Chapter 17

Subhi

Days had passed since the exams ended.

And yet, something still felt unfinished.

I should’ve been relieved. The stress, the tension, the endless studying—it was all over. But instead of feeling free, I felt restless.

Maybe it was just the habit of seeing him every day, sitting next to him during exams, sharing those quiet moments that neither of us ever acknowledged. Maybe it was just that.

Or maybe… it wasn’t.

I saw him for the first time after exams near the basketball court. He was standing with a few other seniors, but my eyes found him without meaning to. It was instinctive—like searching for something familiar in a crowd.

And then, for a split second, he turned.

Our eyes met.

It wasn’t dramatic. There was no sudden realization, no rush of emotions. Just a brief moment of recognition. And then… nothing. He looked away, and I kept walking.

The second time, it happened in the school corridor. He was coming from the other side, hands in his pockets, head slightly lowered. I thought he’d say something.

But he didn’t.

And I didn’t either.

The third time, I was fully aware of it. I caught myself noticing him, searching for him in places where I wasn’t even supposed to. It was frustrating, annoying, and completely unnecessary.

Why did it matter?

Why was I even thinking about this?

It wasn’t like we were close. It wasn’t like anything had changed between us. But then, why did it feel like something had?

And maybe—just maybe—he felt the same way.

Because the next time our eyes met, he hesitated.

It was barely noticeable, just a flicker of something unspoken. But it was there.

And for the first time, I wondered—

Was he feeling it too?

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