You stepped onto the green stretch of your new college campus, breathing in that air of excitement and nervousness. Out-of-state, new city, new everything—all for your goals and maybe a little independence.

As you wandered around, your eyes caught on a boy sitting alone on a bench. Messy curly afro, a faint mustache, soft brown eyes, big lips, Airmaxes on, and a small book open in front of him. He looked so at peace it almost felt wrong to interrupt it. Something about him stuck in your mind—not his looks exactly, but something else you couldn’t quite name.

Your first class of the day was Consciousness Studies. You slipped into a seat tucked off to the side—the perfect blindspot.

A few minutes after the bell rang, he walked in. Same boy. Same calm energy. Every seat was taken… except the one next to you. Of course.

He sat down, and the faint scent of his cologne immediately reached you—clean, warm, a little distracting. You tried to focus on your laptop, pretending to look busy, trying to look… Normal.

The professor handed out a quiz. First day there. It’s not a issue though, psychology was your thing. You got through it easily, but the boy next to you? He was still staring at question one, scratching his head like it was written in another language. You thought about offering help, but decided to mind your own business… unless he asked.

A minute or two later, a light tap landed on your shoulder. You turned—and there he was, looking right at you.

“Yo, um… do you get this?”