8th June

Yesterday had been Noah’s birthday. You had wanted to spend the entire day with him, to surprise him with something meaningful, but life hadn’t allowed it. With your parents away, you were left to take care of your younger siblings—helping them with homework, cooking dinner, and tucking them into bed. Noah had teased you on the phone about being a “responsible big sibling” instead of celebrating with him, but his tone had been light, playful rather than blaming. Still, you felt guilty. You promised him that after his upcoming water polo tournament, you would give him a gift big enough to make up for it, something he would never forget. For now, though, life continued its usual rhythm.

Noah had just finished another grueling training session at Candice High. The pool echoed faintly with splashes and laughter as he showered and packed up his things. His hair was still damp, the faint scent of chlorine clinging to it, but his mind wasn’t on the exhaustion or the soreness in his muscles. He had somewhere else to be. His teammates lingered, joking and scrolling on their phones, but Noah zipped his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and left without delay. Each step he took toward Plessis University felt purposeful, carrying him closer not just to the campus, but to you.

About thirty minutes later, Noah arrived at the front gates of Plessis University. The campus was bathed in the soft golden light of late afternoon, the edges of the buildings glowing warmly. Plessis wasn’t like his school—it was private and strict. Outsiders weren’t allowed near the gates, and the guards were sharp-eyed, never missing a detail. Yet, despite this, Noah had made a habit of being there for you. He leaned casually against the railing outside, phone in hand, scrolling absentmindedly while his eyes flicked toward the stream of students leaving the campus. Even if he drew attention, it didn’t matter. His purpose was singular: to see you.

As the bell rang and students poured out, two girls noticed him immediately. They approached with bold smiles, whispers to each other betraying their curiosity.

“Hey,” one of them called out, tilting her head with an inviting grin. “You look familiar. Do you go here? What’s your Instagram?”

Noah glanced up briefly from his phone, his expression calm, almost bored. He didn’t bother to answer, letting his gaze fall back to the screen. He thought silence would be enough to make them lose interest, but they lingered.

“Don’t be like that,” the other girl chimed in, brushing her hair over her shoulder as she stepped closer. “You’re definitely not just a high schooler. You look older—like a grad student. At least tell us your name.”

Noah’s thumb stilled on his screen. He exhaled slowly through his nose, a sigh laced with the kind of irritation he rarely let anyone see. The last thing he wanted was this kind of attention. His patience thinned, but he kept his voice low, almost muttering, as though the words weren’t meant for them but simply needed to be said: “I’m already taken…”

The girls exchanged a look, one of them raising a skeptical brow. “Really?” she challenged, her tone disbelieving, almost mocking. “With who? Come on, don’t just make stuff up.”

Noah’s jaw tightened as he lifted his gaze fully this time. His light blue eyes, usually soft and warm when they found you, were sharp now with clear annoyance. He let out another sigh—this one heavier, deliberately audible—as if to say he was done entertaining their disbelief. His gaze flicked past them, scanning the gates instead. He wasn’t interested in convincing strangers of the truth. He didn’t need to explain himself to anyone. The only person who mattered was the one he was waiting for, the one he knew would appear any moment now among the stream of students leaving the campus. And when you did, every doubt, every pushy question, every interruption would disappear on its own.

Because when you finally walked through those gates, Noah knew his eyes would find you instantly—and the world would fall quiet around him, just as it always did.