The day passed as uneventfully as possible—well, as normal as it could after my awkward encounter with Diarmid. I tried to go about my routine, but his presence lingered in my mind.

After our brief interaction, I headed straight to my class, where I found Joshua and Leroy waiting for me. I greeted them and took my usual seat beside them. The classroom soon filled with students, and I tried to focus on my book to avoid the distraction of my earlier embarrassment.

As I flipped through the pages, I saw a familiar group walk in. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized them: the same group from the café. I tried to play it cool, but my eyes widened slightly as they settled into seats behind us. I could hear their animated chatter, a mix of laughter and conversation that seemed to fill the room.

I believe two of them have the same major as mine—Diarmid and the guy with the glasses. But it seemed like Diarmid wasn't with them today. Thank goodness, I thought. I wasn't sure how I would face him again after the humiliation of our previous encounter. I hoped for a bit of reprieve from the uncomfortable tension.

I tried my best to focus on the book that I'm reading and ignore their presence, but it was difficult. The air seemed charged with a subtle electricity every time I heard their laughter or caught a glimpse of their animated conversation out of the corner of my eye.

Eventually, the lecture began, and I immersed myself in the material, hoping to keep my mind off the nervous flutter in my chest. But even as I tried to concentrate, I couldn't help but steal occasional glances toward the back of the classroom, where I could just make out the group's lively discussion.

Despite my efforts to maintain my composure, my thoughts kept drifting back to Diarmid. I hoped that, somehow, today would pass without further incident and that I wouldn't have to face him again until I was better prepared for it.

But after a few minutes, as our professor finally introduced himself, the door of the classroom opened, and a tall, well-built guy walked in. His entrance was almost theatrical, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

He wore a crisp white shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and athletic build. His dark hair was styled in a way that seemed effortlessly perfect, and his chiseled features were highlighted by a pair of striking, intense eyes. There was a certain magnetic quality about him, a blend of confidence and poise that made it hard to look away. His presence commanded respect without him uttering a single word.

As he moved toward the front of the classroom, I couldn't help but compare him to a model or a movie star. He exuded an aura of both sophistication and approachability. His gaze, though intense, carried a warmth that seemed to put people at ease, and his smile was both disarming and genuine.

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I found myself momentarily lost in his appearance, my earlier anxieties towards him, Diarmid and his group melting away. He made his way towards me. Me? Why towards me? I tried to hide behind my book, but I could feel the tension mounting as he got closer. My heart pounded in my chest, and my palms grew clammy.

When I finally peeked over the top of my book, I realized that Diarmid was already standing right in front of me. The world seemed to freeze for a moment, his presence filling my field of vision completely.

His intense gray eyes locked onto mine, and the warmth of his gaze made me feel exposed. I could barely breathe, my mind racing to come up with something to say, anything to break the silence.

His lips curved into a small, almost reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hi, Arwen," he said softly, his voice smooth and calm. "Mind if I sit here?"

I nodded, barely managing a whisper, "Uh, sure."

He slid into the seat beside me with a grace that seemed almost deliberate. As he settled in, I could feel his presence beside me, a mixture of relief and unease washing over me. I tried to focus on the lecture, but the proximity of Diarmid made it hard to concentrate.

Diarmid didn't say anything more, allowing a comfortable silence to fall between us. I could sense his curiosity, but he was respectful enough not to pry further. His presence was both reassuring and nerve-wracking, a stark reminder of our earlier encounter and the unspoken tension that still lingered between us.

I heard someone from behind us calling out, "Diarmid." The voice was soft yet distinct, and I couldn't help but steal a glance over my shoulder. To my surprise, it was the girl I had met in the café .Our eyes met, and she smiled warmly as if we were already old friends. Instinctively, I smiled back.

"Diarmid..." she called again, her tone affectionate, like an older sister gently calling her younger brother. Curious, I shifted my gaze towards Diarmid. But instead of looking at her, his eyes were locked on me. The intensity of his stare caught me off guard, and I felt an undeniable warmth rising to my cheeks. My face flushed hot under his steady gaze, and I quickly turned away, feeling suddenly exposed.

I had almost forgotten that Joshua and Leroy were seated beside me. Suddenly, I felt a tug at my hair, snapping me back to reality. I turned to face Joshua, who was glaring at me with an intensity that made my stomach drop, while Leroy sat there smirking like he'd caught me in the middle of something I shouldn't be doing. Instinctively, I ran my left hand through my hair, trying to play it off, and gave them a sheepish smile.

I was definitely going to have some serious explaining to do later.

I shifted uncomfortably, attempting to ignore Joshua and Leroy's obvious stares. In fact, I tried to tune out everyone in the room except for the guy sitting next to me—the one who had captured my attention from the moment he walked in.

He had a striking presence, the kind you couldn't help but notice. His dark, wavy hair was perfectly tousled, framing a sharp, angular face with piercing eyes that seemed to see right through you. His strong jawline and sculpted cheekbones gave him a model-like appearance, almost too perfect to be real. There was an artistic quality to him, like someone who effortlessly blended creativity and charisma. He exuded a calm confidence, his every movement smooth and deliberate, as if he belonged in a different world entirely. I found it impossible to look away, drawn to him in a way I couldn't quite explain.