The feeling was suffocating, like the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving me gasping for breath. Every moment without him felt like an eternity, his absence a gaping hole in my chest. I clung to the hope that he would show up for our class, that his familiar presence would ease the ache in my heart. But as the minutes ticked by and he remained nowhere to be seen, dread began to pool in the pit of my stomach.Class after class passed, each one cancelled without warning or explanation. Panic set in, gnawing at the edges of my mind. Had I done something to drive him away? Was he hurt, lost, or worse?I reached for my phone, fingers trembling as I dialled his number. But each call went unanswered, his voice nowhere to be heard on the other end of the line.The uncertainty was like a weight pressing down on me, threatening to crush me under its unbearable heaviness. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I paced back and forth, my mind consumed by thoughts of him and him alone
At the last minute, I hesitated, cold feet creeping in as doubts flooded my mind. Was using him as a distraction really a good idea? But before I could think of an escape, my phone rang, and Luca’s name flashed across the screen. With a shaky firmness, I answered and agreed to meet him by the campus in ten minutes.As I hung up, nerves fluttered in my stomach. What had I gotten myself into? But I had said yes, and now there was no turning back.With a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped outside into the crisp afternoon air. The cool breeze offered little comfort as I made my way toward our meeting spot.Conversation flowed around me, students laughing and chatting as they made their way home. But my mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of distraction and rebellion against my own heartache.With each step, my resolve wavered, but I pushed on, determined to prove to myself that I could do better, that I wasn’t going to wallow in self-pity over a guy who had left me behin
Relief washed over me in waves, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The turmoil that had been keeping me awake at night finally settled, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. But then, as I basked in the warmth of his embrace, reality came crashing back with a vengeance. He had shown up out of nowhere, as if he hadn’t left after promising he would never leave. Anger bubbled up inside me, hot and fierce, and before I could stop myself, I pulled away from his arms.With a surge of adrenaline, I stomped on his foot with all the force I could muster, my heeled boots making contact with a satisfying thud. He winced in pain, clutching his foot, and I felt a sense of satisfaction wash over me, tempered with a hint of regret at my own outburst. “Okay, I deserved that,” Izan admitted, wincing in pain as he nursed his foot.“You’re such a jerk! You know that!” I couldn’t hold back the anger in my voice, but he just kept his gaze do
“I thought I might find you here,” his voice caught me off guard, causing me to jump. I turned around, book in hand, to see him leaning against another bookshelf, hands casually tucked into his pockets.“Don’t startle me like that,” I sighed, but couldn’t help smiling at the sight of him. How could someone look so effortlessly good? As he straightened up and began to stroll towards me, instinctively, I backed up.“Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured, his hands coming to rest on either side of my head, effectively trapping me. I glanced away, but he chuckled softly, his thumb gently tracing along my jawline.“What are you doing? We’re in the library, Izan. Someone might see us!” I whispered, my heart pounding with excitement and nervousness.“I don’t care. Let them see,” he replied, his voice low and filled with determination.“I think you might have forgotten that you can’t be seen with one of your students. And I happen to be just that,” I reminded him, pushing him away gently.
As we strolled through the gallery, I found myself mesmerized by the collection of art. The paintings, portraits, and sculptures were simply breathtaking. It was no wonder the stained glass dome above us was so renowned.As we walked side by side, our hands occasionally brushed against each other. Then, unexpectedly, Izan gently intertwined our fingers, his touch sending warmth coursing through me.“I can’t believe I’m allowed to touch the art,” he whispered excitedly, his eyes sparkling with delight as he glanced down at me.“You’re such a goofball,” I chuckled, feeling a surge of affection for him.He brought my hand to his lips, planting a soft kiss on my knuckle. “And I can even kiss the art,” he said with a mischievous grin.“Izan!” I exclaimed, playfully swatting his arm.“What? It’s true,” he replied, his tone playful as he flashed me a charming smile.He gently cupped my face in his hands, his touch tender and warm. “You outshine the art upon this wall, I’m sure. For in your p
“Thank you so much.” I sighed in relief. My savior, cladded in a not-so-shiny black hoodie, returned my phone—that had flew out of my hand when those thugs were running after me. He gave me a nod then turned around. “Wait! Can you give me your number? I wish to repay your kindness someday.” I sought after him but he shook his head and started slipping away into the darkness of the alleyway. “At least tell me your name!” I called after as he ran faster into the approaching darkness. “Wait!” I shouted as I ran after him but it was futile, no matter how hard I tried, he was always out of my reach. I was brought back from my slumber to the continuous ringing of my phone. Another dream. The same beginning, the same ending with just a few things differing each time. I glanced out the window from my study table at the corner of my room. The sun had started taking the shade of orange, casting the city in the hues of approaching evening. I sighed and picked up the phone.“Hi Ma.”“How are
Confidence wrapped around him like a cloak, his demeanour exuding an air of authority softened by a hint of approachability. Dark, tousled hair framed a face that could rival the ancient sculptures, with shades of mahogany and copper dancing through the strands, hinting at a hidden fire. His hazel eyes, behind clear glasses, shifted like chameleons, in hue with each flicker of emotion, an ocean of complexities shimmering beneath their surface. They held a certain depth, seemingly concealing a wealth of knowledge and experience. Standing tall at 6’2”, he effortlessly commanded attention, drawing gazes without any effort. The contrast between his crisp cream shirt and deep ocean blue slacks only added to his composed sophistication. In that instant, I was spellbound, entangled by a potent mix of awe and intrigue. The fleeting hero from that fateful night had transformed into an academic, adorning the guise of a professor within the walls of academia. The revelation sent a surge of quest
“So, where are you guys from?” Luca inquired as we settled into a cosy corner at the small table.“Born in America, grew up in France, studied in Germany, now living in this beautiful country of Romania hoping to come across perhaps Lord Transylvania or a handsome vampire,” Zoe shared dreamily, earning a chuckle from us. As I took a sip of my coffee, Luca’s curiosity turned to me.“Born grew up, and studied in Bangladesh,” I replied with a smile, noticing a flicker of puzzlement in Luca’s expression—a reaction I completely understood.“No offence, but where is that?” Luca asked sheepishly, his expression tinged with a slight embarrassment.“None taken,” I reassured him. “It’s in Asia, right beside India.”“Ah, I didn’t know, sorry,” Luca responded apologetically.“Don’t worry, it’s a small country and not often in the spotlight. I totally get it,” I reassured him.“Yeah, I came to know about Bangladesh when my flight to Japan had a layover there a few years ago,” Zoe chimed in between