I was staying at my father’s house, and as expected, he had appointed four guards for me.

Every day, they came to university and waited just outside the campus gates until classes ended. I wasn’t allowed to go out without them.

And I no longer went out with my friends, not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t bear the thought of any of them getting hurt like Alax. One more person suffering because of me… I wouldn’t be able to live with that.

I sat quietly in class. A few students had already arrived, some in small groups, laughing and chatting, others in pairs, and a few alone, waiting for their friends.

I was on the second bench from the front, by the window… but my eyes were fixed on the door.

And then Rowan walked in.

His bag slung over one shoulder, his phone pressed to his ear. He was wearing a white, oversized shirt, casually yet effortlessly stylish.

And just like that, my breath caught.

He stood at the door for a second, still on the call. But then our eyes met.

And everything else just… disappeared.

We didn’t speak.

We didn’t smile.

But something passed between us, something silent, heavy, and unspoken.

If that accident hadn’t happened, I would have been chasing after him without a second thought. But now… I couldn’t. If getting close to Rowan meant putting him in danger, I wouldn’t forgive myself.

These past few days, I’ve forced myself to keep my distance from him. I, the girl who used to find excuses just to be near him, was now avoiding him.

It’s not that I stopped liking him. I just started loving him in silence… from afar.

Once the election is over, once this phase of my life settles, I’ll tell him everything. But until then… I’ll hold onto these feelings and keep them hidden.

He began walking toward me, still on the phone, but his eyes… his eyes were still on me.

And in that moment, everything around me blurred.

Why did the world suddenly feel like it was moving in slow motion?

Why did his presence make the air feel heavier, my heartbeat louder?

Was I losing my mind...

He had almost reached my seat. I could hear his footsteps getting closer.

He put his phone down, lips parting slightly, as if about to say something.

But I couldn’t handle it.

Not his voice.

Not his eyes.

Not the possibility of him saying something that might unravel everything I was trying to hold together.

My heart was already racing, loud and wild inside my chest.

I felt like if I looked at him for even one more second, I’d lose control.

So I panicked.

Grabbing my phone, I brought it to my ear and faked a call.

“Yeah… I’m coming,” I said, my voice shaky, pretending someone needed me urgently.

I stood up and walked out of the classroom,

I didn’t even give him a chance to speak.

As soon as I left, I leaned against the corridor wall and took a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself.

Why does he make me feel like this?

Like the world pauses when he looks at me.

Like, I can’t trust myself to act normal when he’s near.

Students were streaming past, heading to their classes like it was just another normal day. But for me, everything felt heavier.

A moment later, I saw Nora and David walking toward me.

“Are you okay?” David asked, concerned.

“Yeah. You don’t look well. Are you feeling dizzy?” Nora added, looking at me closely.

I gave them a weak smile, pressing a hand to my chest.

“Have you ever felt like you’re having a small heart attack?”

“No…?” Nora said, confused.

“Well, I just felt one.”

She blinked, clearly not getting what I meant, and I didn’t have the energy to explain what my heart was going through.

“You two go inside. I’ll join you in a bit,” I said, trying to sound normal.

“What about you?” David asked.

“I’m waiting for Alax. I’ll come with him, he should be here any moment,” I said, glancing at my watch even though I wasn’t checking the time.

Nora narrowed her eyes, teasing.

“Is something going on between you two?”

“What?” I asked, genuinely caught off guard.

“You and Alax,” she said, laughing with David.

“You’ve been spending so much time together lately. Always sitting close, always walking in together... something’s up!”

Before I could even answer or defend myself, my gaze drifted past her shoulder,

And then everything stilled.

Rowan.

He was standing there.

Just a few steps away.

Silent.

Still.

Looking straight at me.

His eyes didn’t question me.

They didn’t accuse me.

But they held something. Something I couldn’t name, but felt deeply.

And just like that… he turned away and walked into the classroom.

That tiny moment, just a second of eye contact, felt like someone pressed pause on my entire world.

I opened my mouth to call after him… but nothing came out.