The Psycho

The First Encounter

The first time they met, neither of them knew that a single moment could quietly change the course of two completely different lives.

Back when he was still in college, there was a girl who had recently taken admission into the same university. It wasn’t planned, nor was it fate that either of them believed in. To them, it was just another ordinary day on a campus filled with unfamiliar faces. She was known for her gentle nature and soft heart. No matter who needed help, she would never hesitate to offer it. Whether it was carrying someone’s books, helping a lost student find a classroom, or comforting a stranger, kindness came naturally to her. It wasn’t something she forced herself to do—it was simply the way she had always been.

That morning, the college campus was unusually lively. Students wandered through the wide hallways with excitement written across their faces, some searching for their classrooms while others reunited with old friends after the holidays. Laughter echoed through the corridors, footsteps hurried across the polished floor, and conversations blended into a constant buzz that filled every corner of the building. It was the beginning of another academic year, bringing with it new hopes, new friendships, and dreams that every student silently carried within their hearts.

She walked through one of the main corridors while holding a few books close to her chest. Now and then, her curious eyes wandered around the campus, quietly admiring the place that would become part of her daily life. A small smile rested on her lips as she looked at the students around her.

I hope I’ll have a good time here... she thought, taking a slow breath before continuing forward.

At the same time, he was walking through the opposite side of the corridor.

Unlike everyone else, he paid no attention to the cheerful atmosphere around him. His hands rested inside the pockets of his uniform trousers while his long, steady strides carried him through the crowd without once looking at anyone. His expression remained completely blank, making him appear distant from the lively world surrounding him.

His uniform looked slightly untidy. The sleeves were creased, and faint dark stains marked one side of his shirt. They weren’t obvious enough for most people to notice, but anyone paying close attention might wonder where they had come from. It almost looked as though he had returned from somewhere unpleasant before coming to college.

Lost in their own thoughts, neither of them noticed the other as they walked toward each other. Just as they were about to pass, a group of boys rushed carelessly through the hallway. Laughing loudly among themselves, one of them accidentally shoved him with enough force to throw him off balance.

He stumbled forward before crashing onto the cold floor. The books in his hands scattered across the corridor, sliding in different directions.

The boys stopped for only a brief moment.

One of them looked back.

Another shrugged his shoulders carelessly.

Instead of helping him, they simply walked away, laughing as though nothing had happened.

Several students witnessed everything, yet no one stepped forward. Some avoided looking at him altogether, while others whispered among themselves before continuing on their way. Within seconds, it was as if his fall had never mattered.

She had been walking only a few steps away when she saw everything happen.

Without thinking twice, she hurried toward him.

As she bent down to help gather his books, her eyes briefly fell upon the sleeve of his uniform. There was a strange stain near the cuff, dark enough to make her pause for just a second. It almost looked as though he had come from somewhere dangerous—perhaps after hurting an animal... or even a person.

The unexpected thought sent a slight chill through her mind.

No... that’s impossible. I’m just imagining things, she told herself, quickly pushing the thought aside. Judging someone she had never met wasn’t in her nature.

She extended her hand toward him with a gentle smile.

“Are you alright? Did you get hurt?”

Her voice was warm and sincere, carrying genuine concern for a stranger.

For the first time in years, someone had offered him a helping hand without expecting anything in return.

He slowly lifted his head.

His eyes met hers.

For a brief moment, the noisy hallway around them seemed to disappear. The laughter of students, the sound of footsteps, even the voices echoing through the corridor faded into the background. All he could see was the girl standing before him with worry reflected in her eyes.

He had seen countless faces throughout his life.

Faces filled with fear.

Hatred.

Greed.

Deceit.

But never one that looked at him with such innocent kindness.

His heart, usually cold and unmoved, skipped a beat for reasons he couldn’t understand.

He simply stared at her.

Seconds passed.

She waited patiently, expecting him to answer.

Instead...

Silence.

Did I say something wrong? she wondered, growing slightly confused by the way he continued looking into her eyes without speaking.

She offered him a small reassuring smile once more.

“Can you stand? Are you injured anywhere?”

He still said nothing.

Without breaking eye contact, he accepted the books she had picked up, stood on his own, and after one last silent glance at her face, turned around.

Then he walked away.

Not a single word escaped his lips.

She remained standing in the middle of the hallway, watching him disappear into the crowd until his figure was no longer visible. A puzzled expression slowly appeared on her face as she tightened her grip around the remaining book in her hands before realizing it belonged to him.

She looked down at it.

He forgot one...

Raising her head again, she searched the corridor, hoping to catch sight of him before he got too far away.

But he was already gone.

The only thing left behind was an unanswered question that quietly lingered in her heart.

Why did he look at me like that...?

She shook her head with a soft sigh before handing the forgotten book to the college office, hoping it would somehow find its way back to its owner. To her, it had been nothing more than a brief encounter with a quiet student.

She had no idea...

That, for him, it would become the beginning of an obsession.

To be continued......