You Know

Chapter 3: I spy

Yuri’s POV

*Alarm clock ringing

3 am, I geared up as I am taking my morning run. I have a lot of things running on top of my head and getting back to school was just a torturing feeling for me. I mean school reminds me of so much emotions.

Nothing new…
I took my phone and saw a reminder that I have to be in the uni before 6 am, there’s a separate meeting with the star students compared to the other regular students. After completing the orientation, we were given a good amount of time to look around and check the clubs where we can join. In my case, I am good, I have several already and I will just take this time to take a break.

I saw a girl gushing over an unfamiliar student in the school grounds, I find it intriguing. I have to hide, there are many people roaming again, I ended up staying in the book club room and decided to read a thing or two.

Last leg of our meeting, and I headed to our assigned classroom. I noticed that there’s an inviting energy inside. From a distance, I saw him.

*“Ohayo! My name is Kenji Yanai. I’m originally from Osaka. I completed my grade school years abroad, but we returned here as my parents decided to move back. I’ll be with you all from now on, and I hope we can get along well,”

I was listening from a distance until someone asked an awkward question, uncomfortable if I may say.

*“Wow! Are you interested in men?”

I think that was insensitive and too personal to ask but I guess that's how it works, after all, common sense is not so common. I decided to get inside just the right time to break the ice from the awkward silence inside the room.

When I saw him, I was momentarily paralyzed, my heart racing as if it had skipped a beat. The sight of him was so unexpected and captivating that it felt like time had stopped. His presence was magnetic—every detail, from his striking features to the effortless way he carried himself, seemed almost too perfect.

A rush of admiration and disbelief surged through me, leaving me momentarily speechless. It was as if a wave of astonishment had crashed over me, rendering me unable to process anything beyond the sheer impact of his appearance. My usual composure melted away, replaced by a mixture of awe and flustered confusion.

In that instant, I felt a strange blend of admiration and self-consciousness, as if I had been abruptly pulled into a world where reality and admiration blurred together. It wasn’t just his looks that left me stunned, but the undeniable aura he radiated, making it hard to reconcile the image before me with my own sense of reality.

Alright, maybe I was being too dramatic. I was just trying to express how strikingly good-looking and tall he is.

That day, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. It’s not unusual to sense being observed, but this time there was something different—an unfamiliar aura seemed to linger in the eyes watching me.

I was reviewing our advanced lecture materials for the major subjects. I know it sounds boring, but it’s my way of escaping the distractions around me. I noticed Kenji, that’s his name, talking to Yeji, one of our classmates. They seemed very close, chatting happily with others. Their ease and comfort with each other were so evident, it almost seemed like they were a couple.

Weeks passed, and the sensation of being watched persisted. It was particularly unsettling one day when I felt someone’s gaze while I was dozing off in the Book Club room. I just couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“Hey, Yuri! Let’s meet after class at the Building A library to work on the project and revisions for tomorrow,” a girl’s voice called out.

Turning around, I saw Kenji. “Over here!” the voice called again. Looking down, I noticed Yeji, the petite girl who seems to be the fantasy of many men. “I’m sorry, Yeji, I didn’t see you there,” I said. Kenji laughed at my comment, and Yeji turned red, likely embarrassed. “I didn’t mean it that way. My apologies. So, Building A library, right?” I said, feeling awkward and wishing I could take my words back.

I don’t usually find myself in such situations, but there was a refreshing change in the air, so I decided to join them.

“See you there!” Kenji said.