WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

9.Crossroads of Hearts

The first week of the new term sped by like a whirlwind for Vanessa. It felt like every time she turned around, she was meeting someone new, or catching up with a fresh face from her classes. Her social circle had quickly expanded, and she found herself slipping into the rhythm of university life with surprising ease. Amidst all this, one connection seemed to be growing deeper and more meaningful: her budding relationship with Jack.

The chemistry between them was undeniable, and despite their attempts to keep things under wraps, their friends had noticed the subtle tension and playful banter that seemed to pass between them like an electric current. Jack had a way of making Vanessa laugh with his quick-witted jokes, and she often found herself looking forward to their little study sessions or casual chats after class. And today, Friday, they had made plans for their first real date. The thought of it made a nervous excitement flutter in her chest, a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time.

Vanessa hadn't mentioned the date to anyone—not even her closest friends. It felt too new, too delicate to bring into the open just yet. But she knew people were talking; it was impossible to miss the sidelong glances and raised eyebrows whenever she and Jack were seen together. The whispers and knowing smiles didn't bother her much, though. If anything, they made her smile secretly to herself as she anticipated the evening ahead.

That Friday morning, after getting dressed in her usual casual-chic style, Vanessa decided to head to the library for a bit. She didn't have any classes until later, and she figured she could get some studying done before the day picked up speed. She slipped into a cozy sweater, grabbed her books and laptop, and headed out the door, the autumn air crisp against her skin.

As she walked through the campus, her mind wandered back to Astra. It struck her as odd that it had only been a week since they first met, and already so much had shifted in her life. Astra had made a strong impression with her quiet intensity, and for the first few days, they had crossed paths often enough that Vanessa had started to expect those chance encounters. But over the past few days, Astra had all but disappeared. The last time Vanessa saw her was in that dimly lit bathroom, right before Astra had hurried off with Nico, her demeanor closed off and distant. Vanessa couldn't help but wonder what had happened since then.

As she made her way down the path to the library, her thoughts kept drifting back to that moment. There was something about Astra that had intrigued her, a certain mystery that lingered around her like a shadow. Vanessa found it almost ironic that on the exact day she had first met Astra, she now had a date with Jack—a date that felt like the start of something new and exciting.

She walked up the steps of the library, but her focus was elsewhere, caught up in the strange parallels between the two connections she had made that week. She felt a pang of guilt as she thought of Astra. They hadn't exactly become friends, but there had been a kind of understanding between them, an unspoken recognition that she couldn't quite put into words. And now, just as she was about to step into something new with Jack, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had left something unfinished with Astra.

Vanessa walked slowly toward the library, her headphones on, trying to drown out the swirling thoughts in her head with music. She had chosen "FourFive Seconds" by Kanye and Rihanna, a song that had always brought her comfort with its raw lyrics and soulful melody. She hummed along softly, letting the music take over, even breaking into a low, almost whispered rendition of the chorus.

"I think I've had enough... I might get a little drunk..." she sang, the words barely leaving her lips as she tried to focus on the rhythm rather than the thoughts that kept creeping in—thoughts of her date with Jack, and the nagging feeling that, despite the excitement, there was still a lot unresolved things up in her mind. Her thoughts wandered back to Astra, wondering why she couldn't quite let the green-eyed girl out of her head. It was like Astra's presence lingered, even when she wasn't around, and it made Vanessa feel conflicted about the plans she had tonight.