I still remember the first time I noticed him.

The classroom was loud, filled with chatter and laughter, but my eyes slipped toward the corridor outside. That’s when I saw him. Adrian.

He was standing with his friends, tall and confident, his careless smile brighter than the morning light. He wasn’t even trying, but somehow every single person looked at him.

My heart did this strange thing.

Skipped.

Raced.

I didn’t know what it was.

“Who’s that?” I whispered, leaning closer to my seatmate, pretending to write in my notebook so it wouldn’t look obvious.

She followed my gaze for a second before replying, “That’s Adrian. He’s a senior.”

Senior.

The word itself felt heavy, unreachable. He belonged to another world — older, cooler, surrounded by people who seemed just as untouchable as him.

But my eyes kept finding him. Again and again.

Every detail stood out.

The way his laugh echoed down the hall like it owned the space.

The way his hair fell across his forehead before he brushed it back with that easy movement.

The way people leaned closer when he spoke, like his words mattered more than anyone else’s.

I told myself it was nothing.

Just a crush.

A silly, temporary crush.

But somewhere inside, I already knew that wasn’t true.

That night, when I was scrolling through Instagram, my finger hovered over his profile. My chest tightened.

Should I?

Shouldn’t I?

It felt ridiculous — something so small, just a tap — but my hand was trembling.

One deep breath.

And then… click.

Followed.

I stared at the screen like my life depended on it. Minutes stretched into forever. Then — a notification popped up.

Adrian has followed you back.

I swear my heart nearly stopped. I pressed my phone to my chest and laughed quietly, feeling like the entire world had shifted just a little.

It was stupid, maybe. Just a follow. Just a name on a screen. But to me, it was everything.

That night I couldn’t sleep. My mind replayed his smile, his laugh, that single moment in the corridor.

And I knew.

This wasn’t a passing crush.

This was the beginning of something deeper — something that would change me in ways I wasn’t ready for.

Because the truth was simple.

Adrian had already stolen a part of me… without even knowing it. And that night, as I lay awake staring at the ceiling, I realized something frightening — this wasn’t just a passing crush anymore. It was a storm quietly growing inside me, pulling me toward him in ways I couldn’t explain. I didn’t know where it would lead, but one thing was certain: Adrian had already become the thought I couldn’t escape.Every little thing about him replayed in my mind like an endless loop — his smile in the hallway, the way his voice lingered in the air, even the sound of his laugh that somehow reached me in the crowd.

I hated how easily he could affect me. How a single glance could make my chest tighten, how a simple thought of him could steal my sleep.

It felt unfair — how someone could walk into your life without knowing, and suddenly, you’re left carrying a heart that doesn’t belong to you anymore.

And lying there in the dark, I whispered to myself what I couldn’t dare say out loud.

“I think I like him.”

Time has a strange way of moving.

Some days it felt like the hours dragged endlessly, and other days, weeks slipped by before I even realized. After that first Instagram message, life slowly went back to its rhythm. The excitement of Adrian replying to me, of our small conversations, became part of my nights. But as the months passed, something else started pulling me in.

Exams.

The word itself was enough to make my stomach twist. Everyone around me was buried in books, trading notes, whispering formulas in the corridors. The pressure was heavier than ever. For once, I forced myself to focus. I thought, maybe if I worked hard enough, maybe if I distracted myself, I could stop thinking about him all the time.

And so I did.

Days turned into nights spent over textbooks. My room became a battlefield — notebooks stacked high, pens scattered across the desk, half-finished coffee mugs lined like soldiers. I memorized pages until my eyelids grew heavy, solved equations until the numbers blurred. I wasn’t the smartest girl in class, but I had something sharper: determination.

Every time I felt like giving up, I whispered to myself, “Scarlett, just one more page. Just one more night.”

And soon, the exams came and went.

I walked out of the last hall with shaky legs and ink-stained fingers, not knowing whether to cry or laugh. It was over. The wait began.

When the results were pinned to the notice board, the hallway turned into chaos. Students pushing, whispering, screaming, some crying, some celebrating. My heart pounded as I searched for my name.

And then… there it was.

Scarlett Morgan — 2nd Highest.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

I blinked once, twice, just to make sure it was real. My name wasn’t at the bottom, wasn’t hidden in the middle. It was right there at the top, shining like a star I never thought I could touch.

My hands trembled as I pressed them against my mouth. I did it. After months of sleepless nights, after every doubt that ate me alive… I actually did it.

“Scarlett!” My friend Lila grabbed my arm, shaking me. “You’re second highest! I’m so proud of you!”

I laughed, half in disbelief, half in relief. “I… I can’t believe it.”

The announcement came the next morning during assembly. The principal’s voice echoed through the mic.

“This year’s academic achievers… Scarlett Morgan, please step forward.”

My knees went weak. My legs carried me toward the stage as if in a dream. Hundreds of eyes followed me. Teachers smiled, students clapped, but everything blurred around me.

Until I saw him.

Adrian.

He was sitting at the back, surrounded by his usual group. He leaned casually in his chair, one arm draped over the desk. And when my name was called, when I walked up the steps and stood under the harsh stage lights — his lips curved into a smile.

Not just any smile. A genuine one.

My heart lurched violently, thundering in my chest. That single curve of his lips shattered every wall I had built over the past months. My hands shook as the principal handed me the certificate, and for a terrifying second, I thought I might drop it.

But I didn’t. I clutched it tight, smiling for the cameras, though my eyes kept slipping back to the only face that mattered.

Adrian’s smile.

It was too much. Too powerful. Too dangerous.

When the assembly ended, my friends cheered, hugging me, clapping me on the back. “Scarlett, you were amazing! Second highest, wow!”

I smiled, nodded, laughed… but inside, all I could think was how fast my heart had raced when I caught his eyes.

