The first time Aniya Valdez saw Adler Hugh, she was convinced he wasn’t real. It was as if he’d stepped straight out of some kind of dream—a figure she’d conjured from the stories she read, with all his talent, charisma, and charm. The music was still pounding as she sat frozen in her seat, her eyes locked on Adler as he performed on the dimly lit stage of Southland College’s community hall.
His body moved with a fluidity that seemed impossible, each step hitting the beat with absolute precision. Dressed in a simple black shirt and ripped jeans, he looked every bit the part of a rising star. Y2K, his dance crew, circled around him, each member equally talented, but Adler commanded attention effortlessly. Every flip, every spin he executed seemed crafted to leave the crowd in awe.
To Aniya, he was more than just another student. He was a symbol of something she longed for—confidence, fearlessness, and a world where the rules seemed to bend in his favor.
“Earth to Aniya,” Lily Chen whispered, giving her friend a little nudge. Aniya blinked, her trance momentarily broken.
“Did you see that?” she asked, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.
Lily rolled her eyes. “Oh, trust me, I saw. And so did the other three hundred girls in this room.”
But Aniya’s smile was undeterred. She could feel her heart still racing as the music slowed and the dancers exited the stage. She wasn’t about to let go of that feeling—of being swept up in something bigger, something that felt almost magical.
---
For weeks, Aniya’s thoughts seemed to drift back to Adler, and she’d found herself paying extra attention whenever she walked by the Y2K practice room. She’d catch glimpses of him in mid-routine, dripping with sweat, his focus laser-sharp. Sometimes he’d laugh with his friends or joke around with Julian Styles, his best friend and fellow dancer. But mostly, he was lost in his art, and that was what held her spellbound.
She’d even discovered a few facts about him, thanks to Sofia Rodriguez, the college gossip blogger who always had a way of finding out everyone’s business. According to Sofia’s posts, Adler was known for his no-nonsense attitude, dedication to dance, and rumored romances that never seemed to go anywhere.
“Obsessing over a guy you barely know? Not like you, Aniya,” Lily teased one afternoon as they sat on the grassy lawn outside the main campus building.
“It’s not like that,” Aniya said, a little defensively. “I just… admire him. He’s so passionate about what he does. Don’t you think it’s inspiring?”
Lily sighed. “Aniya, you’re allowed to have a crush. Just don’t let it turn into some fantasy.”
Aniya nodded, but her thoughts lingered on Adler. It wasn’t just a crush. It was more like… she felt connected to him, like there was something about his presence that resonated with her own aspirations. She couldn’t explain it, but she wanted to understand it.
---
One late evening, after a study session, Aniya opened her locker to grab her bag, and something unusual caught her eye. A neatly folded note lay there, tucked between her books. Her heart skipped a beat as she reached for it, carefully unfolding the small paper.
*“For the one who watches but doesn’t speak. Maybe you’re closer to what you admire than you think.”*
Aniya’s hands trembled as she read and re-read the note. Who could’ve left this? Was it possible… could Adler have noticed her? Her mind raced, trying to piece together any small moments they might’ve shared—glances, or a smile across the hallway.
“Aniya! You coming?” Lily’s voice snapped her back to reality, and she hastily stuffed the note into her bag, unwilling to share it just yet.
“Yeah, I’m here,” she said, shutting the locker door and casting a glance down the hall, wondering if perhaps someone was watching her even now.
---
The note became Aniya’s little secret, a spark of hope she carried with her over the following days. She’d pull it out during quiet moments, her heart filling with a mix of excitement and nerves. Part of her knew she was being foolish, letting her imagination run wild. But another part of her—the part that dared to believe in something more—held tightly to the idea that maybe, just maybe, Adler had noticed her after all.
In the evenings, she’d sit by her dorm room window, watching the world outside, and imagine what it might be like to actually talk to him. To know him. To find out if he had ever looked her way, even once.
Lily, of course, picked up on her friend’s change in mood almost immediately. “You’ve been in a daze all week,” she commented one evening, flopping down onto Aniya’s bed with a sigh. “Spill. Are you thinking about him again?”
Aniya hesitated, wondering if she should tell Lily about the note. But then again, what if it turned out to be nothing? Just some prank?
“Maybe a little,” she admitted, trying to sound casual.
Lily raised an eyebrow. “A little? Aniya, you’ve got it bad. Just… don’t get your hopes up too high, okay?”
Aniya forced a smile, but inwardly, she was already too far gone. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Adler Hugh was somehow meant to be part of her life, that their paths had crossed for a reason. And as she lay awake that night, the note tucked beneath her pillow, she let herself believe in that small sliver of hope.
After all, if there was one thing she’d learned from watching Adler, it was that sometimes, the things we believe in have a way of finding us when we least expect them.
---
End of Chapter 1
---
YOU ARE READING
Rhythm Of Deceit
RomanceSynopsis: In the vibrant world of Southland College's music scene, Aniya Valdez finds herself torn between two passionate artists: Adler Hugh, a captivating dancer, and Rio, a charismatic singer. As Aniya navigates her feelings, she uncovers dark se...
