Chapter 03 - The First Encounter

I tried to focus on the lecture, but sitting directly behind her, it was impossible not to notice her hair. It was a stunning blend of natural black and blonde highlights, cascading over her shoulders with a nonchalant grace. Her choice of style was impeccable, exactly what I found most attractive in a woman’s hair. But still, she remained silent, not once turning around as if she knew precisely what she was doing. It was as though she was deliberately withholding attention, making me crave it more. She seemed to be playing a game, one I was all too familiar with, having read countless books on manipulation and power. Yet, despite my knowledge, it was working. I couldn’t help but want to know more about her.

Determined to break the silence, I decided to find an excuse to talk to her. I was about to call out her name, but to my dismay, I realized I had forgotten it—how embarrassing, especially since we had only just met. So, instead, I gently poked her shoulder. She didn’t turn around but leaned back slightly, just enough to murmur, “Huh?” without taking her eyes off the board.I hesitated. I had planned to ask for a pen, but then it struck me that she might use it as yet another opportunity to mock me, solidifying my status as a loser in her eyes. So, instead, I deployed one of my own strategies—a subtle maneuver from the playbook of manipulation. “Sorry, nothing,” I said, retracting my hand.

She returned to her original position without a word, but I knew I had planted a seed of curiosity. What was I going to say? Why had I poked her only to withdraw? I imagined her mind churning, trying to decode my intentions.

The lecture continued, but my thoughts were elsewhere, only half-focused on the teacher’s words. Suddenly, the bell rang, signaling the end of the period and the start of lunch. The classroom emptied in a flurry of movement, students already grouped into cliques, heading eagerly toward the cafeteria. I marveled at how quickly everyone seemed to have formed friendships, while I had been too absorbed in observing her—or rather, thinking about her—to even try.

As the room emptied, I remained seated, lost in thought, unsure where to go or what to eat. That’s when I heard a familiar voice call out my name from the window. It was Terry, an old friend from school, his face lighting up with surprise.

“Hey, Terry! What a surprise! You’re here too?” I exclaimed, standing up to greet him, a smile breaking through the cloud of thoughts that had been hanging over me.

“Yeah, man! I didn’t know you were here either. Let’s grab something to eat—I’m starving,” he replied, a grin spreading across his face.

As i headed out of the classroom, I caught a glimpse of her—Elia. Her name clicked into place as I saw her sitting alone, just as she had been when I first saw her, though now she was at the first desk near the door. I knew it was a long shot, but I couldn’t resist asking, “Hey, Elia, want to join us in the canteen?”

She didn’t respond, and I took her silence as a refusal. Feeling a bit deflated, I followed Terry out, giving him a classic handshake as we made our way downstairs toward the cafeteria.

But halfway down the staircase, I heard that voice again—the same one that had called me a loser, yet now it held a different tone, something softer, almost inviting. “Ankit, wait!”

I turned to see her, Elia, hurrying down the stairs. Her face became clearer with each step, and for the first time, I could fully take in her features. Her uniform was standard, yet on her, it seemed tailored, fitting her perfectly and accentuating her slender figure in a way that was both elegant and alluring. Her hair, untied, flowed around her face with a wild, effortless beauty, the kind that you see in movies and never quite forget.

When she reached me, she smiled—a smile that was softer, more genuine than before. It held none of the mockery from earlier, only a quiet warmth. “So, what are we eating?” she asked, her voice light, almost playful.

I couldn’t help but return her smile, feeling something inside me shift, as if the day had suddenly taken on a new brightness. “I don’t know. Let’s check out the menu and decide. Oh, by the way, this is Terry, my friend from school. Terry, this is Elia.”

They exchanged polite smiles, and we all headed toward the cafeteria together. The air was thick with the chatter of students, the space crowded, yet somehow, with her beside me, it felt more open, more alive. We spotted an empty table for three of us in the far corner, and as we made our way there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this moment was the start of something—something I hadn’t expected, but suddenly found myself hoping for.