Chapter 2

Life can be painfully ordinary.

You wake up. Go to class. Laugh with friends. Chase deadlines. Sleep. Then do it all over again.

Days blur into weeks until routine quietly becomes your entire world.

Maybe that’s why we chase new things.

A new city.

A new dream.

A new flavor.

A new adventure.

Something that reminds us we’re alive.

After years of school and the same familiar faces, I was ready for life to finally begin.

I dreamed of traveling overseas.

Of earning enough to take care of my family.

Of becoming a singer.

Of becoming… something more.

I was craving change.

Something exciting.

Something unexpected.

Something that would leave a permanent mark on my heart.

I just never imagined it would arrive wearing a backpack.

“…Wow.”

Nesa’s voice pulled me back to reality.

“That girl.”

She nudged Engfa’s shoulder.

The Five friends sat beneath their usual tree—the unofficial headquarters they had claimed since freshman year.

It had witnessed four years of gossip, deadlines, heartbreaks, and dreams.

Today marked the beginning of their final year.

Patcha looked toward the campus entrance.

“Wow… she’s gorgeous.”

Engfa frowned.

“Who?”

Nesa pointed toward the crowd.

“There.”

Engfa followed her gaze.

And then…

Everything stopped.

Students continued crossing campus.

Cars rolled past the gates.

Conversations blended into the afternoon air.

Yet none of it reached her.

There she was.

A girl she had never seen before.

Tall, yet delicately built.

Graceful without trying.

Her long dark hair swayed gently as she laughed with her friends, sunlight catching every movement as though it had chosen her alone.

There was something effortlessly elegant about her.

Not loud.

Not flashy.

Just… magnetic.

People naturally looked her way.

Engfa had heard people talk about love at first sight.

She had always laughed at the idea.

How could anyone fall for someone they had never spoken to?

Then the girl looked up.

Their eyes met.

Only for a heartbeat.

But something inside Engfa shifted.

So this…

This was what people meant.

Gravity wasn’t only something that pulled people toward the earth.

Sometimes…

It pulled one soul toward another.

“Damn,” Patcha whispered.

“I love her hair.”

Sunny nodded.

“Those are the new juniors.”

“I think she’s in Journalism. My brother mentioned her.”

“Class Two,” Chers added confidently.

Patcha let out a whistle.

“These juniors are built different.”

“No kidding,” Nesa laughed.

“Are they coming to Uni or a magazine photoshoot?”

Everyone laughed.

“We’re definitely getting some eye candy this year.”

Patcha nudged Engfa.

“You remember what we looked like in first year?”

No answer.

Engfa wasn’t listening anymore.

There was only one face she could see.

With each passing class, Engfa found it harder to focus.

No matter how hard she tried, the image of the junior lingered in her mind.

This was her final year.

She had too much to prove.

She was hardworking, ambitious, and determined to make her family proud.

She couldn’t afford distractions.

Thankfully, Nesa never minded sharing her notes.

Engfa sat beside the classroom window, pretending to pay attention while secretly glancing outside every few minutes.

Maybe she’d see her again.

She had dated before.

But never had someone occupied her thoughts after a single glance.

Ring.

Students packed their bags and slowly filtered out.

Everyone except one.

Aaron.

His friends nudged him toward Engfa.

“Go.”

“You’ve got this.”

Aaron was the kind of guy people admired.

Tall.

Athletic.

Broad shoulders earned from years on the basketball court.

Confident during games.

Completely hopeless around Engfa.

For the last two years he had quietly found excuses to be near her.

Saving her a seat.

Walking beside her after class.

Offering to carry her books.

Everyone knew he liked her.

Everyone…

Except Engfa.

She remained seated, absentmindedly doodling.

Her pen sketched unfamiliar eyes and flowing hair.

Trying to remember every detail of the junior’s face.

Suddenly—

A neatly folded sheet of notebook paper slid across her desk.

A large red heart decorated the front.

It nudged the tip of her pen.

She looked up.

“How rude.”

Aaron’s face drained of color.

“Oh—my bad.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know why I thought that would look cool.”

“I… I’m really sorry.”

His words tripped over each other.

Across the classroom, Nesa watched with a grin that threatened to split her face.

Everyone knew Aaron was trying to confess.

Everyone…

Except Engfa.

She smiled warmly.

The smile that made the dimples in her cheeks appear.

“It’s okay.”

She handed the folded paper back without opening it.

“We all trip every now and then.”

She slung her backpack over one shoulder.

Linked arms with Nesa.

And walked away.

Aaron stared at the untouched letter.

“I didn’t even get to tell her.”

His friend laughed.

“I swear she’s either the sweetest girl alive…

“…or the most oblivious.”

“Engfa.”

Nesa sang dramatically as they walked through the hallway.

“Love really is blind.”

“Oh, knock it off.”

“Every semester someone gives you a love letter.”

“So where’s mine?”

Engfa laughed.

“You actually want one?”

“Obviously.”

“I don’t get it,” Nesa continued.

“Aaron’s handsome, athletic, smart… total catch.”

“Not in my net.”

Nesa burst into laughter.

“You’re hopeless.”

“Says the woman who’s still single.”

“You did not just say that.”

The two laughed all the way toward the parking lot, where Sunny, Patcha, and Chers waited beside the car.

Then Engfa stopped.

There she was.

The junior.

She stood near the front gate saying goodbye to her friends.

The breeze played gently with her hair.

She smiled with the kind of warmth that made people smile back without realizing it.

A sleek black BMW rolled to the curb.

The driver stepped out immediately and opened the rear door.

She thanked him with a graceful smile before getting inside.

The car pulled away.

Engfa watched until it disappeared beyond the gates.

Only then did she realize she had been holding her breath.

She smiled to herself.

“I really want to know who you are.”