Chapter 1: Those eyes

The campus was buzzing with energy as students hurried about, preparing for the long-awaited fresher's party. It had been delayed for a month due to the senior class working on a major project, but now, the air was filled with excitement and anticipation.

"She’s as beautiful as ever." That’s what everyone was saying about me, Freya. I could feel their eyes on me, even on my first day at the university. It wasn’t a feeling I enjoyed. I never asked for this kind of attention, yet it seemed to follow me wherever I went.

As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the final details of my outfit for the night, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over me. **Why am I remembering my first day of college?** I wondered. **Maybe today, something good is going to happen.**

It had been two months since I started living on my own in this new city, and one month since I joined this university. My parents were reluctant at first, but I somehow convinced them to let me move far away from home. I needed the space, the freedom to breathe and figure out who I was without their constant worry and watchful eyes.

Tonight’s party was supposed to be our introduction to university life, but with the delay, it felt like we were all veterans by now. Still, it was a chance to unwind and, hopefully, meet some new people. **“Well, it’s a good thing the seniors won first prize for their project,”** I thought as I grabbed my keys and headed out. **“At least now we get to have our party.”**

I drove to the venue, my car weaving through the city streets as I mentally prepared myself for the night ahead. The moment I stepped out, a small crowd gathered around me, boys eager to impress and girls whispering behind their hands, eyes full of jealousy. I plastered a polite smile on my face, but inside, I was already bored. **It’s always the same,** I mused. **Boys all over me, girls making rumors. Nothing new.**

But then, something—or rather, someone—caught my attention. I felt a gaze, intense and almost tangible, fixed on me. I turned around, searching for the source, and my eyes locked onto a boy standing across the room. He was staring at me with a look I couldn’t quite place.

His friend nudged him forward, pushing him to introduce himself. He walked over hesitantly, and when he finally stood in front of me, he couldn’t meet my eyes. He stuttered through his introduction, barely looking up, his shyness almost endearing. **"He’s nervous,"** I realized, hiding a small smile. **"Why is he so nervous?"**

When I introduced myself, he finally looked up, his eyes meeting mine. There was something in those eyes—something familiar, as if we had met before. It was unsettling, yet I couldn’t look away. **“Why does it feel like this isn’t our first time meeting?”** I thought, but quickly dismissed it. **Who knows? It’s not like I’ll see him again.**

As I drove home that night, I couldn’t shake the feeling of those eyes, the way he had looked at me like he was seeing a ghost. **“It’s probably nothing,”** I told myself, trying to focus on the road. **“But then again… why can’t I forget those eyes?”**

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