in another life...
In the vastness of a college campus, it's easy to get lost in the sea of faces and just float around unnoticed. For Ryujin, she was just like any other freshman, eager to start their college journey. Not really expecting anything remarkable to happen on her first day, but fate had other plans.
Ryujin hurried through the crowded hallway, clutching her books tightly to her chest. Excitement and nervousness mingled within her as she navigated the maze of unfamiliar faces. In her haste, she failed to notice the person walking in the opposite direction. The collision was inevitable.
Books scattered across the floor, their pages splayed open like wounded butterflies. Ryujin's eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the scene before her. A girl with kind eyes and a warm smile stood before her, already bending down to help gather the fallen books.
"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" the girl exclaimed, her voice laced with genuine concern.
Ryujin's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "No, it's my fault. I should have been more careful," she replied, crouching down to retrieve the scattered pages.
The girl shook her head, a playful glimmer in her eyes. "No worries. Accidents happen. Here, let me help you."
Their hands brushed against each other as they reached for the same book, and Ryujin felt a jolt of electricity shoot up her arm. She looked up, meeting the girl's gaze, and time seemed to stand still. In that fleeting moment, something unexplainable sparked between them.
Finally, the last book was placed neatly in Ryujin's hands, and she looked up at the girl, feeling a peculiar connection that she couldn't quite put into words.
"Thanks. I'm Ryujin, by the way," she introduced herself, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Lia," the girl replied, extending her hand for a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Ryujin."
Their hands met, a brief moment of contact that sent a shiver down Ryujin's spine. She couldn't ignore the strange familiarity that washed over her, like a long-lost connection suddenly rediscovered.
***
Days turned into weeks, and with each passing encounter, their paths intertwined. Despite pursuing different courses and engaging in separate activities, their lives seemed intricately linked, as if the universe conspired to keep them in close proximity. Ryujin, ever the skeptic, dismissed these occurrences as mere coincidences, brushing off the feeling of destiny tugging at her heartstrings. But secretly, she relished each unexpected rendezvous, cherishing the stolen glances and stolen moments that brought her closer to Lia.
They found themselves seeking each other out in the sea of bustling college life, their paths crossing by chance or, perhaps, by something more profound. It became a game of serendipity, an unspoken agreement between them and the universe.
***
One sunny afternoon, as Lia exited her class, she spotted Ryujin sitting on a bench, engrossed in a book. Her heart skipped a beat, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She mustered the courage to approach, the invisible strings pulling her closer.
"Mind if I join you?" Lia asked, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation.
Ryujin looked up, her eyes lighting up with delight. "Not at all." she replied, patting the empty space beside her. "What are doing here?"
"My class ended early, then I saw you."
Ryujin chuckled "What a Coincidence"
Lia's smiled. "Maybe. But what if it's something more? What if it's destiny?"
