Chapter 2: Friends?

The morning sun streamed through the curtains as Freya stirred from her sleep. The events of the previous night still lingered in her mind, particularly the strange encounter with the boy who seemed oddly familiar. As she got ready for the day, she pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the routine ahead.

By the time she arrived at the campus, the usual buzz of students filled the air. Freya made her way to the cafeteria for lunch, hoping for a quiet meal. But as soon as she entered, she felt that same gaze on her again—the intense, almost inquisitive stare that had unnerved her last night. She turned to find the boy, Orion, sitting with a group of friends. To her surprise, one of them waved her over.

"Hey! Freya, right?" the girl in the group called out. "Why don't you join us for lunch?"

Freya hesitated for a moment but then nodded, deciding to go along with it. As she approached, the girl moved aside to make space for her.

"I'm Jia," the girl introduced herself with a grin. She had short hair, wore jeans and a T-shirt, and carried herself with the confidence of someone who didn’t care much about appearances. Freya was slightly shocked, having initially assumed Jia was a guy based on her demeanor.

"Nice to meet you," Freya replied, trying to hide her surprise.

"And I'm Shone!" another boy piped up, his broad smile revealing an easygoing nature. "I'm the funny guy around here, so if you ever need a laugh, just let me know!"

Harry, the quiet one in the group, gave her a nod but didn’t say much. He seemed more interested in observing his surroundings, his sharp eyes missing nothing.

Finally, her gaze returned to Orion, who was still avoiding eye contact. She could feel the tension radiating from him. When their eyes finally met, he quickly looked away, turning his attention to his food. It was almost as if he was trying to hide something—something that made Freya's heart beat a little faster.

The group began eating, but it wasn't long before Orion, clearly distracted, started to choke on his food. Freya noticed it immediately and quickly offered him her water bottle.

"Here, drink some water," she said, her voice calm despite her racing heart.

Orion looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. He took the bottle with a slightly shaky hand, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "T-Thanks," he mumbled, taking a sip.

"Did you get home safely last night?" Freya asked, genuinely concerned.

Orion's friends burst into giggles. "That’s a question he should be asking you!" Jia teased, nudging him playfully.

"Uh, yeah, I did," Orion stammered. "And…what about you?"

"I did too," Freya replied with a smile. She noticed how Orion quickly turned his face away, his discomfort evident. It was endearing, and for a moment, she found herself wondering if he might have a crush on her.

After lunch, they all parted ways for their next classes. Freya and Orion were in different majors, so they wouldn't see each other again until the next break. Still, Freya found herself looking forward to spending more time with them. She didn't have many friends here, and their company, particularly Orion's shy but kind presence, was a welcome change.

As she walked away, she couldn't resist glancing back one last time. To her surprise, she caught Orion staring at her again. But just like before, he quickly turned away as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn't. Their eyes met only for a second, but it was enough to stir something within her. **Those eyes…they're the same as last night at the party.**

She shook her head, trying to make sense of the growing familiarity she felt toward him. **Have we met before?** she wondered, but before she could dwell on it further, she realized she had arrived at her class.

During her next lecture, a girl named Sophia sat next to her. Unlike many of the other girls at the university, Sophia seemed genuine—kind and unpretentious. They quickly struck up a conversation, finding common ground in their interests, and by the end of the class, they had exchanged numbers.

As the day came to a close, Freya returned to her room, took a shower, and settled down to study. She ordered takeout for dinner, trying to focus on her notes, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Orion. The way he blushed when she spoke to him, the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t watching…it all felt so oddly familiar.

Finally, as she lay in bed, sleep eluding her, one thought surfaced: **Orion…right?** She smiled at the memory and, for the first time in a while, felt a strange sense of comfort as she drifted off to sleep.

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