At First Sight: A Love That Couldn't Last

Chapter 10: New Faces and Hidden Tensions

It had been a few weeks since Tiara returned to the hostel after her days with Robin, and she was still nursing the emotional wounds of his vague but painful confession about his family’s marriage plans for him. The weight of their uncertain future lingered in her thoughts, but she tried to focus on her studies, keeping herself busy with assignments and exam preparations.

One evening, as Tiara sat quietly in her room, one of her seniors, Ayesha, knocked on her door.

“Tiara! Come with me,” Ayesha said with a mischievous smile. “We’ve got new students in the hostel. One of them is in your class, and she’s staying on the top floor. You should go meet her.”

Tiara, although reluctant, didn’t want to seem rude. “Alright, give me a minute.”

As they made their way up to the top floor, Ayesha filled Tiara in on the latest news. The new students had just arrived that day, both in the girls’ and boys’ hostels, which were conveniently facing each other across the courtyard. Tiara only half-listened, her mind still occupied with Robin.

When they arrived, Ayesha knocked on the door, and it was answered by a petite, shy-looking girl with long black hair.

“Hey! Tiara, this is Sakhira. She’s in your class,” Ayesha introduced with a grin.

Sakhira smiled shyly. “Hi, nice to meet you.”

“Hi, welcome,” Tiara replied with a polite smile, though her heart wasn’t fully in it.

They chatted for a while, but Tiara excused herself after a few minutes, telling them she was tired. She returned to her room, feeling emotionally drained, and decided to call it a night. Sakhira joined her in the room soon after, lying down quietly on the extra bed.

The next morning, Tiara headed to college as usual, her mood still heavy. She was sitting in class, taking notes, when her teacher, Mrs. Kumar, entered with a stack of papers and an enthusiastic look on her face.

“Alright, everyone! The annual college program is coming up, and we’re looking for participants,” Mrs. Kumar said, her voice bright with excitement. “Tiara, I know you’re a great dancer. You’ve got to join the dance team.”

Tiara hesitated for a moment. Normally, she loved dancing and performing, but with everything going on in her personal life, she wasn’t sure if she had the energy for it. Still, dancing had always been a way for her to escape, to lose herself in something that made her feel alive.

“Okay, Mrs. Kumar, I’ll do it,” Tiara finally agreed, hoping it might lift her spirits.

“Great!” Mrs. Kumar beamed. “It’s going to be an amazing event. We’re focusing on solo performances, group acts, and some fun games.”

Tiara nodded in agreement, thankful there was no mention of couple dances this year. The thought of being paired up in front of everyone made her feel uneasy, especially with the complicated situation with Robin.

After class, Mrs. Kumar approached the boys, asking for volunteers to participate in the program. Ryan, one of the new students from the boys' hostel, confidently raised his hand. He had caught the attention of many students since his arrival due to his charm and easygoing personality.

“I’ll participate in one of the games,” Ryan said, his voice steady and sure.

Mrs. Kumar smiled and added his name to the list. However, the way Ryan looked toward Tiara didn’t go unnoticed. A few classmates began whispering among themselves, and the rumor mill quickly churned out speculation. Some students believed Ryan might be interested in Tiara, given his constant glances in her direction during class.

“Did you see the way Ryan looked at Tiara?” one of the girls whispered to her friend.

“I bet he likes her!” another added with a giggle.

Tiara overheard the comments, and frustration built up inside her. She barely knew Ryan, and now people were already jumping to conclusions about them. The last thing she needed was more gossip, especially with Robin’s complicated situation hanging over her head. She clenched her fists and stayed silent, not wanting to fuel the rumors any further.

As the whispers grew louder, Tiara couldn’t help but feel more irritated. She didn’t want to be the center of attention or have people speculate about her personal life. Her heart was still caught between Robin and the uncertainty of his family’s plans for him, and now this unwanted attention from Ryan was only making things more difficult.

Once the class ended, Tiara quickly gathered her things and left the room, trying to avoid any more awkward stares. She felt a heavy weight pressing on her chest, a mix of confusion and anger bubbling beneath the surface. All she wanted was to focus on her studies and figure out what was going on with Robin, but it seemed like fate had other plans.

Deep down, Tiara knew that this new chapter of college life was going to bring more complications, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for what lay ahead.