The hallway was a bustling hive of activity, filled with the chatter of students and the rhythmic shuffle of feet. Amidst the chaos, a young man named Shin navigated his way through the crowd, his arms laden with a heavy stack of textbooks. His heart pounded in his chest as he carefully balanced the books, his mind racing with the thought of a looming deadline.
Just as he was about to make it out of the crowded hallway, a figure barreled into him from behind. The impact sent the books flying in every direction, scattering across the floor like startled birds.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Shin exclaimed, his face flushing with embarrassment. He quickly knelt down to gather his scattered belongings.
A deep, amused chuckle sounded from behind him. "No worries," a voice said. "Let me help you with those."
Shin turned to see a tall, athletic-looking man bending down to pick up the books. His gaze met a pair of piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold a hint of mischief.
"Thank you," Shin replied, feeling a strange mix of relief and embarrassment.
As the man handed the books back to him, Shin noticed how effortlessly he carried the heavy stack.
"You're taking a lot of classes this semester," the man observed, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
Shin nodded, his cheeks turning a shade of pink. "Yeah, I'm trying to get ahead."
The man smiled. "Well, good luck with that. Hey, by the way, I'm Alecto, Alec for short."
Shin returned the smile. "I'm Shin."
"It was nice meeting you, Shin," Alec said, extending his hand.
Shin hesitated for a moment before taking his hand. As their fingers brushed, a strange sensation coursed through him. It was a feeling he couldn't quite place, but it was undeniably...intriguing.
As Alec turned to leave, Shinfound himself watching him go. Something about that brief encounter had left him feeling a little off-balance, a little...excited.
To be continued...
