The veil of hearts

•Elevator encounter intrigue•

5

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Joshua's POV

As the elevator doors slid open, I felt my breath catch in my throat. There she was - Aina - stepping in with her friends. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and I felt that now-familiar jolt of electricity course through me.

I should have turned around. It was the proper thing to do, the expected behavior in an elevator. But I couldn't bring myself to look away from her. Even as Megan chatted beside me about departmental matters, my focus remained fixed on Aina's reflection in the mirrored walls.

She stood at the back, her petite frame partially obscured by her friends. Yet, I found myself captivated by the way the fluorescent lights played off her hijab, the slight nervousness in her posture as she realized I was still looking at her.

I knew I was breaking social norms. I could feel the curiosity radiating from the other occupants of the elevator. But in that moment, none of it mattered. All I could think about was Aina, and the way her presence seemed to fill this small space.

Her large brown eyes, lined with kohl, darted around nervously, occasionally meeting mine in the reflection. Each time they did, I felt a rush of... something. Excitement? Anticipation? I couldn't quite name it, but it was intoxicating.

I wanted to say something, to break this charged silence. But what could I say that wouldn't sound inappropriate or forced? So I remained silent, letting my gaze convey what I couldn't put into words.

As the elevator continued its ascent, I found myself wishing it would never end. This moment, fraught with unspoken tension and possibility, felt precious somehow. I knew I was treading dangerous waters, that my behavior was far from professional. But I couldn't bring myself to care.

When the elevator finally reached our floor, I reluctantly turned away, allowing the others to exit first. As Aina passed by, I caught a whiff of her subtle perfume - jasmine, perhaps? It lingered in the air, a reminder of this brief but intense encounter.

As I stepped out into the hallway, my mind was reeling. What had just happened? Why had I acted so out of character? And more importantly, what was I going to do about these feelings that were becoming increasingly difficult to ignore?

I watched Aina walk away with her friends, her steps quick and slightly unsteady. Had she felt it too, that undeniable pull between us? Or was I simply projecting my own confusing emotions onto her?

One thing was certain - this elevator ride had changed something. The spark that had been quietly smoldering since our first encounter had just burst into flames. And I had no idea how to extinguish it - or if I even wanted to.

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Aina lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to the questions swirling in her mind. The soft glow of her bedside lamp cast a warm light across the room, but it did little to illuminate the confusion in her heart.

"Why does he look at me that way?" she whispered to the empty room. "What does it mean?"

She closed her eyes, replaying the elevator encounter in her mind. The way Professor Joshua's eyes had met hers, the unexpected spark of connection she'd felt. His voice, warm and rich, asking her about her day.

"It was just small talk," Aina muttered, rolling onto her side. "That's what professors do. They're supposed to be interested in their students."

But even as she said the words, she knew it was more than that. The intensity of his gaze, the way he seemed to notice her even when she was trying to blend into the background – it all felt significant in a way she couldn't quite explain.