Ishvika

The shrill ring of my alarm clock shattered the silence of my room, jarring me awake. I groaned, blindly reaching for my phone, smacking at the screen until the blaring noise finally cut off. For a moment, I considered burrowing back into my blanket, letting the comfort of sleep pull me under again, but then reality hit me.

First day of college.

I forced my eyes open, staring at the ceiling as my heart pounded with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Today wasn’t just another day—it was the start of something bigger.

Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I stretched before padding over to my mirror. My reflection stared back at me—dark eyes still clouded with sleep, hair an untamed mess. I sighed. Nothing about me screamed "college-ready," but that was a problem for after my shower.

By the time I was dressed—an oversized white shirt tucked into black jeans—I felt slightly more prepared for the day ahead. I ran a brush through my hair, grabbed my bag, and checked my phone.

Aru: Hurry up, slowpoke. We’re leaving in 20.

I rolled my eyes but smiled. Typical Aru. Always the planner, always the responsible one. She probably had everything prepared last night while I had debated which outfit would make me look less nervous.

A sharp knock on my door made me jump.

"Ishu, hurry up!" Tani's voice came through, impatient and sharp as always. "We’re not waiting if you make us late!"

I grabbed my stuff and yanked the door open to find her standing there, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised. Tani always had this effortless way of looking intimidating—her all-black outfit, the piercing gaze, the way she carried herself like she owned the world. Even though she was five-foot-eight, she had the kind of presence that made people take a step back.

"You’re up early," I noted, stepping out and locking my door behind me.

"Obviously," she scoffed. "I’m not about to let idiots steal the best parking spots."

I bit back a smile. Tani and her priorities.

We made our way downstairs, where Aru was already waiting by her car, tapping her foot impatiently. "Finally! Let’s go before we end up stuck in traffic."

The drive to college was a mix of chatter and comfortable silence. Each of us had different paths—Aru was diving into hotel management, Tani was deep into car modeling and automotive engineering, and I was studying architecture. Different dreams, different goals, but somehow, we had never drifted apart.

Yet, there was something about today that felt different. A shift in the air. A feeling I couldn’t shake.

The moment we stepped onto campus, the energy around us shifted. Students bustled past, some laughing, some looking just as lost as I felt. The buildings loomed large, modern yet intimidating. The sheer scale of it all made me pause.

"Well, this is it," Aru said, adjusting the strap of her bag. "Time to conquer college."

Tani scoffed. "Or time to weed out the idiots."

I chuckled, but inside, my nerves were unraveling. I knew we would be in different buildings, in separate classes, and for the first time in years, I would have to navigate something without them constantly at my side.

"You’ll be fine, Ishu," Aru said, as if reading my mind. "You’re not a kid."

"I know," I muttered.

Tani rolled her eyes. "Just punch anyone who bothers you. Works like a charm."

Aru shot her a look. "That’s… not how normal people solve things."

"Worked for me so far."

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. "Alright, time to go. See you guys later?"

"Lunch," Aru confirmed. "Don’t get lost."

With one last glance at them, I turned and headed toward my building.

Walking into my first lecture hall was both exhilarating and terrifying. The room was massive, rows upon rows of seats already filling up. I found an empty spot near the middle and sat down, glancing around. Some students were chatting animatedly, already forming groups, while others were like me—silent, observing.

The professor entered, and the class settled into a quiet hum. Introductions, course outlines, expectations. I tried to focus, but a strange sensation crept over me—like I was being watched.

Subtly, I turned my head, scanning the room.

Then my eyes locked onto a pair of dark ones.

A guy sat a few rows behind me, his gaze steady, unblinking. There was something unsettling about the way he watched—like he had already figured me out before I even spoke a word.

I swallowed, quickly turning back to the front. My heart was hammering. Who the hell was that?

I forced myself to focus, but the weight of his gaze never left.

By the time my first class ended, I felt like I could breathe again. I gathered my things and practically rushed out, but just as I stepped into the hallway, I collided with someone.

"Shit—"

Strong hands caught my arms before I could stumble back. I looked up—and froze.

It was him.

Up close, he was even more intense. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in all black. His features were sharp, his expression unreadable. There was something about him—something dark, like a storm brewing beneath the surface. But only his steel grey eyes were visible, his rest of the face was covered under a mask.

"You should watch where you’re going," he said, his voice smooth, deep.

I yanked my arms free, straightening. "Maybe you should too."

His lips curved slightly, as if amused. "Fair enough."

For a second, neither of us moved. The air between us felt charged, heavy.

Then, with one last look, he stepped past me, disappearing into the crowd.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. What the hell just happened?

By the time I found Aru and Tani at lunch, my mind was still spinning.

"You look like you’ve seen a ghost," Aru noted, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"More like a demon," I muttered, dropping into the seat next to her.

Tani raised an eyebrow. "Already caught some weirdo’s attention?"

I hesitated. "I don’t know. There’s this guy in my class—he’s just… intense."

Aru frowned. "Intense how?"

"Like he sees right through you. It’s weird."

Tani scoffed. "If he bothers you, let me know. I’ll handle it."

I laughed. "I doubt I’ll see him again. It was just a weird moment."

But even as I said it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the last time our paths would cross.

And somehow, that thought sent a chill down my spine.