Chapter 1— The first glance
It was the first day of the new semester. Lily woke up with mixed feelings—she was excited to begin a new chapter of her life, yet nervous about what awaited her. After getting ready, she packed her bag, took one last look around her room, and left for school.
As she settled into her usual seat on the school bus, she stared out of the window, letting her thoughts wander. She had no idea that this ordinary morning was about to change everything.
A few stops later, a boy stepped onto the bus. The moment Lily looked at him, their eyes met. Startled, she quickly turned her face toward the window, hoping he hadn't noticed her staring. Her heart raced for reasons she couldn't explain.
The boy walked down the aisle and took the seat just behind her. Every now and then, he found himself glancing at Lily, unable to look away for long. She could feel his eyes on her and a faint blush spread across her cheeks. She didn't understand what she was feeling, but somehow... she liked it.
When the bus reached the school, Lily hurried to her classroom and placed her bag on the last bench. Her thoughts, however, were still on the mysterious boy from the bus. A few moments later, someone entered the classroom. It was him.
A wave of butterflies filled her stomach as he walked in and sat in the row beside hers. Before either of them could say a word, the class teacher entered.
"Good morning, everyone," the teacher said. "We have a new student joining us today. His name is Shivansh."
Shivansh... Lily repeated his name silently in her mind. Almost at the same moment, he looked at her with a gentle smile. For a brief second, it felt as if the entire classroom had disappeared.
Days slowly turned into weeks. They began talking—not directly at first, but through small conversations whenever they found a reason. Every little interaction brought them a little closer.
Lily often wondered if Shivansh liked her, but she was never sure. Unknown to her, Shivansh was caught in the very same confusion. Both of them were afraid of misunderstanding their feelings, so neither had the courage to confess.
By the time half the semester had passed, almost everyone knew who Shivansh was. He was charming, handsome, intelligent, mischievous, and respectful to everyone around him. He rarely spoke to girls, and though no one knew the real reason, it was because his heart had already chosen someone—Lily
Neither Lily nor Shivansh knew that this quiet beginning would become one of the most unforgettable chapters of their lives. Sometimes, all it takes is one glance to change everything.
