crossed by misfortune

Episode 1: Crossed Paths

The campus was bustling, but Kian couldn't focus. Sitting in a corner of the university library, his textbooks spread out in front of him, his mind kept drifting. His parents' voices echoed in his head, reminding him of the future they expected for him: grades, prestigious internships, and a safe career. But Kian wasn't interested in a path they had chosen. His studies in humanities, his love for philosophy and literature, felt like distractions to them.

"Hey, Kian. Studying... or pretending?" Saba, his best friend, asked, sitting down beside him.

"A bit of both," he sighed. "I'm trying, but it's hard to focus."

Saba gave him a sympathetic look. "You overthink too much. You need a break."

Before Kian could respond, a familiar yet unexpected voice interrupted.

"Mind if I join you?"

Kian looked up to see Ramin standing near their table. He was always impeccably dressed, carrying that air of wealth with him.

"Sure," Saba said, not noticing the tension in the air.

Ramin sat down, his gaze fixed on Kian. "How's the studying going?" he asked with a teasing tone.

Kian tried to steady his nerves. "It's going," he replied shortly.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, but the tension between Kian and Ramin lingered. Every word exchanged seemed to pull them closer, yet further apart, each hiding something they weren't ready to confront.

"You know," Ramin said, standing up to leave, "you should really think about what you want, not what they want for you."

Kian paused, lost in thought. He couldn't ignore the feeling that something was growing between them.