonged. But... he didn’t. Not in the way I expected.

He looked up and saw me. I quickly turned my face, pretending not to notice. My heart was doing that annoying thing! dancing without permission. I didn’t want him to think I was too eager. I barely even understood what I was feeling.

Then he called out, “Zora?”

I stopped. My girls slowed down too, heads already swiveling. I turned slightly and gave a small smile. “Hey.”

He walked toward us, phone still in hand but now focused entirely on me. “Didn’t expect to run into you here.”

I gave a soft laugh. “Yeah, same. What are you doing here?”

“I came to see a friend. And I forgot to tell you…” he rubbed the back of his neck, like he knew he left out a major detail. “I’m actually a final year student here. Just finishing up my last semester.”

I blinked. “Wait, seriously?”

“Yeah. This your department?”

I nodded. “Might be. I'm hoping to join here fully.”

He smiled. “Good choice.”

Just then, he looked at me.. really looked and asked, “You out for the day?”

“Yeah, lectures are done.”

“Cool… Do you mind joining me for lunch? There’s this nice spot at the atrium. You’ll like it.”

I hesitated.

Clara, who had been watching us like a hawk, immediately jumped in. “Oh! Zora, we’ll meet you later, yeah? We were just going to say hi to Kevin and the guys. You’re good, right?”

Tina and Becky nodded along, barely hiding their grins. “Catch up with us later!”

I opened my mouth to protest, but they were already walking off giggling, whispering, abandoning me on purpose, I'll deal with them later I groaned.

I turned back to him. He looked amused. “So…?”

I shrugged. “Sure. I mean… why not?”

We started walking, side by side, heading toward the atrium. People were watching. I could feel their eyes. Maybe it was the way he looked, or the way I looked beside him like two different worlds awkwardly colliding.

I was shy. I couldn’t lie about that. This wasn’t my world. This wasn’t my daily life.

But somehow… I kind of liked it.