Waves of Destiny

4

Jaéclyn's morning was a blur of textbooks and coffee as she hurried through her final class of the day. The lecture hall was packed with students, each absorbed in their own world of notes and whispers. Jaéclyn sat near the back, her mind drifting between the dense material on constitutional law and the nagging thoughts of Zaêyvion.

The professor droned on, discussing landmark Supreme Court cases, but Jaéclyn's focus was elsewhere. The way Zaêyvion's eyes had locked with hers at the club, the smoothness of his voice—it all replayed in her mind. She knew she should be paying more attention, but the memory of their dance and the brief, intense conversation kept intruding.

"Jaéclyn?" The professor's voice cut through her reverie, and she looked up to find her classmates staring at her. "Could you share your thoughts on the case of Marbury v. Madison?"

Caught off guard, Jaéclyn stumbled through an answer, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The professor nodded, seemingly satisfied, and returned to the lecture. Jaéclyn's heart raced, but she tried to refocus on the material, her thoughts still half-occupied with Zaêyvion.

After class, Jaéclyn met up with Ciëlle and Maddie at their favorite café near campus. They were in the middle of discussing their plans for the weekend when Jaéclyn's phone buzzed with a message from Maddie.

Maddie: "Hey, I'm going to the store later. Need anything?"

Jaéclyn quickly replied, "Just some snacks. I'll meet you there."

Grabbing her bag, Jaéclyn parted ways with her friends and made her way to the local grocery store. She moved through the aisles, picking up snacks and chatting with a friendly cashier. It was a routine trip, nothing out of the ordinary, until she rounded a corner and saw him.

Zaêyvion was standing in the produce section, his tall frame easily noticeable. But he wasn't alone. With him was a girl—a strikingly beautiful woman with long, wavy hair and a designer handbag. They were close, their conversation light and animated, with Zaêyvion's laugh ringing out in a way that felt strangely intimate.

Jaéclyn's heart sank. She tried to pretend she wasn't bothered, focusing on the apples in front of her, but her eyes kept darting back to Zaêyvion. The way he looked at the girl, the easy camaraderie they shared—it was clear they were more than just casual acquaintances.

Zaêyvion's POV

Zaêyvion was in the middle of discussing plans with his friend, Ava, when he caught sight of someone familiar from the corner of his eye. It was Jaéclyn. He felt a jolt of surprise, though he quickly masked it with his usual cool demeanor. Ava had been a friend for years, and they had run into each other at the store by chance.

"Oh, Zaêyvion, look at these strawberries!" Ava exclaimed, holding up a pint with a playful smile. "I've been craving these all week."

Zaêyvion turned his attention back to her, though his mind was partially occupied by Jaéclyn. Seeing her in the store, seemingly engrossed in picking out snacks, stirred something within him. He wasn't sure why, but he felt a pang of unease at the sight of her. He wondered if she had seen him and what she might be thinking.

"I should get these for sure," Ava said, breaking his thoughts. "What about you?"

"Yeah, sounds good," Zaêyvion replied, giving her a distracted smile. His thoughts kept drifting back to Jaéclyn, trying to read her reaction from the brief glance he'd caught.

As they continued their shopping, Zaêyvion found himself glancing back toward the produce section, hoping to catch another glimpse of Jaéclyn. He wasn't sure why, but he felt a strange sense of anticipation, mixed with a hint of regret.

Jaéclyn's POV

Jaéclyn continued to shop, her mind racing as she processed the sight of Zaêyvion with another girl. She tried to push away the twinge of jealousy, reminding herself that they weren't in a relationship, and he had every right to be with whoever he pleased. But seeing him so comfortable with someone else made her question what she really wanted.

As she selected a bag of chips, she glanced back towards the produce section one more time. Zaêyvion was still there, laughing and talking with Ava, seemingly unaware of her presence. Jaéclyn's heart felt heavy, a mixture of confusion and frustration swirling inside her.

She couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider, someone who had been briefly glimpsed but never truly known. Jaéclyn knew she was overthinking things, but she couldn't help herself. The brief encounter had left her feeling unsettled.

With a sigh, Jaéclyn finished her shopping and headed towards the checkout. She tried to focus on the mundane task of paying for her groceries, but her mind kept wandering back to Zaêyvion and the girl he was with. The brief moment of connection they had shared at the club seemed like a distant memory now, overshadowed by this new, confusing revelation.

As she left the store, her thoughts were a tangled mess. She tried to shake off the feelings of jealousy and doubt, but they clung to her like a shadow. Jaéclyn knew she needed to sort out her emotions and figure out what she truly wanted. For now, all she could do was try to move forward and not let the encounter affect her more than it already had.