Leon’s mother stood in the doorway, worry etched into her features as she watched her son curl into himself on the bed. His shoulders trembled, his face buried in his pillow.

  “Leon, what’s going on? Why are you crying?” she asked softly, stepping closer.

  Leon quickly wiped his face, foring a chuckle. “It’s nothing, Mum. Just watched some sad, depressing movie.”

  She folded her arms, unconvinced. “You ain’t serious. Clean yourself up and come down for breakfast.”

  “Okay, Mum,” he muttered.

  She hesitated for a moment as if she wanted to say more, but instead, she sighed and left the room. As soon as the door clicked shut, Leon exhaled shakily, staring at the ceiling. His chest felt empty, like something had been ripped out and repced with a hollow space.

  Two months passed in a blur of routine and isotion. He barely stepped outside and barely spoke unless necessary. The days felt repetitive, each one blending into the next, as if time had lost all meaning. The weight in his chest never really lifted, only settled into something dull and constant. Even when he wasn't thinking about it, he could still feel it—that absence, that void.

  But as the third month began, reality caught up with him—college was starting. A new beginning. A chance to change.

  Leon made a decision. No more feelings. No more caring.

  He bought a new pair of noise-canceling headphones—his new shield from the world. If he drowned everything out, maybe nothing could hurt him again. He convinced himself that it was better this way. That detachment was the answer. No friends meant no disappointments. No love meant no heartbreak.

  Two months into college, Leon had perfected the art of indifference. He kept to himself, spoke only when required, and let the music in his ears block out the chaos around him. People came and went, but they barely registered in his mind. He existed in the background, an observer rather than a participant. And that was exactly how he wanted it.

  But fate, as always, had other pns.

  That afternoon, the rain poured relentlessly, drumming against the windows of the hallway as students hurried past, eager to escape the downpour. Leon walked at his usual unbothered pace, hands in his pockets, lost in the music thundering through his headphones.

  Somewhere beyond the barrier of sound, a voice called out—urgent, desperate.

  “Watch out! Watch out!”

  But the warning never reached him

  All he felt was the sudden, jarring impact.

  Books scattered across the hallway. Papers fluttered to the wet floor. And Leon found himself sitting on the cold tiles, blinking in shock.

  With a sigh, he pulled out his earphones and turned to see who had collided with him. A girl, her blonde hair damp from the rain, was already scrambling to pick up her fallen textbooks. Strands of wet hair clung to her forehead, her uniform slightly soaked at the edges. Despite the mess, there was no trace of frustration on her face—only mild surprise and amusement.

  Leon hesitated, then helped gather her notes. When he handed them over, she looked up at him and smiled—a soft, genuine smile that caught him off guard. It wasn’t forced, and it wasn’t awkward. It was warm. The kind of smile that made a person feel seen.

  Stretching out her hand, she said, “Hi, my name is Stel. What’s yours?”

  For a moment, Leon considered ignoring her, retreating back into his silence. But something about the warmth in her voice stopped him. Not wanting to seem rude, he reached out and shook her hand.

  “Leon,” he replied simply.

  Their hands lingered for a second longer than expected before he pulled away. He gnced at her again, noticing little details he had missed before—the way her bright blue eyes contrasted with the blonde strands of her hair, the way she seemed completely unfazed by the cold, her posture rexed despite the rain outside.

  She tilted her head slightly, as if studying him, then grinned. “You always this quiet, Leon?”

  He shrugged. “Guess so.”

  She let out a soft chuckle. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Leon had no idea how to respond to that, so he simply slipped his hands back into his pockets. Most people gave up on him after a few seconds of disinterest. But Stel? She didn’t seem bothered by his ck of enthusiasm. If anything, she seemed amused.

  “Well, it was nice crashing into you, Leon.” She gave a small wave, bancing her books in one hand. “See you around.”

  And just like that, she walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

  Leon stood there for a moment longer than he intended, his gaze lingering on the space where she had been.

  Was this just a meaningless encounter? Or had fate decided to intervene in his life again? Was it offering him something new—or merely setting the stage for another cruel trick?

  He exhaled sharply, shoving his hands into his pockets. It didn’t matter. It was nothing. Just a moment, already fading.

  Without another thought, he turned and walked away.