That night, lying in bed with the certificate by my side, I whispered to myself.

“This isn’t just a crush anymore.”

I’d thought of him as nothing more than a senior I admired, someone out of reach. But now… now it was different. It felt deeper.

The way his smile lit something inside me, the way my entire world stopped for just one second — it wasn’t just infatuation.

It was my first love.

And I knew it.

The realization left me breathless, terrified, yet strangely warm.

Adrian had become more than just a boy I liked. He had become the reason my heart skipped, the reason my dreams felt brighter, the reason even the longest nights of studying felt worth it.

He didn’t know it. He didn’t have to. But inside me, it was written clearly, loudly, endlessly.

My first love had a name.

And it was Adrian.

The alarm shrieked.

Scarlett groaned, slapping it off before burying her face into the pillow. Another day…

But it wasn’t just another day. Something in her chest felt different, almost restless. She pulled herself out of bed, dragged her uniform out of the cupboard, and stood in front of the mirror.

For a second, she just looked at herself. The girl staring back wasn’t the same Scarlett who used to drag through mornings without caring. Her hair looked shinier today, her eyes softer, her skin glowing like it had caught the hint of sunrise.

She brushed her hair more carefully, letting it fall perfectly. A dab of lip balm. A mist of perfume, faint but sweet. Then she whispered to her reflection—

“Stop. He won’t even notice…”

But her heart whispered louder—what if he does?

---

The school gates were buzzing when Scarlett arrived. Students poured in, laughing, shouting, rushing with books tucked under their arms. Scarlett walked in slower, her bag slung across her shoulder, her steps oddly graceful today.

And that’s when it happened.

Eyes turned.

“Scarlett! You look so different today!”

“Pretty pretty… where’s the glow coming from?”

“Girl, you look GOOD.”

Her friends circled her, showering her with comments, teasing her nonstop. Scarlett rolled her eyes, her cheeks warming.

“Shut up, I’m literally the same,” she muttered.

But deep inside… her heart skipped. She did look different. And maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t only her friends who would notice.

---

Classes dragged on as usual. Teachers spoke, chalk screeched, pens scribbled. Scarlett’s notes turned into doodles as her mind drifted. Every now and then she caught herself imagining what would happen if she saw him in the hallway. What if he smiled? What if he walked past without even noticing?

By break time, her nerves were buzzing. She walked into the canteen with her friends, tray in hand. The room was alive with voices, laughter, clinking dishes.

And then—her steps froze.

He was there.

Andrian.

The senior everyone seemed to admire, yet somehow he always stood apart. His group of friends filled the corner table, their voices echoing with jokes. Andrian leaned back in his chair, sunlight slanting across his hair, a smile tugging at his lips as he laughed.

Scarlett swallowed. Her heartbeat turned uneven. She tried to act normal, sitting at a table nearby, but her eyes betrayed her—pulling toward him again and again.

And that’s when she saw her.

A senior girl. Tall. Confident. Perfect hair. Perfect smile. She walked straight up to Andrian, leaning just a little too close, her laugh loud and effortless.

Scarlett’s stomach twisted.

Really? Does she have to laugh like that? And stand so close?

Andrian tilted his head, listening to whatever she was saying, chuckling softly.

Scarlett stabbed her food with her fork. She told herself she wasn’t bothered. She told herself she didn’t care. But her chest burned.

Her friend leaned closer, whispering with a sly grin, “Scarlett… don’t stare too hard, or everyone will notice you’re jealous.”

“I’m NOT jealous,” Scarlett hissed, cheeks flaming. She tore her gaze away, looking down at her tray. “I’m just… watching. That’s all.”

But her hands gave her away—the fork trembling between her fingers.

Her friends giggled, covering their mouths.

---

And then it happened.

Across the noise of the canteen, Andrian’s gaze shifted.

And landed on her.

Scarlett froze, her chest tightening. His eyes lingered for a moment longer than casual, like he’d caught her watching.

Her heart raced. Her throat went dry. She quickly looked away, pretending to listen to her friends. But the warmth of his gaze stayed, making her pulse thunder in her ears.

When she dared to glance back—he was still watching.

And then… he smiled.

Not the wide laugh he gave his friends. Not the polite smile he gave teachers. Something smaller. Softer. Almost secret.

Scarlett’s fork clattered against her tray.

“Scarlett, you’re blushing,” her friend whispered, barely containing her laughter.

“I—no I’m not!” Scarlett snapped, covering her face with her hands.

But she was. Her cheeks burned, her chest felt like it was on fire, and her entire body was trembling with one thought—

He noticed me.

---

The rest of the break blurred by. Scarlett barely ate. Barely spoke. Her mind replayed that smile over and over, trying to decode it. Did it mean anything? Was it just casual? Did he… actually notice her?

When the bell rang, she rushed out with her friends, hoping to lose the flutter in her chest. The hallway buzzed with students returning to classes, footsteps echoing against the walls.

And then—

Scarlett’s breath caught.

He was there. Walking down the opposite corridor, his bag slung casually, his hands in his pockets. The crowd seemed to fade around him.

Scarlett’s friends nudged her. “He’s coming this way…”

Her heart threatened to stop. She tried to look away, to act normal. But when she passed him—

“Scarlett.”

Her name. From his lips.

She froze. Turned.

Andrian had slowed down, glancing at her with that same subtle smile, like he knew something she didn’t.

Scarlett’s voice barely worked. “Y-Yeah?”

“Nice perfume,” he said simply, then walked past, disappearing into the crowd.

Scarlett stood rooted in place, her friends gasping around her.

Her knees felt weak. Her pulse out of control.

He noticed. He actually noticed.

And for the first time, she realized—this wasn’t just a silly crush. It was the beginning of something bigger. Something scarier. Something that could change everything.