The shrill ring of the alarm tore through Ishitha's quiet apartment, pulling her from sleep. Groaning softly, she slid out of bed, took a quick shower, and prepared a simple breakfast. As she nibbled on her toast, she muttered to herself, a small, determined frown on her face, "No friends. Just survive this semester alone."
She had been popular back in her old school in India—everyone knew her name—but she hated the chaos that came with attention. The fewer friends she had, the less drama she had to deal with. Solitude, she thought, was a blessing.
Dressed in black baggy jeans, a black crop top, and a hoodie thrown casually over her shoulders, Ishitha looked every bit the girl who preferred to stay unnoticed. Her waist-length hair, straightened to a sleek shine, was tied in a bun. Minimal effort, maximum elegance—that was her style.
As she walked toward Louis Valley International College, her student ID swinging gently around her neck, she noticed a commotion up ahead. A tall, imposing guy was blocking the path of two girls, their expressions tense and frightened. The American girl tried to speak, her voice shaky as she attempted to argue, but the man remained unyielding.
Ishitha's first instinct was to walk past—after all, she had sworn to keep to herself. But she couldn't ignore the fear in their eyes. Her steps slowed, then stopped, and she called out for the campus elders. Within moments, a few seniors arrived, guiding the man away and leaving the girls visibly relieved.
Two of them ran up to her, breathless and grateful. "Thank you so much!" one of them exclaimed.
Ishitha merely nodded, turning to continue on her way. But one of the girls hesitated. "Hey… we go to the same college, actually. Maybe we could walk together?"
There went her plan. Ishitha opened her mouth to refuse, but the eager, hopeful looks of the girls made it impossible. A small sigh escaped her lips, and she allowed herself to be drawn into their conversation.
"I'm Sofia," the first girl said brightly, with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"I'm Emma," added the second, smiling politely.
"Ishitha," she replied quietly, her voice calm but measured.
Together, they walked toward the college gates, the morning sun glinting off the campus buildings. Ishitha kept a small distance, her mind already calculating how to maintain her boundaries while keeping these new acquaintances at a comfortable distance.
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