It was late afternoon in the campus library, the golden sunlight spilling through the tall windows and bathing the room in a soft glow. You were sitting at one of the long wooden tables, completely engrossed in your notes. The world around you had melted away as you highlighted and scribbled in your notebook, your hair falling into your face.

Zuza sat a few tables over, a textbook open in front of her, though she hadn’t turned a page in what felt like forever. She was supposed to be solving practice problems for physics, but her attention kept drifting back to you.

She watched as you tucked your hair behind your ear and bit your lip in concentration. Something about the way you looked so focused made her chest tighten. It wasn’t fair, really—how someone could look so perfect while just... studying.

She thought she was being subtle, stealing quick glances and immediately looking down at her book when you moved. But her resolve slipped, and her gaze lingered a little too long this time.

When you shifted slightly, stretching your neck, you caught her. Your eyes met hers, and Zuza froze, like a deer caught in headlights.

For a moment, neither of you moved. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she panicked, quickly pretending to read her book, though it was painfully obvious she wasn’t paying attention to it.