They met at ten.
Hated each other for no reason.
Then fate made them classmates, neighbors, tuition buddies - and something more.
Alexasandra, the sensitive dancer with stars in her eyes, and Stephan, the quiet artist who hides behind sarcasm, never...
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Chapter 7 – "The Guy With the Stupid Smile"
So, plot twist.
I wasn't planning on leaving the house today. Like, at all. I had mentally committed to being a human burrito under my blanket, scrolling through reels and overthinking life. But nooo — life had other plans. More specifically, Ariana had other plans.
She barges into my room like she pays rent and yells, "Get your ass up, we're going out." I'm like, "Out where? To hell? Count me in."
Anyway, long story short, she drags me to this small event thing — some college fest or workshop or god-knows-what. I don't even know the name. I just know I showed up in oversized jeans, no makeup, messy bun, full gremlin mode. And guess who decides to walk into my life like he owns the place?
This guy.
Tall. Confident. Wearing black and silver like he's straight out of an anime. And that stupid, stupid smile. You know the kind that makes you want to punch someone and also maybe kiss them? Yeah. That kind.
He walks in like the main character and I hate that my eyes follow him. Ariana notices. Of course she does. She smirks. "Girl, you're staring." I snap, "I'm not blind, okay? He just... stood in the way." She laughs. I roll my eyes.
Anyway, turns out he's one of the speakers. Like, motivational or whatever. And of course, because life loves me (insert sarcasm here), he starts talking about healing, letting go, and finding yourself. And I'm like — oh fuck off.
But the worst part? His words make sense. And the worst worst part? He keeps glancing at me mid-talk like he knows something. Like he can see right through the bullshit smile I'm wearing.
Fast forward — event ends, crowd thins, Ariana ditches me to flirt with some guy near the food counter. I'm just standing there, pretending to text, when he walks up to me.
Him: "You looked like you wanted to set the whole place on fire." Me: "Still might." He laughs. I hate that I kinda like the sound. Him: "I'm Kian. What's your name, Danger Girl?" Me: "None of your business." Him: "Oof. Okay, mysterious. I like that."
I hate charming people. I do. But also... I kinda don't. There's something about him. The way he talks, so casual yet deep. Like he's been through shit and came out shiny. But not in a fake way. In a real, "I've bled too, but I still smile" kind of way.
We talk. Like, actually talk. About stupid things. Favorite snacks. Dreams. Family mess. He tells me his dad walked out when he was twelve. I tell him I wish mine had. We laugh at the trauma like it's a joke — because what else can we do?
Then he says something that sticks in my head like a song lyric. "You don't look broken. You look like a phoenix who forgot she can burn."
And I just freeze.
No one's ever said something like that to me. No one's ever seen me like that.
We part ways with a casual "see you around," but my mind's not casual at all. I walk back home like something just shifted inside me. Like maybe — maybe — my story isn't over yet. Maybe there's more than just the heartbreak I've been writing about.
And then, at 1:42 a.m., my phone buzzes.
A message.
From Stephan.
No words. Just a picture of an old chocolate wrapper.
✨ Author's Note: Their story is just beginning... From childhood glares to silent stares, from shared chocolates to stolen feelings — will fate give them another chance? Or is it too late?
💌 Stay tuned to read more of Alexandra and Stephan's journey — filled with emotions, twists, and memories that never really fade.
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