A little thing called FIRST LOVE ft.Avneil

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Neil stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he thought about the day ahead. His reflection caught his eye, and he couldn't help but speak aloud to himself, his excitement bubbling over.

"After one whole month, I'm finally going to see Avni again," he said softly, his grin widening. He paused, looking at his reflection with an almost amused expression, imagining what others might be thinking about his excitement. "You guys must be wondering what happened in the meantime. Well, nothing too dramatic."

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair, still thinking about how the last month had gone by. "I helped Avni catch up on the classes she missed while she was recovering. We did a lot of phone calls—me explaining, her asking questions. It was...nice."

He took a step back from the mirror, straightening his posture. "Then we had our second-semester exams, and after that, the one-month holiday. Avni, Sunheri, and Avni's family decided to go to their hometown, you know, to give Avni a fresh start, some new air." Neil smiled at the memory of their conversations during that break. "We talked every day on the phone. She'd tell me about the beauty of her hometown, the calmness, the people. And I'd tell her what I was learning at Dad's company. Yeah, I started interning there during the holidays. I wanted to learn the ropes from the ground up, and, well... it kept me busy while she was away."

His eyes softened as he buttoned the cuffs of his shirt. "Sometimes, we'd just talk for hours, losing track of time. It was as if we were in the same place, even though we were miles apart." Neil's voice dropped to a whisper as he added, "But I missed her—so much."

The thought of finally seeing her again made his heart race. He grabbed his bag, took one last look at himself in the mirror, and smiled, a quiet confidence settling over him.

"I can't wait to see her," Neil murmured, before heading out the door, eager to reunite with Avni after what had felt like a lifetime apart.

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As Avni and Sunheri walked through the crowded college corridors, Avni's eyes continuously searched for Neil. After reaching their classroom and still not spotting him, she couldn't resist anymore and dialed his number.

"Neil, where are you?" Avni asked in the cutest voice, like a child eagerly waiting for their favorite person.

Neil's voice came through the phone, a hint of amusement in his tone. "I just arrived. I'll be in class in five minutes."

True to his word, Neil walked into the classroom shortly after. The moment Avni saw him, her face lit up with happiness. He walked over, casually taking the seat behind her.

"I've been waiting for you since I got to college! Why are you so late?" Avni pouted playfully, sounding like a girlfriend—though she wasn't yet.

Neil chuckled at her adorable frustration, removing his sunglasses. "Looks like someone missed me," he teased, casting a sarcastic grin towards Sunheri, who was silently enjoying the interaction between the two.

"Neil!" Avni glared at him, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. It was the traffic. I couldn't help it," Neil said with a grin, surrendering to her playful scolding.

Avni's expression softened, and she nodded. "Don't be sorry. It's not like you can control traffic. I understand."

Neil smiled, and before they could continue, the professor entered, beginning the lecture.

After three long periods, it was finally time for a break. Avni, Neil, Sunheri, and DD made their way to the canteen for a quick breakfast. Once they finished, Neil and DD headed to the washroom while Avni and Sunheri started walking back to class.