第一章 初遇

'The meeting.' That's what I kept thinking as I walked down the bustling street. My mind was a mess, a tangled mess of exams, projects, and an unwelcome crush that had somehow managed to bloom in the driest parts of my life. The sun beat down, casting long shadows that danced around the pebbled path, making me feel like a tiny, insignificant ant in a giant world. I was heading to the university library, my bag slung over my shoulder, filled with the usual suspects: textbooks, notebooks, and a novel that was currently on its fourth page since I'd started it five minutes ago. I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice the person approaching me until it was almost too late. A sudden squeal escaped my lips as I stumbled back, my bag flying from my hands and landing with a soft thud on the pavement. I looked up, only to meet the eyes of a young man who was standing there, a smirk playing on his lips. "Watch it," he said, his voice smooth and confident. He bent down to pick up my bag, his eyes flicking over it as if he could tell what books I was carrying.