chapter -3 A love that once blossom

The memory of their first meeting was still vivid in Liliana’s mind, as if it had happened only yesterday. It was their first year of college, the time when everything seemed so new, so full of promise. She had been walking to class, her mind preoccupied with the notes she had hastily scribbled the night before. The campus was busy with students rushing between buildings, and there was an air of excitement, a sense of fresh starts.

But then, she had bumped into him.

Ethan.

She’d been so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn’t seen him standing there, right in front of the building’s entrance. The collision had been inevitable, and she had flinched at the unexpected impact. Her books flew from her hands, scattering across the pavement, and she looked up, her heart racing.

“Sorry, I wasn’t looking—” Liliana started, but she stopped when she saw him.

Ethan was standing there, tall and confident, with a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His dark hair fell in messy waves, framing his sharp features. His eyes, a striking shade of green, locked with hers, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. Everything around them blurred, as if they were the only two people in the world.

His voice broke through the moment. “Are you okay?”

She blinked, momentarily stunned by how his gaze seemed to penetrate through her. She nodded, bending to gather her scattered books, but he was already there, helping her pick them up. His touch was gentle, but there was something magnetic about it, something that made her heart skip a beat.

“I’m Ethan,” he said, his tone warm and casual. “Don’t worry about it. Happens to the best of us.”

Liliana laughed softly, her nerves easing. “Liliana,” she replied. “I’m fine, really. Just a bit clumsy, I guess.”

Ethan smiled, and that smile was like a spark that ignited something in her chest. There was something easy about him, something that made her feel at ease, despite her usual reserved nature. It wasn’t long before they were chatting like old friends, talking about their classes, their interests, and the little quirks of college life that made it both overwhelming and exhilarating.

Over the next few weeks, their paths crossed more often. What had started as an accidental encounter soon turned into shared lunches, study sessions, and casual walks around campus. Liliana found herself looking forward to the moments they spent together, not because she had to, but because she wanted to.

There was a quiet intensity between them, an unspoken understanding that grew with each passing day. Ethan was different from the guys she had met before—he was kind, funny, and attentive. He didn’t rush her, didn’t push her to open up, and yet, she found herself telling him things she had never shared with anyone.

It wasn’t just the big things. It was the little things that drew her in. The way he remembered that she loved coffee with just a dash of cinnamon. The way he’d smile when he noticed she was lost in thought, as if he could sense when she needed space but also wanted him to stay close. It was the way he made her laugh when she was feeling overwhelmed, and the way he was always there when she needed someone to listen. There was something so steady about him—something that made Liliana feel like she could trust him with anything, even her fears.

One evening, as they sat together on a bench near the campus fountain, watching the sun dip below the horizon, Ethan turned to her, his expression serious yet gentle.

“You know, I never thought I’d meet someone like you here,” he said softly, his gaze fixed on her.

Liliana raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

Ethan smiled, but this time it was different—there was a hint of vulnerability in it. “Someone who’s not trying to fit in, someone who’s not all caught up in what everyone else is doing. I like that about you, Liliana. You’re… real.”

Her heart fluttered at his words, and she felt a warmth spread through her chest. It was as if he saw her for who she truly was, beyond the surface. No pretenses. No expectations.

“I don’t know what to say,” she replied, feeling a little shy under his gaze. “I guess I just don’t see the point in pretending to be something I’m not.”

Ethan’s smile softened, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, and she realized, in that moment, that this was more than just friendship. Something had shifted between them, something undeniable.

“I’m glad I met you, Liliana,” he said quietly. “I really am.”

It was then that Liliana knew. She knew that she had already fallen for him, that her heart had already made its decision. Ethan was more than just a friend. He was the one.

As the days turned into weeks, their connection deepened. They became inseparable. Ethan’s presence in her life felt like a warm embrace, like a steady anchor in the ever-changing sea of college life. They shared their first kiss one evening under the stars, and from that moment, it was clear—what they had was something special.

Every glance they exchanged held a promise, every touch lingered a little longer than necessary. And though they never spoke the words out loud, they both knew. They were more than just two people who had met by chance. They were meant to be.

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