Mysteries of Serendipity

Who are you?

A distant call invaded my thoughts, causing my head to snap around. My heart quickened, its rhythm disturbed by the unexpected interruption.

Inhaling and exhaling, I checked my pulse, my senses on high alert as an eerie sensation prickled at the back of my neck. Someone was creeping behind me, their presence sending a shiver down my spine. The air seemed charged with an unspoken energy, and a low voice murmured, the sound carrying an almost sinister edge, followed by a burst of laughter that seemed to echo in the stillness. The laughter was getting closer, too close for comfort. My breath caught in my throat, a mix of anticipation and apprehension intertwining within me.

"Hey," a raspy voice whispered in my right ear, so close that I could feel the warmth of each word on my skin. My chest tightened, my whole body tensing as I turned slowly, meeting the gaze that pinned me in place. 

It was him. 

Tall and imposing, his defined features seemed to sculpt the very air around him. The scent of his cologne wrapped around me, intoxicating and overwhelming, clouding my thoughts. His eyes, piercing and intense, bore into mine with an unwavering intensity, holding me captive against my will. The wind, now charged with a new electricity, seemed to encircle us, as if emphasizing the magnetic pull between us.

Oh.

Recognition dawned instantly, my heart hammering even harder. 

Brian. 

His presence had become increasingly frequent within my daily life on campus. A demure figure, always lingering at the periphery. This encounter felt different though, a departure from the casual sightings. He appeared lost in thought, a troubled expression on his face as he approached me after our lesson. The tension between us had been building since the moment I joined his group, and an unsettling feeling had settled within me from the very first step into this unfamiliar environment. As the only female in the advanced group, standing alone due to my partner's absence, I found myself isolated on this deserted campus, the silence echoing the isolation within me. It was only this afternoon that the tension, like an invisible thread, had woven itself into my consciousness.

***

"Here, let me help you," Brian's voice cut through the air, his presence beside me sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. I forced a smile, my fingers fumbling slightly as I tightened the strap of my gloves. "I'm good, thanks", I smiled wearily. The feel of the material against my skin was oddly comforting, a shield against the charged atmosphere around us. The instructor's voice droned on in the background, his words a distant hum as my attention was drawn to Brian. Even though kickboxing had initially been a lighthearted venture, a humorous challenge I'd taken up, it had entangled me in its grip for the next three months once again. I sighed inwardly, focusing on the drills and techniques the instructor was explaining, pushing aside the thought of how I had ended up here.

As we began practicing, my kicks felt weak and ineffective, the burning desire to release my pent-up frustration stifled by the fear of causing harm to the one holding the shield. My eyes met Brian's as he adjusted his stance, a silent agreement passing between us as we commenced the drill.

Adrenaline surged through me, and instinct took over as Brian manipulated my movements with the shield. An archaic smile flickered across my lips, a challenge in response to his taunts. "What are you going to do?" Brian's voice, a mix of challenge and provocation, spurred me on. My chin lowered, hands instinctively resting on my cheekbones, and I launched a teep kick that connected with the shield, causing Brian to stagger back. A grin played on his lips as he regained his balance, our eyes locked in a silent exchange. His grip on the shield tightened, determination shining in his gaze as he pushed me backward, closer to the wall.