Mind Merge

After the initial exchange, silence draped over us like a heavy curtain. It was not the comfortable kind of silence one might appreciate, at least not from my end. I kept my fingers busy on the keyboard, eyes glued to the screen, purposely avoiding any chance of our eyes meeting again.

Despite my efforts, I couldn’t help but sneak peeks at Izan from time to time. He was totally absorbed in his book, jotting down notes like a pro. His pen danced between his fingers effortlessly, all his attention on the pages. I felt like a mere ghost of a person, invisible to him in the midst of all those words. It was like the world faded away around him, leaving me here, anxious and tapping my feet to disguise the nerves I couldn’t really explain. I shook my head, trying to snap out of it, and turned my focus back to the blank page on my laptop.

I felt my frustration mounting as I sifted through the pile of books, notes, and endless tabs, trying to make sense of this paper. With a sigh, I slouched in my chair, the weight of the assignment was crushing me every passing second.

“Are you okay, Ms. Hanan?” Izan asked, his voice filled with concern.

I hesitated, not wanting to bother him with my troubles. “Oh, it’s nothing,” I muttered, trying to play it off.

“Come on, I can tell something’s up. What’s going on?” His words were more than encouraging.

Despite my hesitation, the burden of my problem urged me to open up. “It’s this comparison... I’m struggling to understand how Taoism and Confucianism influenced early Chinese literature’s storytelling techniques. But trying to connect it with the allegorical and chivalric themes of European Middle Age works feels like solving a puzzle,” I confessed, feeling defeated.  

“I’d be happy to help, if you’d like,” Izan offered sincerely, rising from his seat and making his way over to me.

I squirmed in my seat, torn between being grateful for his offer and feeling uneasy about asking for help. “I... I don’t want to bother you,” I hesitated, but Izan’s kind smile encouraged me to accept.

He settled next to me, effortlessly flipping through my notes and books. “Let’s see what we can do,” he said calmly. “Maybe we can start by exploring the key themes in early Chinese texts, influenced by Taoism, and compare them with the pursuit of virtue and chivalry in medieval European works,” Izan suggested, his voice thoughtful and composed.

As Izan walked me through my research, his patient explanations and keen insights untangled the mess in my mind. With his help, the overwhelming task started to seem doable. I couldn’t help but stare at him in amazement, struck by his wisdom and expertise.

“Ah-ha! I’ve got it! Thank you so much!” I cheered, feeling a rush of excitement as clarity washed over me. With a satisfied nod, I finalized my notes and grinned at Izan, overflowing with gratitude.

“I’m delighted I could be of assistance,” Izan replied warmly, his smile a reflection of genuine satisfaction. He stood up gracefully, reaching over to grab his books from the other side of the table. As he settled back down, I couldn’t help but notice how close we were. The distance between us had shrunk to almost nothing, and my heart picked up its pace, doing its usual ballet.

Izan’s presence wrapped around me like a warm embrace, but in the most delicious way possible. His cologne teased my senses, drawing me in with its intoxicating aroma. It was a scent that whispered of sophistication and allure, leaving me utterly captivated. How could someone smell so incredibly irresistible?

‘Oh, my God,’ my inner voice snapped me back to reality, scolding my wandering mind. ‘Get it together!’ I scolded myself silently, trying to regain my focus. I forced myself to concentrate on the screen in front of me, determined to resist the irresistible pull of his presence.

We effortlessly slipped into silence, both absorbed in what we were doing. The gentle tapping of the keyboard and the quiet rustle of pages turning filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere in our shared space. And I cannot confirm whether it’s my imagination or I have simply grown more delusional but I swear I could feel his eyes burning on the side of my head from time to time.

A sudden buzz shattered the silence, catching everyone’s attention. My heart raced as I grabbed my phone from my bag, seeing Zoe's name flashing on the screen. A quick glance at my watch revealed the shocking truth—it was already 6 PM, and I was late. Again!

“I am so sorry! I’m actually on my way right now. Just need to grab a taxi!” I rushed into the phone, stuffing my things back into my bag. “Taxi!” I whispered urgently; my voice laced with desperation.

“Oh please! I’m waiting for you at the university gate! Hurry up!” Zoe’s voice dripped with frustration. I could practically see her rolling her eyes in annoyance.

“I love you. And I’m really sorry!” With hurried apologies, I quickly ended the call, jumping up from my seat in a flurry of frantic movements.

“Mira!” Izan’s voice sliced through the frenzy from behind, causing me to pause and glance back, my heart pounding in my chest.

“I’m sorry for the disturbance, sir. And thank you so much for your assistance. Please excuse me,” I rushed out the apology, my voice tinged with an undeniable urgency. The weight of my lateness lingered as I turned on my heel, ready to dash towards the gate to meet Zoe.