Enamoured

It's okay, Dior

Freshman year, the first year of my undergraduate degree.

This was the year when I was finally at university, doing what I loved, which was English. It was something I had been dreaming about since primary school, to study English for all I wanted. I was an English major at one of the finest universities in the country and I loved my academic life. My love for literature was an utter adoration and admiration for words, linguistics and everything that had to do with literary genres, especially poetry. History, culture, the origin of words, well, I was in my own perfect little bubble where I could write, not just accurately, but fluently. I was a die-hard poet, who'd write in secret and who hopefully wanted to publish her poems one day. Ah, just one of those dreams.

Before I reached university, I had promised myself that my university years would be the best years of my life. Life had always hit me hard, with the ups and downs of friendship and a painful heartbreak when I reached nineteen. That was when I had to change, even-though I didn't want to. I hated it more that I didn't have a choice in feeling that my heart was turning stronger, like a stone which was about to be wrecked into pebbles. Or rather, something which was bruised and left in the cold.

I promised myself after the traumatic experience that my university years were going to be different. Or at least, I'd try to make the effort of not drowning myself in the past. I wanted to improve on myself, and it was what I had been doing for the past four months since I had started university. Working on myself, not because I wasn't good enough but, because I had to stop turning myself as the bad guy when people behaved like monsters. I had always considered my education to be my top priority and luckily, I was grateful that I was doing what I loved. My English studies had been so enriching that contrary to some of my classmates, every piece of reading touched me, motivated me and encouraged me to discover more.

Specialising in literature, I could lose myself in the library, amidst the books of Jane Austen and read for hours. What was better than having your passion as your studies?

It was already 8.30 a.m. and I was on my way to the library. This was an entirely stressful moment because twenty-nine students wanted to be the first to borrow the latest book of referred poems from the library. I had to get a copy before anyone else laid hands on it. Okay, I knew that there were four copies of it, yesterday the librarian had told me that they were bringing four copies, but, I wasn't the only one who was mad about poetry. We were a bunch of poetry freaks I could say!

I was walking down the halls of the building to the library in the next building when suddenly Clara locked arms with me and quickening her pace to match mine. "What if you're late to class?" asked Clara, my best friend.

Clara Martins. We had been best friends since high-school. Even-though it was a cliche but we really stuck with each other through thick and thin. Saying that we knew everything about each other could appear over-rated but it was true. So obviously, she knew what I was going to the library for, especially when we were doing the same course.

I unlocked my arm from hers: "I'd rather be late than get the book taken away!" I was already running towards the library while answering.

"Okay, I'll save you a seat as usual!" I heard her shout behind me.

I started running as fast as I could. One of them had to be mine. The librarian said it'd be here at 9 a.m. I couldn't care less if 29 more students wanted it. Luckily I was wearing my trainers and hoodie, easier to run with jeans! Intelligent choice Dior!

I made large strides on the stairs rushing through the posh corridors and finally reached the library door. Great, just a few steps away from my poetry book now and BAM!

"Ouch! My head." Did I have to bump into someone now?! I clumsily rubbed my forehead.

The knock made me lose my balance when I felt a hand grab my wrist. I tried to stand up properly so I wouldn't fall. Not exactly the way I had planned it!

"Ugh, I'm sorry," I looked down, embarrassed by the situation.

"It's okay Dior," the guy said. I knew that I was calm until I saw who was in front of me.

How did he know my na.. I slowly raised my face to see who it was and IT WAS RYAN FREAKING COOPER! The hottest nerd on campus. I stared at him blankly, with the shock way too apparent on my face.

Everyone was crazy about Ryan Cooper on campus. He was the smartest guy in the medical department, and the hottest as well. Girls literally proposed to him everyday but he just never cared by walking straight past them and that got me thinking that I had never seen him with a girl before, well except for his friend Kristina, who apparently had been his friend since kindergarten. And suddenly, she was studying at the same university too. Coincidence much?

Those light coffee brown eyes were looking down at me. They were so deep through those square-framed glasses. A small smile tugged around the corners of his mouth and that snapped me out of my thoughts. That was when I realised that I was staring at him like in those soapy novels, or the dramas that I was addicted to.

Oh my God... Snap out of it Dior!

A few students started to gather around, intrigued. Of course they would be, it was Ryan. One thing that I had learnt during my first week here was that the university chatroom offered a famous ranking which was voted by students on campus. They had popularity votes as well for students here, like Ryan, who was voted first, by most of the girls in the chatroom. Well, I wasn't surprised because he was good-looking, very good-looking in fact.

Oh no, they started taking pictures of the famous Ryan and I knew they would post them there, in the chatroom. He was always a hot topic on it and I definitely didn't want to be a part of this. I was fine being in my little translucent world.

My book immediately crossed my mind. I checked my wristwatch and I had only ten minutes left to get it and join the class before the first lecture would start at 9 a.m. Was it just me or he was reluctant to go? I could feel him staring down at me. My face flushed, and that made me look down at the floor. I knew that I was shy, and that he was attractive. I had seen him before on campus, he had always been so gorgeous walking, or in the canteen with his friends. I just didn't think I'd be like this in front of him though. And I didn't know he'd have this weird effect on me when he'd look at me or talk to me.

I looked up at him: "Thank you and I'm sorry, euhmm I have to go," my voice was barely audible. Before he could even reply, I turned my back and without thinking, I was quickly on my heels to the library. I couldn't believe that I had just bumped into Ryan Cooper! I should've looked back, right? Or probably not...

I managed to get my book and as I got into my seat next to Clara, my mind was already travelling into space, captivated by those coffee-brown eyes. I couldn't get my mind off him. I had finally met him. Well, it wasn't really meeting, but at least I knew what it felt like for him to look at me. I would conclude that it was best not to be under his sight again, it was weird, because I was shy, blank and felt a waterfall of butterflies in my stomach.

"You're back sooner than I expected," stated Clara. "And why do you look so flushed?" I could see her eyes analysing me for she knew me too well.

Bewildered, I replied staring at my hands on my lap, "It's, uh hot?"

"It's 2 degrees. What are you talking about?" She looked at me as if it was the most stupid thing I had ever said. Well, I kind of agreed to that, she was right.

I averted my eyes and thankfully Mr. Norton got in just when she was about to push further. I'd tell her, after class though. Just not now, otherwise she would scream.