The veil of hearts

•First meeting•

3

||•••~~~~•••~~~~•••||

////

The elevator doors parted with a soft chime, revealing the bustling corridor of the 8th floor. Aina stepped out, her mind still churning with the intricacies of enzyme pathways from their recent pharmacology lecture. Her friends - Bella and Noor - followed, their excited whispers a stark contrast to Aina's thoughtful silence.

As they made their way down the hallway, Bella nudged Aina's arm, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, Aina, what did you think of our elevator companion?"

Aina blinked, momentarily confused. "What companion?" she asked, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall the short elevator ride.

Noor let out a melodious laugh. "Only you could be in an elevator with Professor Joshua and not notice, Aina."

At this, Aina's steps faltered. "That was Professor Joshua?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise rather than the awe her friends seemed to expect.

Noor nodded enthusiastically. "The one and only. Tall, handsome, charming Professor Joshua everyone's been talking about."

Aina's face remained impassive, her dark eyes betraying no hint of the excitement that animated her friends. "Oh," she said simply. "I didn't realize. He just seemed like any other professor to me."

Bella's jaw dropped in mock horror. "Any other professor? Aina, you're impossible!"

A small smile tugged at the corner of Aina's lips, more amused by her friends' reactions than by the subject of their admiration. "What? He is just a professor. I don't see what the fuss is about."

Noor shook her head, her voice filled with fond exasperation. "Just a professor? Aina, you're in a league of your own."

Aina's dark eyes rolled skyward. "You guys and your crushes," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "Can we focus on our studies instead?"

////

The door to the microbiology lab creaked open, drawing all eyes momentarily from Professor Joshua's engaging lecture. Aina slipped in quietly, her petite 5'1" frame moving with purpose despite the attention. Her white shirt, black jeans, and light blue hijab presented a picture of modest elegance, while her large brown eyes and youthful features belied her 23 years.

As Aina took her seat, she noticed the familiar elbow nudges between Bella and Noor, their gazes fixed on Professor Joshua. Bella and Noor weren't far behind, exchanging whispers and stolen glances at the charismatic instructor. Aina suppressed a small sigh, her focus immediately drawn to the presentation slides illuminating the dimly lit room.

Professor Joshua's voice filled the space, rich with enthusiasm for the subject matter. "Now, let's delve into the fascinating world of bacterial cell walls..."

While her classmates seemed entranced by the speaker, Aina's pen flew across her notebook, capturing every salient point. The intricate diagrams of cell structures held far more allure for her than the admittedly handsome professor presenting them.

As the lecture progressed, Aina found herself increasingly engrossed in the material. She barely noticed the occasional glances Professor Joshua cast across the room, his eyes never lingering on any one student for too long.

Around her, the atmosphere was charged with an undercurrent of admiration. Bella and Noor exchanged knowing looks, while Bella and Noor's whispered comments were punctuated with giggles. But Aina remained oblivious to it all, her world narrowed down to the slides before her and the knowledge they contained.

When the lecture ended, Professor Joshua called for attention. "Before you leave, please make sure you've signed the attendance sheet. I need to update my class list."

As students filed past his desk, adding their names to the list, Aina waited patiently for her turn. When it came, she simply wrote "Aina Yilmaz" in neat script and moved on, not even making eye contact with the professor.

Walking out of the classroom, Aina's mind was already racing with the new information she'd learned. She barely registered the excited chatter of her classmates as they discussed both the lecture and the lecturer.

"Did you see how he smiled when he was explaining gram staining?" Noor gushed.

"I know! And his eyes just light up when he talks about bacteria. It's kind of adorable," Bella replied.

Aina shook her head slightly, bemused by their reactions. To her, Professor Joshua was exactly what he appeared to be—a teacher, nothing more and nothing less. His role was to impart knowledge, and her role was to absorb it. Any other considerations were irrelevant.

As she made her way to her next class, Aina remained unaware that her focused demeanor and apparent immunity to Professor Joshua's charm had not gone entirely unnoticed. In a sea of admiring faces, her steadfast dedication to the material stood out, even if she didn't realize it herself.

Little did Aina know that her pragmatic approach and unwavering focus would soon be challenged. The lines between her academic pursuits and personal feelings would begin to blur, setting the stage for an unexpected journey of self-discovery and emotional growth. But for now, she walked on, her mind filled with microbiology and blissfully unaware of the changes that lay ahead.

AUTHOR's NOTE

It would be great if you guys tell me how you all felt.
Do share your opinions through the comments.