Chapter 5 A sight to behold

The next morning, we both woke early for our first lecture. While we got ready, I noticed Alex hesitating, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. I could feel it-the discomfort. Our styles were so different that even walking together might raise eyebrows.

I decided to make it easy for him.

"I think I'll sit at the back today," I said casually. "I have trouble seeing up close."

He nodded, clearly relieved. "Alright. See you after class."

We parted ways as we entered the lecture hall. Alex took a seat near the front and was instantly welcomed into a circle of chatter and laughter. I headed to the back, alone, the distance between us growing both physically and symbolically.

I watched the other students interact with ease, their conversations filled with references I didn't understand. No one approached me, and even the empty seat beside me remained untouched. I wanted to belong. I wanted to be part of something. But for the first time in a long time, I felt truly isolated.

I used to be surrounded by friends, never alone for long. But here... I was just another face no one recognized, and fewer cared to.

Then everything shifted.

A group of girls entered the room, their entrance so striking that the atmosphere itself seemed to pause. Their beauty and presence captivated everyone. Heads turned, conversations faltered, and for a moment, the entire class existed only to watch them.

I wasn't immune to their spell.

But one among them stole my breath, it's the same girl from yesterday.

She didn't just walk-she glided, her every movement graceful and confident. Her laugh was soft, melodic, and her presence radiant. I had never believed in love at first sight. I'd always thought it was just an illusion, a romanticized myth. But in that moment, staring at her from the back row, I knew I had been wrong.

She was real. And my heart, unprepared and unguarded, had already begun to fall.

I didn't know her name, but I was already memorizing her-how her dark curls framed her face, how she tilted her head slightly when listening, how her gold earrings caught the light every time she turned. It was like watching a movie I didn't want to end.

As the lecture came to a close, a flood of students surged toward the exit, their footsteps echoing through the vast hall. Among them, both guys and girls veered off course-drawn like moths to a flame-toward a group of four young women whose breathtaking presence had captivated the entire room.

It wasn't just their beauty, though that was undeniable. It was the effortless way they carried themselves, like they knew they were the sun around which everyone else revolved.

Even Alex, my new roommate, got caught in their gravitational pull. With his newfound friends in tow, he rushed over to them with the kind of energy usually reserved for celebrities. They greeted the girls with wide smiles and reverent tones, like they'd stumbled into a dream. I stood back and watched the scene unfold-watched him disappear into it. It was a lifestyle I once knew intimately. Back in high school, I had been that person, the one everyone noticed when I walked into a room.

But that felt like a lifetime ago.

I lingered for a moment, half-hoping Alex would look back, remember I was waiting. But when he strolled out with the others, caught up in laughter and easy conversation, I quietly turned and made my own way home. There was no need to stay on campus any longer. My day, it seemed, was over.

That evening, when we reunited in our dorm room, there was no tension between us-just the same casual energy as the day before. No awkwardness. No questions.

"So," Alex asked as he tossed his bag onto his bed, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Did you meet anyone today? Make any new friends?"

"Not really," I replied, attempting a casual shrug. "Just kept to myself, I guess. I didn't feel like approaching anyone."

He raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to be shy. Everyone's new and are just getting to know each other. This is the perfect time to meet people."

"I wasn't like this in high school," I admitted. "But this place... it feels different. Like everyone's already part of something I'm not."

Alex's smile softened. "You don't have to feel that way. Honestly, I'm glad we're roommates. You're cool to hang out with."

"Thanks," I said, touched by his sincerity.

He leaned back, arms folded behind his head. "You should try talking to people tomorrow. I'll even introduce you to some of my new friends."

My face lit up. "Really? That'd mean a lot."

"No problem," he said. "You're not alone here. I've got your back."

Feeling encouraged, I decided to ask the question that had been lingering in my mind all day.

"So... those girls from earlier. The ones everyone couldn't stop staring at. Who are they?"

He glanced over, then smirked. "You're gonna have to be more specific. There were a lot of girls today."

I rolled my eyes. "You know who I'm talking about-the four that walked in together and froze the whole room."

He chuckled. "Ah. Them. They call themselves the 'Gaga Girls.' No joke."

"Gaga Girls? What, like celebrities?"

"Not exactly. But close. They've got serious presence. And wealth. And confidence. You can't fake that."

"I see," I said, trying to sound unaffected. "One of them... the one with blue eyes-what's her name?"

He laughed knowingly. "Angelica. Angelica Richards."

"Angelica..." I repeated, the name hanging on my lips.

"You're not the only one smitten," he teased. "She's... something else."

"Are you into her?" I asked, more curious than jealous.

"Nah," he replied easily. "There's someone else I've got my eye on. But if you're serious about Angelica, you're gonna need to bring your A-game."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Her family is loaded. Like, loaded-loaded. They're one of the school's main sponsors. Own a whole empire of oil refineries. We're talking penthouses and private jets."

My eyes widened. "Wait-I thought your family was wealthy?"

Alex laughed. "Compared to hers? I'm middle class. But hey, don't let that stop you. If you like her, go for it. Just be smart about it."

I nodded slowly. I knew winning over someone like Angelica wouldn't be easy. But maybe... just maybe, it was worth trying.