Champagne Problems // English's Version

Chapter 7: The First Months Together

The first few months after Agatha and Kyle became a couple were a whirlwind of emotions, a time when the world seemed to exist only for the two of them. They lived in their own little world, made of small gestures and intimate moments, while the chaos of college passed all around them. In those early days, everything seemed perfect. It was as if, for the first time, they had found refuge in each other.

Agatha, despite her tendency to withdraw, felt freer around Kyle. It was the first time she had truly let someone into her life. He could make her laugh, even when she felt on the edge of the abyss. They held hands everywhere, like two teenagers who had just discovered what it meant to fall in love. Every little moment together seemed charged with meaning, yet incredibly light.

Nights out in the dorms were one of their favorite memories. The campus was alive at night, and the dorms transformed into centers of impromptu parties and meetups.
The neon lights of the rooms reflected on the walls, and music blasted from the open windows. There was a sense of freedom that permeated everything, and Agatha and Kyle immersed themselves in it with enthusiasm.

One of those nights, they were at one of the most famous parties on campus, one of those held in the large common room of the oldest dorm. Students crowded everywhere, red glasses in hand, laughing and dancing without a care in the world. Agatha looked stunning that night: she was wearing a red dress that Kyle loved and her hair was loose and swaying with every move she made. As she danced with her friends, her eyes met Kyle's, and a smile lit up between them, silent but full of understanding.

Kyle reached out to her, grabbing her hand as the music picked up pace. He pulled her toward him, and the two of them lost themselves in the dance, forgetting about the rest of the world. Agatha loved those moments. With Kyle by her side, everything seemed less heavy, easier.

Her troubles, the dark thoughts that tormented her, would vanish for a few hours, replaced by the beat of the music and the warmth of her hand in his.

After the party, they would often walk back to their dorms across campus, wrapped in the chill of the night and the silence that followed the chaos of the party. They would stand under the streetlight-lit trees and talk late into the night. Sometimes Agatha would be talkative, telling Kyle about her hopes for the future, her unfulfilled dreams. Other times, she would be quieter, lost in her thoughts, and Kyle knew he just had to wait until she was ready to share what was troubling her.

In between parties, there were exams, and with them the pressure and stress that inevitably came. Agatha and Kyle would spend long hours studying together in the campus library, sitting at a table by the window, surrounded by piles of books and scattered notes. Every now and then, Kyle would crack a joke to ease the tension, and Agatha would laugh, momentarily chasing away the anxiety that often lurked in her thoughts. They were both determined, but it was always a little harder for Agatha. Her demons followed her there, too, silently, as she tried to focus on her books.

And then there were the outings with her friends. Their group was diverse and lively: there was Emily, the girl always ready to make cutting jokes; Matt, the jock who found every opportunity to turn every outing into a challenge; and Jenny, the most reserved but with an infectious laugh. They spent evenings talking while sitting on the floor of the dorm rooms, eating cold pizza and discussing everything from the movies they loved to the big questions of life.

Agatha sometimes isolated herself in those moments, sitting on the sidelines, watching the others have fun. It wasn't for lack of interest, but because she always felt a little distant, even when she was surrounded by people. Kyle, however, knew how to reach her. He would take her hand and lead her back into the conversation, or simply squeeze her fingers to let her know he was there, with her, always.

There were also the lazy mornings, the ones they spent in Kyle's small room, when they decided to skip class to be together. They would watch old movies on his laptop, sharing headphones and a blanket, the sun filtering through the curtains. They would hug each other on the bed, talking in low voices, as if the outside world didn't exist. They were quiet moments, when everything seemed possible and nothing seemed complicated.

Kyle remembered one afternoon in particular. Agatha was lying next to him, her head resting on his chest, playing with a thread from Kyle's sweater.
She had told him about a secret fear of hers, something she had never told anyone. She always felt on edge, as if something inside her might fall apart at any moment. Kyle didn't know how to respond, but he held her tighter, hoping his silence would bring her some comfort.

In those months, they were inseparable. Friends teased them, calling them the "perfect couple" on campus.

But no one saw the shadows that were growing on the horizon, Agatha's insecurities that, even if well hidden, were starting to make themselves felt. And yet, in those first months, anything still seemed possible. The cracks were there, but they were thin, almost invisible. And both Agatha and Kyle were too in love to really notice.

In those days, it seemed like love was enough to overcome anything.