The one day he stayed

The next time they crossed paths was by accident.

Vanya was walking out of the canteen, her mind preoccupied with a text from Shrey, when she bumped into someone. Looking up, she found herself staring at Yuvi.

“Sorry,” she muttered, stepping back quickly.

He smiled slightly, the usual relaxed grin he gave everyone, but this time, it was different — almost like he was seeing her for the first time.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “You alright?”

Vanya blinked, surprised at the question. She didn’t expect anyone to ask, especially not him.

“Yeah, just… tired, I guess.” She smiled faintly, but it wasn’t a real one.

He noticed the way her smile didn’t reach her eyes. His gaze lingered for a moment, before he nodded.

“Well, don’t let it get to you. College can be a lot,” Yuvi said, then, without missing a beat, he turned and walked away, his helmet tucked under his arm.

Vanya stood there, watching him disappear down the hall. There was something about him that felt different — like he saw her in a way others didn’t.

The next day it was wood joinery workshop. 

The wood joinery workshop was the kind of class where patience met precision. Everyone had to pair up to create a piece of functional art — something sturdy, simple, yet creative. Vanya had hoped to be paired with someone she knew well, someone who could keep the pressure off her shoulders for once. But as fate would have it, she found herself paired with Nikhil, one of her classmates who was quiet and methodical, but not exactly a conversationalist.

Yuvi, on the other hand, was paired with Tanu, the overly talkative girl from the popular group. He seemed to be the only one who wasn’t bothered by the pairing, but Vanya couldn’t help but feel a flicker of disappointment. She’d never spoken to him much, but there was something oddly magnetic about the way he moved, as though he was always somewhere else, yet always present at the same time. It made her wonder if he noticed her at all.

---

The workshop was filled with the sound of saws cutting through wood, the steady rhythm of hammers striking nails, and the low hum of students discussing their designs. Vanya worked carefully with Nikhil, measuring the wood pieces and fitting them together. She found herself slipping into a rhythm, the task offering a brief escape from the weight of her thoughts. But even as she focused on the joinery, she couldn’t help but glance over at Yuvi occasionally.

He was effortless in his movements, laughing with Tanu and gesturing with his hands as they worked on their piece. His attention, however, seemed to flicker toward her once in a while, though he always quickly returned to Tanu. Vanya didn’t think much of it. Why would he be looking at her? They’d never really interacted.

When the joinery was complete, the next task was to transform it into something useful — a small functional object that could be used in everyday life. Vanya, feeling the pressure of the clock ticking down, decided to go with a small wooden frame. Nikhil seemed content to follow her lead, offering quiet suggestions now and then.

As the workshop went on, Yuvi’s laughter began to grow louder. Vanya couldn’t help but feel a little irritated. His group was finishing quicker than everyone else. They’d already started adding finishing touches to their piece while she was still carefully smoothing the edges of the wood.

The workshop floor was filled with a slow hum of activity when, unexpectedly, the instructor called for everyone’s attention.

“Alright, students! Time for a photo before we wrap up for the day. Gather around!” she called, motioning for everyone to come together.

Vanya froze. She hadn’t noticed the instructor coming around to take the photo, and now, standing with her back to the group, she realized she was going to have to be in the shot with Nikhil — and Yuvi. She glanced around for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Tanu, where’s Yuvi?” she asked, half-jokingly.

Tanu, not paying attention, shrugged. “He probably stepped out for a bit.”

Vanya’s stomach sank. She hadn’t even thought about the fact that there wouldn’t be enough time to call him back if the photo was taken without him. She quickly glanced over to the door, but he wasn’t there.

“Yuvi!” she called out, raising her voice slightly. The room went quiet for a moment. A few heads turned in her direction, and Yuvi, who had just walked back into the room, glanced at her.

He looked a little surprised, but before he could say anything, Vanya waved him over. “Come here, we’re taking a photo!”

Without missing a beat, Yuvi walked across the room, his presence already catching the attention of a few people. He made his way to her side, standing behind her as the instructor clicked the camera.

Vanya stood there, uncertain of how to react. The closeness between them was brief but palpable. She could feel the heat radiating off him, the scent of wood and leather lingering in the air around him. Her heart skipped a beat — something she couldn’t place. But just as quickly as the moment came, it was gone. The instructor snapped the photo and moved on to the next group, signaling the end of the workshop.

---

"Thanks for calling me," Yuvi said, offering her a small, crooked smile. He didn’t seem awkward — just... natural. It made her stomach flutter in a way she didn’t understand.

“No problem,” Vanya replied, trying to hide the small, nervous smile threatening to break out on her face. “I... didn’t want you to miss it.”

“Right,” he said, adjusting his helmet. “Well, you saved me from being the guy who ruins group photos.” He chuckled to himself, a low sound that made her pause for a moment. He didn’t say much, but when he did, there was something about it that made her want to hear more.

---

As the class wrapped up, Vanya gathered her things, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected to feel... something after that small moment. It wasn’t anything big — just a few seconds of being closer than she’d ever been to him. But those seconds felt like they were shifting something inside her.

Yuvi, for all his calm and distance, had just started to chip away at the walls she had built around herself. And as they both left the workshop, Vanya didn’t know it yet, but this small interaction was the beginning of something much more complicated than she could have imagined.