Champagne Problems // English's Version

Chapter 6: The first year of college

Agatha and Kyle's first year of college had been a whirlwind of emotions, new experiences and discoveries. They were no longer the same two teens who had met by chance that October day; in a few months, their bond had grown, becoming deeper and harder to define. It was a magical time, made of sleepless nights talking about dreams and fears, shared laughter and confidences whispered between the walls of rooms too small to contain everything they felt.

Agatha, used to masking her fragilities, had found in Kyle someone who could see her for what she truly was, without judgment. Kyle, for his part, felt attracted by the mystery she represented. Every time he thought he had understood her, Agatha revealed a new side of herself to him, and this fascinated and confused him at the same time.

He clearly remembered the first time they had stayed together all night. It was one of those winter nights, with the wind howling outside the dorm windows. Their roommates were away for the weekend, so they decided to spend the night watching old movies and talking about everything from the little things to their deepest dreams. Sitting on the floor of Kyle's room, surrounded by books and empty beer bottles, it felt like the world outside didn't exist.

«Don't you think we're just wasting our time?»Agatha said, in the philosophical tone she used when she got carried away by her thoughts. «I mean, all this rush to finish exams, get a job, build a life... Don't you ever feel like everything's already decided? Like we're just cogs in a system bigger than ourselves.»

Kyle looked at her, surprised by the depth of her thinking. He'd always loved that part of Agatha, her ability to look beyond the surface of things. But at the same time, that same depth worried him. There was something dark beneath her words, a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on, as if Agatha were already struggling with something bigger.

«I don't know.» Kyle said. «But I think part of the beauty is not knowing what's going to happen. Life is unpredictable, isn't it? That's what makes it interesting.»

Agatha stared at him for a moment, then smiled faintly. «Maybe you're right. But sometimes I feel like I'm looking for something I'll never find.»

That sentence stuck with Kyle for a long time. Even though they were just friends at that point, he felt like Agatha was sharing something precious with him, a piece of her soul that she usually kept hidden. It was moments like that that made him realize how complex and fragile she was.

Over the course of their first year, they had built a routine all their own. They went to class together, sat in the same corner of the library to study, went for long walks on cold afternoons, talking about their favorite books or laughing at some stupid joke. Every little thing felt special, like they were creating a world just for the two of them.

They both remembered the party that marked a turning point in their relationship. It was the end of the semester, and everyone on campus were at the same party. That night, Agatha was wearing a black dress that made her look more mature, more confident. Kyle couldn't take his eyes off her, noticing every little gesture, every smile she gave the people around her.

By mid-evening, they were outside, away from the noise of the music and the laughter of the other students. The campus was eerily quiet, and the sky was clear, dotted with stars. Agatha walked over to Kyle, her light but confident way of walking, and stopped beside him. Her eyes were shining, but it wasn't the alcohol. There was something else, something Kyle couldn't quite put his finger on.

«Don't you think this is a little ridiculous?» Agatha said, breaking the silence. «Everyone here is pretending to be happy, having fun... while the world goes on, oblivious to what we do.»

Kyle looked at her, trying to figure out what she really meant. «It's not ridiculous. We're just trying to live, trying to find some joy in the chaos.»

Agatha smiled faintly, then leaned in even closer. «You know what my problem is, Kyle? I can't stop thinking. I always feel like I'm searching for something, but I don't know what.»

And then, without another word, she leaned in and kissed him. A sudden, sweet kiss that left Kyle speechless. It was as if all the words, all the questions, had disappeared in that moment, replaced only by the feeling of being exactly where they were supposed to be.

That night, everything had changed. From that moment, their bond was never the same. They were no longer just friends; they had become something more, though neither of them were sure what exactly. But the confusion, the tension, made it all the more intense.

As the first year wore on, Kyle and Agatha grew closer, but the cracks began to appear beneath the surface. Agatha's world was darker than Kyle had imagined, and as the months passed, he realized there were parts of her he couldn't reach, shadows he wasn't allowed to enter.

And yet, in that first year, love seemed enough. No matter how complicated Agatha was, how turbulent her soul, Kyle was there, ready to stand by her side, confident that together they would get through it all.