The Quiet Crush || gxg

chapter 3

As the days pass, everything seems to fall into its usual rhythm—except for one thing. Nam.

It’s strange. I don’t know what it is, but something feels different whenever she’s around. It’s like my heart beats a little faster, or maybe I’m just imagining it. I never used to pay attention to these things, but lately, I find myself noticing little details about her—the way she laughs, how her eyes crinkle when she smiles, the way her voice sounds just a little more pleasant than anyone else’s. It makes my stomach twist in a way I don’t really understand.

I try to brush it off as nothing, maybe just the nerves from studying or the pressure of exams. But then, Nam talks to me again, and it’s like my brain forgets how to function.

"Hey, Anya, got any tips for this section?" she asks, leaning in just a little too close as she peeks over at my notes. I’m instantly aware of the space between us, my heart suddenly thudding in my chest.

Why does she have to be so... close?

I try not to let it show. I mean, she’s just a classmate, right? Why does it feel like my thoughts get jumbled up whenever she’s near?

But the more she talks to me, the more I can’t help but notice things. Like, how her hair falls perfectly around her face, or how she somehow makes everything she says sound interesting, even when it’s just about the assignment. It’s ridiculous, really, and I keep telling myself to focus on the schoolwork. But it’s hard when she keeps looking at me with that easy smile, making my chest feel weirdly tight.

Then one day, after class, something completely unexpected happens. Nam, looking unusually hesitant, suddenly asks me, “Hey, Anya… could you tutor me for the next exams?”

At first, I don’t even know how to respond. My mind goes blank. Tutoring?

I’ve never had someone ask me for help like this before, especially not Nam, who always seems to have everything under control. But there she is, standing in front of me, nervously shifting from foot to foot.

“I just… I don’t want to fall behind, and I know you’re really good at this stuff,” Nam continues, her voice quieter now. “I thought maybe you could, you know, help me out a little?”

And just like that, it’s like the world around me goes silent. I can’t help but notice how close she is again. I glance up at her face, her eyes looking at me with something that’s almost... vulnerable.

My heart races. Why is this so difficult?

“You want me to tutor you?” I ask, trying to sound calm, but my voice betrays me, shaky and uncertain. “I mean… sure, I guess I could.”

Nam smiles at me, and for a moment, the whole room feels like it disappears. I just nod, not trusting myself to say anything else. Her smile grows a little wider, and I can’t help but think that maybe this is a good thing. I’ve never been great at interacting with people, but this—this is different.

But as I try to gather my thoughts, something weird starts to bubble up inside me. I don’t know if it's nervousness, excitement, or something else entirely. I want to say it’s just because she’s a classmate, but my heart isn’t listening to my brain.

Every time she comes close to me now, I feel this flutter in my chest, like I’m a little out of control. She talks to me more often, and I start to look forward to our conversations, even though I don’t fully understand why.

Nam keeps asking for help, and every time she does, it’s like I get butterflies in my stomach. And the worst part is, I don’t even know what to call it. It’s just this feeling that makes me a little flustered, a little breathless, and, honestly, a little embarrassed.