The next day.

The moment I stepped out of the lecture hall, I felt an uneasy weight pressing against my chest. The morning had already been overwhelming, but that strange encounter still lingered at the back of my mind. His masked face, those eyes—so intense, so unwavering.

I shook my head, trying to brush off the feeling. It was just a coincidence. Nothing more.

The campus was alive with chatter as students hurried to their next classes, but I felt oddly disconnected from it all. I needed a moment to breathe. Just focus on the next step, Ishu.

As I turned the corner toward the main courtyard, a sight made me stop in my tracks. A group of men in black suits stood near the parking lot, their eyes scanning the crowd like hawks. They were unmistakably bodyguards. And not just any bodyguards—ours.

I sucked in a breath, irritation bubbling under my skin. Not again.

Tani was already there, arms crossed, looking unbothered. Aru, on the other hand, was mid-argument with the head of security, her usual composed demeanor cracking.

"I told you, I don’t need a damn babysitter!" Aru snapped, hands on her hips. "This is college, not a war zone."

The man in front of her, dressed in a crisp black suit, remained unfazed. "Miss Kapoor, your father has given strict orders. Your safety is non-negotiable."

I sighed, stepping beside her. "Let me guess. My father said the same thing?"

The bodyguard closest to me gave a small nod. "Yes, Miss Ishani. We are under orders to remain within close proximity to ensure your safety."

Aru groaned. "I swear, they act like we’re children."

"It’s protocol," I muttered, rubbing my temple. "They won’t budge. Trust me, I’ve tried."

Tani smirked, leaning against a car. "I don’t see what the big deal is. Let them do their job. If anything, it's entertaining watching them glare at every guy who even breathes in our direction."

Aru shot her a glare. "Not all of us enjoy having shadows, Tani. Some of us like a little privacy."

I exhaled, feeling the frustration settling in. "Fine. But let’s make one thing clear—" I turned to the head of security, my voice steady but firm. "You do not follow me inside the classroom. You do not interfere unless there is an actual threat. If I feel suffocated, I will find a way to lose you."

The man hesitated before nodding. "Understood, Miss Ishvika."

"Good." 

I slang my bag over my shoulder and turned to Aru. "We’re already late for lunch. Let’s go."

She huffed but fell into step beside me, Tani trailing behind with an amused smirk.

****

The weight of his stare lingered long after I had walked away. Even as I sat across from Aru and Tani in the cafeteria, my mind replayed the brief encounter. The way his dark eyes bore into mine, the slight tilt of his head as if he were amused by something only he understood. And the mask.

Aru waved a hand in front of my face. "Hello? Earth to Ishu? You’ve been staring at your tray for the last five minutes."

I blinked and focused back on her. "Sorry, just…thinking."

Tani arched her brow, taking a sip of her iced coffee. "About that guy?"

I frowned. "How did you—"

"Please." She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "You looked like you saw a ghost when you sat down. Who is he?"

"I don’t know," I admitted. "He was in my lecture. Sat a few rows behind me."

Aru tapped her chin. "And you’re sure he was staring at you?"

"Yes. And then I ran into him right after class. Literally."

Tani smirked. "Sounds like fate."

I shot her a glare. "Not funny. He—he had his face covered. Like a black mask, the kind bikers wear."

That made them pause. Aru’s brows knitted together in concern, while Tani’s smirk faded into something more unreadable. "That’s weird," Aru finally said. "You sure he wasn’t just some random guy?"

"No. He…he was intense."

Tani studied me for a moment before shrugging. "Well, if he tries anything, just tell me. I’ll make sure he regrets it."

I didn’t doubt that. Tani had a way of making people fear her without ever needing to raise her voice. I nodded, pushing the encounter to the back of my mind. "Let’s just forget it. It’s probably nothing."

I wanted to believe that. But deep down, something told me I hadn't seen the last of him.

***

After lunch, we went our separate ways. My next class was in a different building, and by the time I got there, the halls were crowded with students rushing to their lectures. I adjusted my bag and navigated through the chaos, my thoughts still stuck on the mysterious guy.

But I felt a sudden fear instilled in my heart.

I reached my classroom and slid into a seat near the middle. As students settled in, I exhaled, ready to focus.

Then the door opened, and the air around me changed.

I felt it before I even turned my head. A shift, a ripple through the room as if everyone had suddenly become aware of something—or someone. Slowly, almost hesitantly, I glanced toward the entrance.

And there he was.

The masked guy.

My breath hitched. He was leaning casually against the doorway, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed yet radiating an aura that made the air thick with unease. His eyes scanned the room, lingering just a second too long when they met mine.

Then he walked in, taking a seat at the back.

My pulse quickened. Why is he here?

I tried to act normal, but my body was on high alert. Was he following me? No, that was ridiculous. This was just a coincidence. It had to be.

The professor arrived, and the lecture began, but I barely processed any of it. My senses were locked onto the presence sitting just a few rows behind me. Every time I dared a glance over my shoulder, I found him still, unmoving, completely focused.

On me.

My fingers clenched around my pen. What does he want?

***

After class, I rushed out before he could catch up to me. The last thing I needed was another unexpected run-in. But as I made my way toward the exit, a voice stopped me.

"You’re avoiding me."

I froze.

His voice was deep, smooth, yet edged with something dangerous. Slowly, I turned. He was standing there, just a few feet away, face still masked, hands casually in his pockets.

"Excuse me?" I forced my voice to remain steady.

"You left in a hurry," he observed, tilting his head slightly.

I swallowed. "Maybe because I don’t like being stared at."

A pause. Then, to my absolute shock, he chuckled. "Fair enough."

I narrowed my eyes. "Who are you?"

For a moment, he didn’t answer. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken words. Then, he took a slow step forward, closing the distance between us.

"You’ll find out soon enough."

A shiver ran down my spine. There was no arrogance in his voice, no teasing. Just certainty. As if he already knew how this would play out, as if he had already decided our fates.

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd like a shadow.

I stood there, my heart pounding.

Something told me this wasn’t over. Not even close.