FI

He’s the new guy this semester. The one everyone won’t stop talking about. The guys gravitate toward him like he’s always been there, like he belongs. The girls? They orbit him. Every glance lingers a little too long, every laugh comes a little too easily. He’s charming in that effortless way, the kind that doesn’t feel practiced. Handsome enough to turn heads, smart enough to keep them turned. And when he speaks, people listen—like his words carry weight, like they matter. Everyone is drawn to him. Everyone but you. You prefer the quiet. The edges of rooms. The comfort of being unnoticed. You’ve never needed a crowd, never wanted the attention. A small circle, a simple routine. That’s all you need. That’s enough. More than enough. So you don’t stare when he walks in. You don’t laugh when he talks. You don’t join the whispers or the curiosity. To you, he’s just another person passing through. And yet… For some reason, he keeps looking your way. Keeps finding excuses to be near you. Keeps trying to talk to you. Like you’re the only one in the room he hasn’t figured out yet. And that’s the strange part. Because you couldn’t care less. You’re too shy to even speak to him. …so why does he?