“Hi, I’m Sophia… Sophia Sinclair.”

  She appeared like a scene shift, sudden and dazzling, as we walked down the corridor toward class.

The three of us, David, Nora, and I, stopped in our tracks. She was tall, confident, and carried herself with a grace that belonged more to runways than classrooms. Her navy-blue blazer was perfectly tailored, her cream blouse neatly tucked into high-waisted trousers. Even the way she tucked her hair behind her ear felt intentional.

  And her eyes, cool, assessing, landed directly on David.

  “So, I’m paired with you, Mr…?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

  “Ahh… It’s David. David Prescott,” he stammered, clearly caught off guard.

  His voice cracked mid-sentence. He adjusted the strap of his backpack and glanced nervously at Nora. She raised an eyebrow.

  “We’re paired,” Sophia said decisively. “Okay, I’ve got the topic. I’ll take care of everything. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”

  She waved her hand like she was already dismissing the idea of teamwork.

  “Why alone? You have a teammate,” Nora cut in, her voice sharp like broken glass.

  Sophia turned, unfazed. “Why do you care?”

  Her tone was breezy, almost amused. “I’ll put his name on the final file. He doesn’t have to lift a finger. Actually I don’t like… collaboration. So.”

  There was a silence, heavy and sharp.

  Nora’s jaw tightened. She took a step forward, but before she could get a word out, Sophia gave a casual, almost bored smile.

  “Bye,” she said and strutted off like she owned the hallway.

  Nora let out a disbelieving scoff and muttered, “What’s with that attitude?”

  Then, her anger softened. She turned to David and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I won’t leave you alone with that crazy bitch.”

  David’s eyes flicked to her hand, just briefly, but his smile was real.

  “Hmm,” he hummed, almost too softly.

  I could see the tension on his face melt for a second. Nora hadn’t noticed. But I did.

  “Okay, let’s go,” I said quickly, trying to lighten the mood.

  As we entered the classroom, Sophia was already there, placing her designer bag on the front bench like she owned it.

  Her phone was in one hand, and she was glancing at the door. Like she was waiting.

  Then, her voice rang out.

  “Hello, Mr. Carter,” she said, her tone laced with practiced charm.

  We all turned instinctively.

  Rowan had just walked in.

  He stopped mid-step when he saw her. His eyes, usually unreadable, flashed with something I couldn’t place. Surprise? Discomfort? Regret?

  “Long time no see,” Sophia said smoothly, walking toward him. Her heels clicked softly against the tiles.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low. Not cold. But cautious.

  “Aren’t you happy to see me again?” she smiled, stepping closer. Close enough that he had to look directly at her.

  The three of us stared.

  The air in the room shifted. He knew her. Not just casually, this wasn’t small talk. This was… layered. Complicated.

  Rowan glanced over his shoulder at the room full of watching eyes, then grabbed her hand. “Come with me.”

  And without saying another word, to us, to anyone, they walked out together.

  The silence they left behind was deafening.

  “What the hell just happened?” Nora asked, still staring at the door.

  I couldn’t answer.

  My thoughts were spiraling, fast and breathless.

  They knew each other. Were they… something? A couple? Exes? What history did they share?

  Everything in me buzzed with questions I didn’t know how to ask.

  David gently nudged me and Nora toward the last bench. “Forget it. Class is about to start.”

  I moved on instinct, my body following him, but my mind was still stuck in that moment. David gave me a glance, soft, understanding, and I realized how obvious my reaction must’ve been.

  “Maybe they just know each other,” he said gently, once we sat down. “Nothing more.”

  I smiled weakly. “I’m okay.”

  But I wasn’t.

  The lecture began. Rowan’s seat remained empty.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

  Jake and Rowan’s other friend whispered to each other beside the vacant desk, but no one said it out loud. Where did Rowan go? Why hadn’t he come back?

  When they finally returned during the second class, the energy had changed. They sat apart. They didn’t talk. Didn’t even look at each other.

  But my eyes were fixed on him the entire time.

  I didn’t want to give up that easily. Maybe she was from his past, but that didn’t mean she still belonged in his future.

  After classes, Nora and David left together, laughing about something that barely reached my ears.

  I stayed.

  I waited outside the building, pacing beneath the low branches of the neem tree near the gate. My fingers kept fiddling with the corner of my notebook. I was rehearsing what I’d say.

  When Rowan finally came out, I stepped in front of him.

  “Hey,” I said, trying to sound light. “Let’s finish our assignment?”

  “I can’t today. I have plans,” he replied casually, barely looking at me as he took out his phone.

  I opened my mouth to protest, but he was already dialing.

  “I’m here. Where are you?” he said into the call, then glanced up.

  My eyes followed his.

  Sophia stood across the street beside a black car, waving at him with a smile.

  He didn’t even say goodbye.

  He just walked toward her and got in.

  The car door shut with a soft thud.

  And I was left behind.

  With the kind of silence that makes your chest feel hollow.

He wasn’t mine, yet the thought of losing him still terrified me.

My comfort note

Dear comfort note,

I’m sad today. Really sad. That love triangle I talked about… I think it’s happening to me now. The strange part? I never even started anything with him. Not really. Not openly. But now, someone from his past is back, his ex, maybe, or someone who clearly meant something. And whatever she said… he listened. He did what she asked. Like she still has this invisible hold on him.

And now I’m just here. Watching it all unfold.

If you’ve ever liked someone who doesn’t like you back, you’ll understand. It’s like this hollow ache inside you.

I’m telling you, don’t fall for someone who loves someone else. If I had known that earlier, I would’ve never gone after Rowan. But it’s too late now.