The Boy Who Always Looked Back - Caught In His Glance

S2

It was a typical day after school, and I was walking up the staircase, lost in my thoughts, when I heard Sam exaggerate my name in that teasing tone he always uses—"S2!". It was a nickname I secretly loved hearing even though on the outside , though I'd never admit it out loud I pretended like I didn't The way he said it always made my heart race a little, and I could tell from the grin on his face that he knew exactly what he was doing. As I turned to look, I saw him at the bottom of the staircase, standing with his friends. But something was off—Sam wasn't just standing there, he was blocking the way. With a sudden, exaggerated flourish, he spread his arms wide like a starfish, halting his entire group from moving. I could feel my heart skip a beat as I realized what was happening. As his friends stumbled, trying to make their way past him, Sam didn't flinch. His gaze was fixed on me, his arms still stretched out, creating a space, a path, just for me. I could feel the weight of his stare as he held that space, deliberately letting me through without the usual crowd pushing in. It was like the world slowed down for a moment, just long enough for me to pass through. His eyes locked with mine, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze, as if nothing else existed in that moment. Maybe it was just the way he was looking at me, but it definitely didn't feel like a random act. No, this was deliberate, and as I moved past him, I couldn't help but wonder—was he doing this because he wanted me to feel special, or was it just another playful moment in the endless game we had? Either way, I couldn't help but smile inside, knowing Sam had a way of making everything feel more complicated than it seemed.