Mysterious Stephan
Even though Allen's heart was pounding, a mix of nervousness and an inexplicable excitement coursing through him, he refused to let any hint of weakness show. Standing there in front of the person who had been the enigma behind the red umbrella all this time, he straightened his posture, squared his shoulders, and clenched his jaw.
He wasn't about to let himself appear vulnerable, not now, not ever.
Finally, forcing his voice to sound steady, he said, "You…"
The guy looked up, calm yet teasing, and replied with a single word, "S."
Allen blinked, trying to steady himself. "S…?" he echoed, his curiosity mingling with disbelief.
The guy nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yeah."
Allen needed to make sense of the mystery that had consumed his thoughts for so long. "S… S for what?"
The guy's eyes met his, sparkling with quiet amusement, as he finally said, "Stephan."
"Steph…" Allen murmured, trying to place the name. A flicker of recognition crossed his mind.
"The name… sounds familiar. You—"
Stephan cut in with a gentle chuckle, his expression easy and relaxed, as if trying to smooth over any awkwardness of a first meeting. "Yes, that's me. I'm Stephan."
"And yes, we're batchmates. You probably didn't pay much attention to me before, so maybe it's no surprise if you don't remember that we're in the same college."
Allen tilted his head slightly, squinting in mild disbelief. "How am I supposed to believe that? I don't recall ever noticing your face in the library… or anywhere else, really."
Stephan backed slightly, shrugging in a nonchalant way. "Well, that's understandable."
" Libraries aren't exactly the place where people notice each other much, are they? Especially when someone is buried under a mountain of books."
Allen blinked, a little embarrassed, realizing Stephan might be teasing him. His lips pressed into a thin line as he searched for words, unsure if he should laugh, groan, or just accept the truth.
"So… all this time… the umbrella… it was you?"
Stephan's smile widened, calm but mischievous. "Yes. It was me all along. I just wanted to make sure you didn't get drenched. And maybe… see if I could get your attention, eventually."
Allen's heart skipped a beat, a mix of relief, curiosity, and something he couldn't quite name swirling in his chest.
"And," Stephan tried to ease the conversation. "I don't come to the library very often. Our classes in college are mostly separate, so we rarely cross paths. The only class we share is English."
"Which major are you in?" Allen asked, trying to place him among the many students he saw around campus.
"Business Administration," Stephan replied.
"Oh…" Allen murmured, piecing things together. "No wonder. That explains why we hardly ever have any classes together. Except English, of course, since I'm majoring in Biology—"
Stephan's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Ah, a Biology major. I know about you. I've heard quite a lot of praise from the teachers. Seems like almost everyone on campus knows who you are."
Allen blinked, caught off guard by Stephan's casual familiarity. His mind raced, trying to connect the dots. Then, a spark of recognition lit up his eyes. "Wait… wait a minute!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief.
"You… you're not Stephan Brooks, are you? The one who won first place nationwide in last year's debate competition?"
Stephan laughed softly, a warm, confident at the same time. "Guilty as charged."
Allen let out a small laugh, "Oh, no, no…that's amazing! You really are the debate champion, Stephan? I… I'm so sorry, I completely forgot about you. We've never actually talked before, have we?"
Stephan's lips curved into a soft, knowing smile. "Yeah… that's the one thing I truly regret."
Allen, " Hm?"
"I mean...," Stephan said, leaning slightly closer, "I've always wanted to talk to you."
Allen blinked, caught off guard. "Why?" His voice was quiet, laced with genuine intrigue.
Stephan chuckled softly, running a hand through his hair, "Because… well, just because! I've always thought it'd be nice to talk about school, give little advice, share thoughts… simple things like that. You know. We are mates! Isn't?"
"Ah," Allen murmured, feeling an unknown tension. " Yeah..."
"Uh, if you don't mind, shall we? Walk together? Side by side? I can tell you a few more things along the way...."
Allen felt a small flutter in his chest again. He hesitated for only a moment, then nodded. The tension in Stephan's shoulders eased slightly, and as they started walking side by side, the red umbrella held high between them. Allen couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of something unexpectedly… significant.
Allen hesitated, then asked, "So… why have you never come to meet me before? I mean… all these notes…"
Stephan smiled, a little sheepishly, "Honestly, I never thought it was necessary to meet in person. I've always noticed you in the library, you're there almost all the time, aren't you? From morning till night, studying, eating… you're always in the same spot. "
" But then I noticed… on the days you didn't have your umbrella, you'd lend it to someone else. And every time I saw you drenched in the rain… well, let's just say, I couldn't resist anymore."
Allen blinked, caught off guard by the directness, and Stephan added, almost whispering, "…So I decided it was finally time to do something about it."
"Really?" Allen asked, his tone a mixture of surprise and mild disbelief, studying Stephan as if trying to test his true intentions.
"You're telling me… people actually go out of their way to help a complete stranger these days?"
"You're saying that?" Stephan chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes as he leaned in just a little.
"You?!"
"AH! what's so funny about that?" Allen countered, " Why are you laughing, huh?"
"Whenever I see you," Stephan began thoughtfully, carrying a hint of awe, "you're always in one of two modes. Either you're completely minding your own damn business, … or you're out there quietly helping someone."
