My first day of college felt like a dream.
After years in an all-girls school, stepping into a co-ed campus felt like opening the door to a new world. Everything looked bright, new, and full of possibilities. I laughed more than I expected, made friends I never imagined I'd make, and for the first time, life felt… exciting.
Maybe too exciting.
Innocence slowly turned into curiosity — the thrill of having crushes, catching boys staring, exchanging smiles across the classroom. I wasn't a bad girl, not really… but college slowly changed me. And I liked that version of myself.
Everything was going just fine — until he appeared.
One random evening, a message popped up on Instagram.
"Hi. I know you."
I froze.
Who was he?
Was he from school? No, impossible — all girls.
From my college? Maybe… but I had never seen him.
Curiosity won, as always.
"Hi. How do you know me?"
His reply came within seconds.
"I see you every day in front of your gate."
My heart skipped.
How?
So I asked if he was from my college, and he replied:
"No, I'm from the college beside yours. I'm not a creep or anything… your profile came in suggestions, so I messaged."
And just like that — without meaning to — I got attached.
A few chats turned into conversations that made me smile at my phone like an idiot. It was that phase of life where attention feels like love, and love feels like magic.
Then one day, he texted:
"There's an emergency at home. I won't be able to message for 2 days."
My stomach dropped.
I didn't know him well… but I worried anyway.
I texted him again and again —
"Is everything okay?"
"Hope nothing bad happened."
"I'm here if you need anything."
No reply.
Not that day.
Not the next.
Not even after I tried calling.
I hated how worried I was.
And then — out of nowhere — a notification:
"Hi."
Within seconds, I typed back:
"Where were you? Why didn't you reply? Do you know how worried I was?"
His answer came calmly.
"Sorry. My mom met with an accident. I was at the hospital… I was tired and didn't see your messages."
Guilt hit me like a punch.
"No… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted. I didn't understand."
"It's okay," he replied. "It happens."
I asked about his mom, and he said she was recovering. Our conversation turned soft again —
Did you eat?
How was your day?
Goodnight.
That night, I slept with a smile I hadn't felt in a long time.
But before I closed my eyes, one question echoed in my mind:
Why does my heart feel warm every time I talk to him?
What is this tingling inside me?
Love?
Attraction?
A simple crush?
I didn't want to label it.
I just wanted to feel it.
The next morning, I woke up excited — something I hadn't felt in years. I texted him good morning before I even brushed my teeth. At college, we chatted nonstop. Still, I had never seen him, and he had never seen me — not properly.
We both wanted to meet, but… we were too shy to say it.
So we continued texting every single day.
Until one day… everything changed.
To be continued.