An Unexpected Visit
678 Words
Back at university, Maya tried to throw herself into her routine—lectures, study groups, late nights at the library. She told herself the night with Mike was just another mistake, a weakness she shouldn’t have allowed. But her heart refused to listen. Every quiet moment was filled with him: the way he looked at her, the way he said he’d wait.
She hated how much she wanted to believe him.
One rainy Thursday evening, Maya pushed open the heavy glass doors of the library, balancing her books under her arm. She was exhausted, her mind buzzing with equations she could barely keep straight. She just wanted her bed, her comfort blanket, and maybe to cry a little.
But when she stepped into the lobby, she froze.
Mike was leaning casually against the wall, hands in his pockets, wearing that half-smile that always knocked the air out of her lungs.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
“Surprise,” he said simply.
“Mike…” She shook her head, adjusting her grip on the books. “You can’t just show up like this. I have exams, projects—”
“Exactly why I’m here,” he interrupted. “To make sure you’re not burying yourself in books and forgetting to breathe.” His eyes softened as he stepped closer. “And… because I missed you.”
Her heart stuttered. She hated how easy he made it sound.
“You drove three hours just to say that?” she asked skeptically.
He leaned down, whispering near her ear, “I’d drive a thousand.”
Her cheeks warmed, but she turned away, brushing past him toward the dorms. “You’re impossible.”
“Maybe,” he said, falling into step beside her, “but you’re smiling right now, so I’ll take it as a win.”
She rolled her eyes, trying to fight the grin tugging at her lips. “You’re so annoying.”
“And you’re so stubborn,” he shot back with a smirk.
The walk back to her dorm felt charged, the air thick with unspoken words. When they reached her door, Maya hesitated. She should tell him to leave. Keep her boundaries. Protect her heart.
But when she looked up, his gaze was steady, patient, waiting.
Against her better judgment, she opened the door.
Inside, the room felt suddenly too small with him in it. Mike sat on the edge of her bed, watching as she placed her books down.
“University life suits you,” he said softly. “But I still like you better when you’re not hiding behind all that seriousness.”
She crossed her arms. “I’m not hiding. I’m building a future.”
“I know,” he said seriously, standing up. “And I respect that. But I also know you need someone to remind you that life isn’t just about studying.”
“Mike…” she warned again, but this time her voice trembled.
He closed the space between them, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m not asking you to forgive me overnight. I’m just asking for a chance to be here. To prove I’m not the same guy who broke your heart.”
Her breath caught as his fingers lingered near her cheek. She wanted to push him away, but her body betrayed her, leaning into his touch.
“Just one chance, Maya. That’s all I want.”
Her defenses cracked, just a little. “And if I give you that chance?”
His lips curved into a slow, devastating smile. “Then I’ll spend every visit proving you were right to.”
Before she could answer, his mouth captured hers in a kiss that was tender at first, then deepened into something hungry, desperate, promising everything he couldn’t yet say.
When they finally pulled apart, breathless, Maya’s pulse was racing.
“Stay tonight,” she whispered, almost against her will.
He smiled, his forehead resting against hers. “I wasn’t planning on leaving.”
- Writer
