The entire day felt like a countdown.
Every lecture, every practical, every minute that ticked by on the classroom wall felt longer than the last. I could barely sit still. Even my notebook was filled with doodles instead of notes—tiny hearts and stars and half-scribbled lines that said one thing over and over:
Maddy's coming.
By evening, the sky had shifted into a soft golden blue, and my phone buzzed.
Maddy: "Reached. I'm heading to the orientation spot now."
My heart skipped.
I shot out of the hostel like I was late for a flight, practically jogging to the orientation hall where new students gathered on arrival. The space was buzzing with energy—first-years dragging bags, parents looking around curiously, faculty members moving in and out with clipboards and ID cards.
But my eyes scanned only for one face.
And then… I saw him.
There he was, leaning against a pillar, his duffel bag at his feet, wearing that black hoodie he always wore when he was traveling. His eyes were scanning the crowd, and the moment they met mine—he smiled.
That smile.
I didn't even realize I was running until I was already halfway across the courtyard. The world blurred and sharpened all at once. I don't remember what anyone else was doing. I don't even know if someone was watching. All I knew was that I had waited for this moment since the day I left home.
I crashed into his arms, and he caught me instantly, lifting me just an inch off the ground.
"I missed you," I breathed into his shoulder.
He chuckled softly. "I can tell."
We pulled back just a little, but not too far.
He looked at me for a second longer, as if trying to memorize everything. "You look different here," he said.
"Different how?"
"College looks good on you. Freedom suits you," he added with a little grin.
I laughed. "You're just saying that because you're glad to be back with me."
He smirked. "Maybe. Or maybe you were all I missed about this place."
The noise around us faded. Somehow, even in that crowd, it felt like we were in our own world.
Later, we grabbed a coffee and sat on the grass outside the admin block, where fairy lights were strung up for the orientation night. We didn't talk much—just sipped quietly, arms brushing now and then, our phones long forgotten.
He was here.
And with him here, the campus didn't feel so overwhelming. The buildings weren't so tall. The nights weren't so silent.
Everything felt… right.
And this time, the beginning felt even more real.