An Unexpected Pull

Chapter 3 –

Eshan couldn’t stop replaying yesterday in his mind. Reyan’s smile, the way his eyes lit up when he laughed—it all felt too sudden, too intense. He had never believed in the idea of love at first sight… until now.

At college the next day, Eshan walked through the crowded corridor, heart racing as if it knew Reyan was nearby. And then, like fate proving its point, Reyan appeared at the end of the hall. Their eyes met again. Time seemed to freeze.

Reyan tilted his head, a teasing smile forming.

“Still staring at me?” he asked softly when they finally stood face to face.

Eshan flushed, his voice barely steady.

“I—I wasn’t staring… I just noticed you.”

“Noticed me, huh?” Reyan chuckled, his tone playful but warm. “Good. I was hoping you would.”

For a moment, Eshan forgot how to breathe. Nobody had ever spoken to him like that—like he mattered, like he was being seen for the first time. Reyan’s confidence was magnetic, and Eshan’s quiet nature couldn’t resist being drawn to it.

They ended up sitting together in the campus garden later, talking about everything and nothing. Reyan shared stories about his love for music, while Eshan quietly revealed his passion for sketching. Every laugh, every glance only deepened the strange connection between them.

As the sun began to set, Reyan leaned closer, his voice gentle now.

“You know… it feels like I’ve known you much longer than just a day.”

Eshan’s chest tightened. He felt the same, but the words caught in his throat. Still, his silence spoke volumes—and Reyan understood.

Something unspoken was blooming between them. Neither dared to name it yet, but both knew: this was the beginning of something they couldn’t turn away from.

The days that followed blurred into something new for Eshan. His routine, once quiet and predictable, now carried a secret thrill. Every morning, his first thought was whether he would see Reyan. And every time he did, the world seemed to brighten in ways he had never noticed before.

One afternoon, Reyan found Eshan sitting under the old oak tree in the garden, sketchbook in hand. His pencil moved quickly, capturing the details of the branches above. Reyan crouched down beside him, curiosity shining in his eyes.

“Can I see?” he asked, pointing to the sketch.

Eshan hesitated—his drawings were personal, pieces of his heart on paper. But something in Reyan’s gaze made him nod. Slowly, he turned the book toward him.

Reyan’s eyes widened.

“This is… beautiful,” he whispered. “You drew this in just a few minutes?”

Eshan looked away, his cheeks warming.

“It’s nothing special.”

Reyan shook his head firmly.

“No, Eshan. It’s you. The way you see the world—it’s special.”

Those words lingered in the air, heavier than they seemed. Eshan felt something stir deep inside, a spark he couldn’t deny. For the first time, someone wasn’t just looking at his art—they were looking at him.

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was full, alive, almost electric. Reyan leaned back on his hands, gazing at the sky.

“You know,” he said casually, though his voice carried a softness, “when I first saw you… I had this strange feeling. Like my heart recognized you before I did.”

Eshan’s breath caught. The truth was, he had felt the same. But saying it aloud felt too dangerous, too soon.

So instead, he whispered, “Maybe… it’s not strange. Maybe it’s just fate.”

Reyan turned to him then, and their eyes locked—two souls caught between the comfort of friendship and the edge of something much deeper.

The first spark had been lit.

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