Despite my hasty fingers, I'm quick to hit send, a soft sigh slipping through my parted lips. My skin warms and my lips quip up at the remembrance of the handsome stranger seated next to me. The number of futile attempts to admire the man beside me did not go unnoticed, and it had my cheeks blooming red in embarrassment.

You're staring. It's fucking creepy, he says bluntly, shifting in his position to face me. The pace of my heart quickens as my eyes find his dark grey ones, piercing through me. His sharp jaw is set, muscle twitching as he furrows his eyebrows. Please stop staring.

I almost choke on my spit at his words, eyes widening in pure shock and humiliation. I part my lips, ready to speak but my words are caught in the back of my throat as I stutter and stumble over my words, eventually giving up as I drop my shoulders in defeat.

Sorry,the word is a mere whisper on my lip as I laugh nervously.

Never have I ever seen a sight so beautiful during my time at the University of Ambridge.

From my peripherals, I notice his dark eyes remain on the side of my face, squinting yet silently judging as I squirm in my seat, gathering my things to avoid any confrontation with the lecturer. Thankfully, the dark room was enough to shut out my fleeting humiliation and draw attention away from me.

If there was one thing I excelled in, it was losing track of my surroundings, hence leading me to unfamiliar territory; I should've paid attention to the signs on the wall, and how I ended up in the Engineering department was beyond me. Alas, Kazuo loved to micromanage everything I did-according to him, I was a lost cause-so I never had the chance to bask in my stupidity before he was whisking me away to class.

The feel of the glossy wood beneath my palms is cool as I push myself out of my chair, the legs screeching as I did so. My face instantly contorts into a grimace as I mumble an oops, ducking my head when multiple heads turn my way at the sound of the distraction.

What an idiot,I hear the stranger beside me huff out under his breath, though I heard his words loud and clear.

I nervously chew my lower lip, glancing from the man beside me, who only raises his eyebrow in question, to the exit doors. My palms are clammy as I hike my bag up my shoulder, clumsily bumping my hip against the side of the desk as I attempt to shimmy out of the aisle.

A groan erupts from the back of my throat as a sharp pain shoots down my left leg, the sensation gone as quick as it came before it turns into a dull throb. Fingers reaching to massage the sore spot, I tense up when I hear a snicker sound behind me.

As much as I want to turn around to berate the handsome stranger, I know I'll end up a blushing mess. Instead, I crane my neck, eyes seeking his burning gaze.

His lips pull up into a small smirk, challenging me as I slide past him, the soft scent of his nutmeg and vanilla cologne wafting through the air.

I'll see you around,and with one last wink, I was on my merry way.

a/n: ew idk how to feel about this chapter (more so the written bit but whatevs) we move xx

enjoy 😊