Arista's POV
I didn't sleep.
I tried. I really did.
I switched sides more times than I could count, pulled the blanket over my head, threw it off again, even counted the tiny glow-in-the-dark stars Mira had insisted on sticking to our ceiling on the first day in the hostel. Nothing worked.
Every time I closed my eyes, yesterday replayed itself.
The crowded university hallway.
One accidental glance.
And him.
Kaelor Han.
It's funny how the heart works. You spend years teaching it to let go, convincing yourself you've finally moved on, and then one unexpected moment is enough to drag every buried memory back to the surface.
I hated that.
I hated him for leaving.
I hated myself even more because seeing him still affected me.
When my alarm buzzed at six, I immediately switched it off before it could wake the others. There wasn't any point lying in bed anymore.
I quietly climbed down, grabbed my towel and headed to the washroom.
By the time I came back, the room was still silent.
Mira had somehow kicked off her blanket.
Sana was sleeping with a book.
Zoe had buried herself so deeply under her blanket that only a few strands of hair were visible.
I smiled without realizing it.
At least someone had managed to sleep.
Lucky them
After changing into a beige hoodie and blue jeans, I packed my laptop, notebooks and two reference books into my bag.
No breakfast.
No unnecessary delays.
Just the library.
Before leaving, I looked back at my roommates.
"I'll see you all later," I whispered, even though none of them could hear me.
The morning air felt colder than usual.
The campus hadn't fully woken up yet. A few students walked across the pathways carrying coffee cups, some talking quietly while others stared at their phones like the world didn't exist.
Perfect.
Less people.
Less chance of running into someone I didn't want to see.
I adjusted the strap of my bag and continued walking.
Maybe today would finally feel normal again.
Maybe yesterday had just been...
A coincidence.
As I crossed the pathway beside the boys' dormitory, a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.
"...No. I'll handle it myself."
My steps froze.
My heart sank before my mind even caught up.
No.
Don't look.
Just keep walking.
I tried.
I honestly tried.
But curiosity has always been stronger than common sense.
Slowly...
I lifted my head.
There he was.
Standing on the second-floor balcony with a phone pressed against his ear.
Kaelor.
For a second, I wondered if I had mistaken him for someone else.
The Kaelor I remembered always had this annoying grin on his face, like he knew something nobody else did. He laughed loudly, joked during classes, irritated teachers just enough to earn a warning but never detention.
This Kaelor...
Didn't smile.
His face was expressionless.
Cold.
He stood there in complete silence, listening more than speaking.
"...I said I'll take care of it."
His voice wasn't loud.
It was calm.
Too calm.
Something about him felt... heavier.
Almost like he'd grown older much faster than everyone else.
What happened to you?
The thought slipped into my mind before I could stop it.
No.
That wasn't my question to ask anymore.
Before he had the chance to turn around, I quickly stepped behind one of the concrete pillars.
Seriously, Arista?
You're hiding now?
I almost laughed at myself.
He hadn't even seen me.
Yet here I was, hiding like some criminal caught sneaking around.
I waited a few seconds before peeking again.
He was still talking.
Good.
Taking the opportunity, I quietly walked away as fast as I could without making it obvious.
Only when the dorm building disappeared behind me did I finally let out the breath I'd been holding.
That was close.
Too close.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted me the moment I entered the cafeteria.
Exactly what I needed.
"Good morning," the lady behind the counter smiled.
"Morning."
"The usual?"
I nodded.
"One iced coffee, please."
While she prepared it, I rested my elbows on the counter and rubbed my tired eyes.
"Long night?"
"You could say that."
She handed me the cup with a sympathetic smile.
"Don't study too hard."
I smiled politely.
If only studying had been the reason I couldn't sleep.
The library was nearly empty.
Just how I liked it.
I picked my favorite table beside the large window where sunlight spilled across the wooden surface.
The silence wrapped around me almost instantly.
I took out my laptop.
Notebook.
Highlighters.
Sticky notes.
One by one, everything found its place on the table.
Soon I was completely absorbed.
Typing.
Reading.
Cross-checking references.
Making notes.
Hours slipped away without asking for permission.
I loved moments like these.
When my mind had only one thing to think about.
Assignments.
Deadlines.
Projects.
It was easier than thinking about people.
My phone vibrated against the table.
Mira Calling...
I glanced at the screen.
Not now.
I silenced it.
A few seconds later...
Sana Calling...
Then...
Zoe Calling...
I smiled to myself.
They're awake.
I'll call them later.
Just five more minutes.
I reached for another book from the stack beside me when movement near the bookshelves caught my attention.
Please...
Don't let it be—
I looked up.
And instantly regretted it.
Kaelor.
Of all the libraries...
Of all the mornings...
He was here.
He stood only a few shelves away, scanning the titles with one hand while the other remained tucked inside his pocket.
He looked focused.
Like the rest of the world didn't exist.
Instinct took over before logic could.
I quickly pulled the hood of my sweatshirt over my head and lifted the thickest book I could find in front of my face.
This is ridiculous.
If Mira ever found out, she'd laugh for the next ten years.
I carefully peeked over the edge of the book.
He had already picked one.
Please don't come this way...
Please don't—
My heart nearly stopped.
Out of dozens of empty tables in the library...
He chose the one right beside mine.
Not the same table.
Just close enough for me to hear the chair scrape softly against the floor as he sat down.
Great.
Just... great.
I lowered my head immediately, pretending to read the same paragraph for what felt like the tenth time.
The words had completely blurred.
I wasn't reading anymore.
I was simply trying to convince myself to breathe normally.
And somehow...
That felt much harder than solving any assignment.