CHAPTER 4
Just like he said, he was already waiting for me at the cafeteria...
in the exact same seat.
I could recognize him even from a distance. The slightly wrinkled dark jacket, the straight posture, the way he sat so casually.
And somehow… it all felt too familiar.
I stopped a few steps away.
This is just a coincidence, right?
Just the same name.
Nothing more than that.
I took a slow breath, then walked toward him.
Before I could say anything, he spoke first.
"I thought you weren't coming."
I paused.
"You didn't even look back," I replied carefully.
He let out a soft chuckle and turned his head. His eyes met mine instantly as if he had known all along that I was there.
"I knew you'd come."
"How?"
He shrugged lightly.
"Just a feeling. It felt like someone's been watching me for a while," he said casually, pausing on purpose. "Kind of creepy, actually."
"What are you even saying?!" I protested.
He laughed again, clearly enjoying my reaction, then tapped the seat in front of him. "Sit."
I obeyed, though a trace of hesitation still lingered.
"So?" he asked casually.
"Do you know my name yet?"
I swallowed.
This was it.
A mission that felt more intense than any surprise quiz.
"Keenan," I finally said.
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
"Smart," he replied shortly. Then he pushed the leftover fried snacks toward me.
"Eat."
I shook my head. "I'm full, Ka—"
"Nan," he cut me off quickly.
"Not 'Kak.' Just Nan."
I froze.
He just asked me to call him… without distance?
"But"
"We're the same age," he interrupted again.
"You're '97, right? I'm '97 too."
My eyes widened. "How do you know that?"
He smiled faintly. "I saw it on your name tag during orientation."
"Oh… right," I muttered.
Why didn't I think of that?
"Oh yeah, let me see your phone," he said suddenly.
"Here," I replied reflexively.
Without asking for permission, he took it from my hand and started typing.
I could only watch.
A few seconds later, he handed it back.
"Save it," he said casually.
I looked at the screen.
A new number was already there.
But the name field was empty.
I looked up at him, confused.
"The name?"
He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "You already know it."
I bit my lip, then slowly typed: Keenan.
Without saying anything, I showed him the screen.
"Too many 'e's," he said lightly.
I froze.
A memory surfaced without warning.
There used to be someone who always complained if his name was written with just one "e."
He said those two letters mattered.
He said it made all the difference.
And now, the Kenan sitting in front of me was complaining because there were too many.
Just one letter.
Only one letter apart.
But it felt like two completely different people.
Without realizing it, I let out a small laugh.
"Why?" he asked, confused.
I quickly shook my head. "Nothing."
But for the first time since hearing his name, my chest felt a little lighter.
***
"Why do you keep following me?" I asked casually.
Yes.. now I was much braver around him.
And it had been a week since that day at the cafeteria.
Strangely, we kept running into each other..
in the corridors, at the cafeteria, even in front of the faculty building.
"Who said I am?" he replied lightly.
"I'm just heading to the library."
I narrowed my eyes, clearly unconvinced.
"Oh really? Funny how you're always around whenever I am."
He chuckled.
"That's called fate, Ra."
"Ugh," I scoffed.
He just shrugged, completely unbothered.
"Or maybe you're the one following me?"
I let out a soft huff and ignored him, quickening my pace toward the library.
As I approached, the automatic doors slid open. Cool air greeted me instantly, making everything feel calmer compared to the noisy campus outside.
I walked toward the middle shelves, pretending to look for a book I probably didn't even need.
A few seconds later, his footsteps stopped right beside me.
"Do you still have class after this?" he whispered.
"No," I answered shortly, still staring at the books.
"Want to watch a movie?"
I glanced at him slightly.
"Watch what?" I asked, randomly pulling out a book and opening it without actually reading.
Suddenly, his arm reached past me, grabbing a book from the upper shelf.
The distance between us became too close.
"That one's not for our major," he said softly.
I turned my head reflexively.
And that's when it happened.
Our faces were too close.
I could clearly see the line of his jaw, the calm look in his eyes, and the faint smile that always seemed ready to appear.
My heart betrayed me again.
"So… what do you want to watch?" I asked, trying to shift the moment.
He didn't answer immediately.
He was still too close.
"Any movie," he finally said quietly.
"As long as you don't run away."
"I don't run away," I shot back.
He smirked.
"Then who almost ran in the corridor yesterday?"
"That was reflex."
"A reflex because you're scared of me?"
I rolled my eyes.
"A reflex because I didn't want trouble."
He laughed softly, then stepped back. The distance between us returned to normal—but somehow, the air still felt different.
"8 p.m. Let's watch at E-Walk," he said casually.
"I'll pick you up."
I frowned immediately.
"Who said I want to be picked up?"
He crossed his arms.
"So you're coming on your own? Wow, very independent."
I shook my head slightly.
"That doesn't mean I'm coming."
He looked at me for a few seconds.
This time without a smile.
"I'll pick you up, Ra."