The next morning, school looked the same—
the same chatter, the same footsteps, the same endless hum of noise.

But for me, it didn’t feel the same.

Because I carried yesterday with me like a secret pressed against my heart—her stumble into my arms, her wide eyes meeting mine, the tiny nod that told me she was okay.

It was nothing. An accident. Brief. Forgettable.
At least… for her.

But for me, it replayed again and again.

I slipped into class quietly, hugging my books like a shield. My eyes found her before I even realized I was searching.

Sia.

She was by the window again, sunlight pooling around her as though it belonged only to her. She laughed at something a friend whispered, the sound soft and tinkling, and my chest tightened like it had been waiting for that sound all along.

I sank into my corner seat, stealing glances I hoped no one noticed. Would she remember me? Would she look my way?

And then the professor clapped his hands.
“New seating arrangement! Alphabetical order. No exceptions.”

The room filled with groans, chairs scraping as people tried to cling to their usual spots.

Normally, I would’ve hated this. Being forced to sit beside someone new, pretend at conversation—it always left me tongue-tied.

But this time… fate decided to be kind.

Her desk slid next to mine.

Sia.
Right there.
So close the faint fragrance of her hair—sweet and fresh, like wild jasmine—drifted across the tiny space between us.

She turned, her lips curving in a small, easy smile.
“Hi,” she said softly, her voice brushing over me like a secret. “Sia, it is. And you?”

For a moment, my tongue refused to work. The simplest answer felt too heavy, too clumsy. My pulse thudded in my ears.

Finally, I managed to whisper, “Sam… it is.”

Her smile deepened, eyes brightening with something warm.
“Sam,” she repeated, like she was trying it on her tongue, like she was going to keep it.

I forgot how to breathe.

Then, lowering her voice just slightly, she added, “I wanted to thank you… for that day. For catching me.” Her cheeks colored faintly, just enough to notice. “I didn’t get the chance.”

The thought of her carrying even the smallest guilt for something that had given me everything twisted inside me.

“No issues,” I blurted out too fast, shaking my head. “Really. Don’t worry about it.”

She laughed lightly, tilting her head, studying me in a way that made my skin prickle. “You’re shy, aren’t you?”

My eyes widened. Heat climbed up my neck, and I looked down at my books, fumbling for words. “I-I’m not—”

Her laughter bubbled out again, soft and playful, filling the space between us. “It’s okay. I like that.”

Butterflies. A thousand of them, all at once, crashing against my ribs.

And in that moment, I knew: even if all this was, was sitting beside her, hearing her laugh, catching the way she said my name—
I would treasure it.

Because she was too close now, too bright, too much.
And I was already falling.

Thank you for reading Chapter 3! 🌷

If you enjoyed this update, please leave a like 💖 and drop a comment—it really keeps me motivated to keep writing more of Sam and Sia’s journey for you. Your support means the world.

🌸 Stay tuned for Chapter 4—it’s only going to get sweeter (and maybe a little more complicated 👀).