Watching Allen carefully, his eyes scanning his beautiful eyes. "I've seen you do things most people wouldn't even think about. Like taking a pregnant dog to the vet yourself, making sure it gets proper care. Or calling the animal rescue people for injured animals you find on the roadside. You don't just help the humans around you, you care for anyone who needs it."
" Even here in college, you talk to everyone kindly, making sure no one feels left out. You're the first to offer help, whether it's something small like lending a pen, guiding someone with their assignments, or sharing your notes with a classmate struggling to keep up."
Stephan's voice softened slightly, almost impressed. "And yet… I've never heard you get into a fight, never any rumors of you clashing with anyone. Every teacher I know speaks of you as one of their best students. And volunteering? I've heard you dedicate time for that, too. On top of it all, you juggle multiple part-time jobs. Honestly, it's… rare to see someone so quietly extraordinary."
He paused, letting his words hang in the cool, rain-scented air. "You're… remarkable, Allen. "
Allen had no words for this.
" I see you've heard quite a lot about me, haven't you?" Allen said after a long pause, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But… until today, we've never actually met in person, right?"
Stephan shook his head with that easygoing grin. "Let's leave the past behind. Now that we've met… best friends, dude!" He held out his hand, playful and confident.
"Best friends… on the very first meeting?" Allen asked, raising an incredulous eyebrow.
"Are you running some kind of scam? Is this some kind of prank, or did you make a bet on me or something?"
Stephan laughed, a warm, genuine sound. "No, nothing like that. I'm just saying it. Even just friends is perfectly fine. For me."
"I really hope you're just a normal guy," Allen said, narrowing his eyes. "And that you're not expecting some huge favor in return for all this buttering me up with compliments."
" I've honestly never seen a guy compliment another guy this much before!"
"Oh, really?" Stephan said with a teasing grin. " Well, now you see for yourself, Allen."
And just like that, their acquaintance began to deepen. Their conversations grew longer and more natural, and one day, almost instinctively, they exchanged phone numbers. That simple act felt like opening a secret door to endless possibilities.
For him, this entire experience was something entirely new—an unfamiliar thrill mingled with curiosity.
In class, he was well-acquainted with his peers, but that familiarity never extended beyond the surface. Across the college, he had earned a quiet reputation as a diligent and serious student. To the teachers, he was the model of obedience, but beyond academics, he had never sought attention or recognition; he never tried to stand out, and no one had ever approached him in a way that felt personal, or meaningful.
Exactly like what Stephan is doing right now.
His life was always consumed by studies, to late night shifts, leaving little room for close friendships. Most of his peers dismissed him as a bookworm, dull and unexciting. And truthfully, he didn't mind being alone; it was how he preferred it.
So for Allen, this Stephan's sudden attention was a whirlwind of new sensations—completely unfamiliar and a unnerving.
His mind immediately switched into high alert mode, analyzing every word, every glance, every small gesture. Could this guy have some hidden agenda? Is he trying to take advantage of me somehow? The questions buzzed relentlessly in his head. Stephan seemed so easygoing, confident, and friendly, but Allen couldn't help wondering if there was more beneath the surface, some secret intention he hadn't yet seen. Was this all genuine, or was it some carefully calculated game?
Despite the mental alarms blaring, his heart had a stubborn defiance of its own. It was willing to take a risk, to lean into the curiosity and excitement that Stephan brought with his dull life.
Allen found that no matter how much he tried to remain detached or cautious, he couldn't ignore Stephan. The calls that arrived at odd hours, the small, persistent messages that popped up on his phone, and the casual invitations to meet in person, all of it tugged at him in ways that were impossible to resist.
Messages, small jokes, questions about homework, observations about campus life, his part time jobs. And before long, even when they weren't physically together, the phone became their bridge. Allen would catch himself smiling at a notification, his mind already anticipating the next playful or teasing message from Stephan.
All day alone Allen kept replaying their conversation in his mind, Stephan's teasing words, the confident way he spoke, and the subtle spark in his eyes that seemed to say, I've got your number now, Allen. It wasn't just casual chatter, there was something magnetic about him.
Allen thoughts and instincts warred with each other: one side warning him to protect himself, the other urging him to let go just a little and see where this connection might lead.
At first, Allen honestly felt super awkward. He had never been this open with a classmate, never let anyone see him outside of his quiet, studious shell. But Stephan had a way of making it feel easy, natural. Slowly, Allen's hesitation melted away. He began seeking opportunities to meet Stephan, to share small moments—a laugh, a brief debate over some subject, lunch breaks, weekends, free times or even a casual stroll outside the campus.
It wasn't instant, and it wasn't dramatic. It was subtle, steady, and sweet. Every small interaction layered trust and understanding between them. Allen realized that for the first time in a long while, he was looking forward to seeing someone—not for a grade, not for a favor— but simply because he wanted to.
And with every conversation, every shared laugh, and every step closer, Allen's initial nervousness transformed into a quiet, glowing excitement.
Stephan, in turn, seemed to genuinely enjoy Allen's quiet, observant nature, often teasing him in a way that was lighthearted but somehow intimate.
Now Allen knew he didn't want to resist Stephan's presence at all!