Eyes That Meet

CHP:2 The gaze that lingered

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After that day, I saw him again during my exams. I'll keep it brief.

On my third exam, I spotted him the moment I entered the college. He was already looking at me. The unexpected attention flustered me so much that I instinctively ran towards the area where we placed our bags. My heart raced as I stepped through the main entrance, fully aware of his gaze still lingering on me.

Even when I stood talking to my friend, wishing her all the best for the exams, I could still feel it. His silent presence wrapped around me like an unseen force.

I did my best to act normal, to pretend like nothing was happening-but inside, I was anything but fine. I was floating, overwhelmed by an intoxicating mix of nervousness and excitement. It felt as if I had stepped into my own little heaven.

- Unspoken Moments -

I saw him again on my next exam day.

This time, I was the one who arrived early. I stood near the entrance, chatting with the same friend as before, trying to keep my nerves in check. The campus felt quieter in those early moments, the air filled with the murmurs of other students preparing for their tests.

Out of habit, my eyes drifted toward the entrance-and there he was.

He walked in, and for a fleeting second, the world seemed to pause. My gaze locked onto his, and to my surprise, he didn't look away either. The eye contact lingered, stretching into something almost tangible, something that made my pulse quicken.

It was different this time. It wasn't just a glance; it was a moment, an unspoken connection that neither of us dared to acknowledge.

But reality snapped back too soon. I forced myself to look away, not wanting to seem like a creep or make things awkward. Pretending to be engrossed in conversation again, I tried to ignore the flutter in my chest, but the warmth of his gaze still lingered in my mind long after he had walked past.

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A Glimpse That Never Came

...
The morning sun bathed the world in gold as I rushed out, my heart beating in sync with the ticking clock. I was late-just a little-but my father's driving turned time itself into a blur. The car sped through the streets like a bird slicing through the wind, and before I knew it, I had arrived. Right on time.

Stepping out, I felt the morning breeze wrap around me, whispering something familiar, something reassuring. The sky stretched vast and blue above me, and the golden sunlight poured down like a blessing. Yet, amidst all this brightness, something was missing.

My eyes flickered around, searching. A quiet longing pulled at my chest as I scanned the scattered faces. He wasn't there. The one whose presence I had unknowingly started seeking. The one whose fleeting glances had somehow become significant.

But there was no time to dwell. The strict voices of examiners pulled me forward, guiding me through the grand entrance of the exam center. I took my seat, focused, but somewhere in the back of my mind, a silent thought lingered: Would he be here?

The exam felt like a mere moment, vanishing before the incense stick could burn out completely. Time had slipped away, leaving only the faint scent of ink and hushed whispers of pens scratching against paper.

As I stepped out of the building, a mix of relief and lingering anticipation filled me. Conversations swirled around me-old friends, new faces-yet there was an emptiness within me. A quiet, unspoken question remained unanswered.

And so, my eyes searched again. Not for the sky, not for the breeze, but for the one glimpse that had become an unspoken part of my day.

...
~~~(I was curious-curious about how it would all unfold. Yet, I was never surprised, for fate seldom bends to our desires. It follows its own path, indifferent to the choices we make.

But what was it? What was that strange, lingering emotion? Even I did not know. The answer to my silent question dissolved into the wind, carried away with the very breath I inhaled.

The scorching breeze kissed my skin, stealing away the warmth and moisture from my nose, leaving behind only a dry stillness. A smile rested on my lips, but within me, there was an emptiness-a quiet void filled with unspoken questions, waiting for answers that would never come.)~~~