SHADOW PLAY (SYLUS)

6

Regina rushed through the bustling crowd, her arms laden with books. As she hurried along, she accidentally bumped into someone, and her books tumbled to the ground with a loud thud.

"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, bending down quickly to gather the scattered volumes.

The guy merely clicked his tongue in annoyance before striding away, leaving her feeling flustered and embarrassed.

As she scrambled to collect her books, she noticed a hand reaching down to help her. She glanced up, her heart racing slightly.

It was guy, tall and he had short, neatly styled black hair, and his pale complexion contrasted sharply with his dark attire.

His focused, sharp gaze exuded a mysterious and charismatic vibe. He wore a sleek, black high-neck turtleneck that added a sophisticated, minimalist touch to his appearance.

Over the turtleneck, he donned a dark long coat that enhanced his formal and polished look

He extended the books towards Regina, and she gratefully accepted them. "Thanks," she said, offering a warm smile.

The guy nodded in acknowledgment and returned her smile before continuing on his way.

Regina watched him disappear into the sea of faces, her thoughts lingering on the brief encounter.

Shaking her head to clear her mind, she glanced at her watch and realized she was running late. Panic surged through her as she quickly turned and dashed in the opposite direction, weaving through the crowd with renewed urgency.
...
Regina finally reached her classroom, relieved to find that the lecturer hadn't arrived yet.

She quickly took a seat, allowing herself a moment to calm her racing heart.

The lecture ended with the announcement of a group project, and Regina felt a wave of dread wash over her.

She hated group projects-not only did she struggle to get along with most of her classmates, but their schedules rarely aligned with hers.

She preferred to work at her own pace, and the thought of coordinating with others filled her with anxiety.

The group consisted of four members: two girls and two boys.

Regina's heart sank as she glanced around the room, sizing up her new teammates. She barely knew any of them, and the prospect of working together filled her with apprehension.

The four of them sat next to each other for introductions.

"Hi, I'm Selina," said a girl with brunette hair, flashing a friendly smile.

"I'm Josh," the guy with green eyes introduced himself.

Regina knew him; he sometimes talked to her between classes. He was popular and often surrounded by girls.

"I'm Frank," said the last guy, his voice low. Regina barely recognized him, as they had hardly crossed paths before.

They concluded the meeting by dividing the topics among themselves.

Regina and Josh paired up for the presentation, while Frank and Selina took on the responsibility of gathering research materials.

"Let's do our best!" Josh said as Regina began to pack her things and prepare to leave for her next class.

"Oh yes!" Regina exclaimed, feeling a spark of enthusiasm.

Josh was so energetic; he spread positivity wherever he went.

As he gathered his belongings, students started to surround him, playfully complaining that they weren't in his group.

"We got lucky being in the same group as Josh," Selina said, turning to Regina with a smile. "He really helps a lot."