The Day We Met

Sitting at the back was a male student with dark blue eyes, messy brown hair, and a plain white T-shirt that contrasted against his black jeans. His feet were propped up on the desk in front of him, completely unfazed by the world around him. But what caught me the most was the way he stared at me—his gaze intense, piercing, like he was looking straight through me. It sent a shiver down my spine, my blood running cold.

And yet… I couldn't look away.

I had never felt this kind of pull toward anyone before. There was something magnetic about him, something that made my stomach tighten and my heart pound a little too fast. I forced myself to move, scanning the classroom for an empty seat, but even as I walked, my gaze kept drifting back to him.

What is wrong with me? I shook my head, trying to snap out of it, but my mind wandered into dangerous territory—daydreams I had no business having about a stranger.

I was so lost in thought that I barely noticed when I reached my seat. Just as I was about to sit down, a sudden voice startled me.

"Hi! My name is Olivia Millstone," a cheerful voice chirped beside me.

I blinked rapidly, yanked from my trance, and turned to see the girl sitting next to me.

She wore round glasses that framed her bright hazel eyes, and her red hair was neatly combed into two pigtails. A massive book bag, decorated with colorful Pokémon stickers, sat beside her desk. Her skirt extended all the way to her ankles, and her overall appearance reminded me of Gretchen from Recess—a little nerdy, but in a charming and oddly endearing way.

I stared for a second before realizing I hadn't responded yet.

"Hi, my name is Julia Watson," I finally said, offering a small smile.

Olivia beamed, still holding out her hand. I hesitated for a brief moment before reaching out and shaking it. Her grip was firm, confident—like she was the kind of person who had no problem making friends.

"It's nice to meet you," she said. "I could tell you were new. You kind of looked like a deer caught in headlights when you walked in."

I let out a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, I guess I was a little overwhelmed."

"A little?" Olivia raised an eyebrow playfully. "You looked like you were about to pass out."

I laughed softly, some of my nerves easing. Maybe having someone friendly around wasn’t such a bad thing.

But just as I was about to respond, I felt it again. That gaze.

I turned my head slightly, just enough to steal another glance at him. He was still staring.

And this time, there was a hint of a smirk on his lips.

My heart skipped.

I couldn’t stop my curiosity from getting the best of me. As Olivia rambled on about the school, my gaze kept drifting back to him.

The way he sat—so effortlessly confident, like he owned the space around him. His dark blue eyes flickered toward me again, and I swear, for a second, my breath hitched.

"Hey, Olivia," I finally whispered, leaning in slightly. "That guy sitting at the back… Who is he?"

Olivia followed my gaze, then immediately let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh, him? You’re talking about Jamie Carter."

Jamie. Even his name sounded annoyingly attractive.

"Let me guess," I said, trying to sound casual. "He’s some kind of brooding bad boy?"

Olivia snorted. "More like a walking red flag."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"He’s a playboy," Olivia said bluntly. "The kind who flirts with anything that breathes and leaves a trail of broken hearts wherever he goes." She rolled her eyes. "I swear, half the girls in this school have fallen for his stupid charm at some point. You’d think they’d learn."

I stole another glance at Jamie, who now had his head tilted back slightly, tapping his fingers on the desk like he was bored.

"And the other half?" I asked.

"The smart ones," Olivia said, giving me a pointed look. "Who know better than to get caught up in whatever game he’s playing."

I hummed in response, but my mind was already wandering. Something about him didn’t scream typical playboy to me. Maybe it was the way he seemed completely unbothered by the attention. Or maybe it was the fact that, despite Olivia’s warning, I couldn’t stop looking at him.

"Well," Olivia said, flipping open her notebook, "unless you’re looking to be the next girl he sweet-talks and forgets about, I’d suggest staying far away."

I forced a small laugh. "Oh, please. I have no interest in guys like that."

"Good." Olivia nodded in approval. "Stick with me, and I’ll keep you out of trouble."

I smiled, but deep down, I wasn’t so sure. Because for some reason, trouble was looking a lot more tempting than it should.

Before I knew it, the class had flown by. The clock seemed to move at warp speed, and suddenly, it was lunchtime. I grabbed my lunch from my bag and headed out of the classroom, eager to find a quiet spot to eat and avoid any more awkward social interactions.

I wandered around campus, taking in the bustling atmosphere as students filled the courtyard. There were groups of people gathered everywhere—some sitting on the grass, others perched on benches, and a few walking around with their friends.

I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider in this sea of people, trying to figure out where I could blend in.

Just as I passed a row of benches, I saw him again. Jamie. He was sitting with a group of his friends, laughing at something one of them had said. For a second, my eyes locked onto his, and I found myself staring.

Don’t look. Don’t look again.

But I couldn’t help it. My gaze kept drifting back to him. And then, as if he had sensed my eyes on him, Jamie glanced over at me. Our eyes met for a brief moment before he tilted his head playfully, flashing me a smile that looked almost mischievous.

My heart skipped a beat, and I swear, my cheeks went scarlet at that moment. I turned my head quickly, trying to act like I wasn’t blushing like an idiot.

“Geez, you’re acting like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I jumped, startled by Olivia’s voice behind me. I turned around to see her, slightly out of breath, smiling at me.

“Hey!” I said, trying to act casual.

“You walk fast.” Olivia laughed, adjusting her oversized tote bag. “You’re the one who was practically sprinting ahead. Anyway, what’s with you? You’ve got that look on your face.”

I couldn’t help it. My mind was still stuck on the playful smile Jamie had flashed me.

“What look?” I said, feigning innocence.

Olivia raised an eyebrow. “The ‘I think I’ve just been caught staring at the hottest guy in school’ look.”

I immediately flushed even more. “I—uh—I wasn’t staring! I was just... I was just—”

Olivia grinned, clearly having fun with my awkwardness. “Oh, so you noticed him too, huh?”

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms defensively. “It’s not like that.”

“Oh, really?” Olivia said, her tone dripping with amusement. “Because from where I’m standing, it totally looks like it’s exactly like that.”

I sighed, my face burning. “Fine, maybe I noticed him. So what?”

Olivia’s grin softened into something almost teasing. “Nothing. Just remember, he’s a playboy for a reason, alright? Don’t get caught up in whatever he’s selling.”

I nodded, trying to ignore the way my heart fluttered at the thought of him. “I’m not interested. Really.”

Olivia raised her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. But let me know if you need any advice on how to avoid falling for that charm.”

I could only laugh, though deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in way over my head.