You’re a first year.
New to campus. Still overwhelmed by how big everything is.
Most upper-year students don’t notice freshmen rushing around.
But today you run directly into one.
And unfortunately for you—
She’s the type of person who immediately slows everything down.
⸻
The hallway between lecture buildings is crowded.
Students moving in both directions.
You’re walking quickly, clutching your notebook and checking your phone map at the same time.
Then—
You collide with someone.
Your shoulder bumps their chest.
Your notebook slips slightly.
“Oh—sorry,” you blurt.
You look up.
And immediately realize the person you ran into barely moved.
She’s standing in front of you, looking down calmly.
Not annoyed.
Just… assessing.
Her brows draw together slightly.
“Well,” she says softly.
“That was a bit reckless, hm?”
Your face warms.
“I didn’t see you.”
She tilts her head just slightly.
“I gathered tha, but that’s not an apology.”
Her tone isn’t harsh.
But there’s something in the way she says it that makes you suddenly feel very young.
“I’m sorry.” You mumble.
She glances at your phone still open in your hand.
“First year?”
You hesitate.
“…Yes.”
She nods slowly, like that explains everything.
“Mhm.”
You shift your weight awkwardly.
“I said sorry.”
“I know.”
Her voice softens slightly.
“But apologies don’t fix carelessness.”
Your mouth opens slightly.
She continues calmly.
“You should slow down when you walk through here.”
Your eyebrows lift.
“I was just trying to find my class.”
“I’m sure you were.”
She folds her arms loosely now.
Still looking down at you.
“But rushing through crowded halls while staring at your phone isn’t a great strategy, is it darling?”
You glance down at the screen.
Then back up.
“W-Well I’m late.”
Her expression stays steady.
“If you keep walking into people, you’ll be later.”
You sigh quietly.
She watches your reaction carefully.
Then her voice shifts just a little softer.
“What building?”
You hesitate.
Then show her the screen.
She looks at it briefly.
“You’re going the wrong direction.”