Autumn played Cupid today.
For a moment there, his heart had paused. His olive skin showed the reddish tint within, while his dark curls that curtained his eyes didn't seem to hinder the view that lay ahead.
Basking in soft golden rays, she sat by the window, lost in her own world. A cup of coffee and some files rested on her table while she attempted to tame her hair which playfully teased her face. A rubber band gently held between her teeth, escaping through her parted lips, her unwavering gaze remained fixated on a file she diligently read.
Nathan was entranced by the way each strand of her hair danced through her fingers - a delicate interplay of falling and raising, stubbornly caressing her cheeks and yet surrendering to her touch.
Just as she finished putting up her hair, she turned around as if responding to a distant call. Gathering up her files and coffee, she slung her leather bag over her shoulder and headed outside, joining her friend who was waiting for her. Until the moment she disappeared from his sight, Nathan remained rooted to the ground.
A strong shove from his friend snapped him back to reality.
"Earth to Nathan? We need to hurry, mate," Max said, patting the 19-year-old's back.
Nathan's eyes wandered in blank air for a while before he dashed out of the cafe, following the path she had taken. Nathan sprinted aimlessly across the road, following his gut instinct. In the vicinity, he could see the back of her hair and felt the emotions surge in him once again. Suddenly, the realisation struck him, "What should I say to her?"
He halted in his tracks, his breath ragged. Squatting down, he ran his fingers through his hair, his head hung low. In his right pocket, his phone had been buzzing for quite some time.
"Nathaniel Joy!" Maximilian's voice thundered from the other side, "Get your ass here, right now! We cannot afford another strike, you idiot!"
"Hey, calm down. There's still some time," Nathan replied. With one last glance in her direction, he sighed, "I'm on my way." Saying so, he turned and headed back to the cafe.
Just as he left, Amelia glanced back and looked around aimlessly.
"Everything okay?" Lily asked.
"Yeah," Amelia replied after a few seconds, "it's nothing, just… a cute puppy." Saying so, she smiled as she continued on her way ahead.
...
Nathan and Max ran across the empty corridor, their hearts racing, not just from their pace, but also for the storm ahead.
As they neared their class, they slowed their steps down to a jog and quietly peeked inside. While the professor was focused on the board, the nineteen-year-old duo slipped in from the backdoor and were about to take their seats when - "Ah! The two merit students!" the professor's voice boomed twenty metres across the hall. Max hissed while Nathan shut his eyes close as they both stood where they were and faced the professor.
"Head out the way you made it," the professor smiled, threateningly. "And that's your last strike!"
Just as they were about to head out, Nathan grabbed a paper and a pencil from his desk and swiftly pocketed it.
"Great! Now we can't attempt the internals," Max groaned as they leaned against the corridor wall. As soon as they were out of the class, Nathan immediately pulled the pencil and paper from his pocket and rested the paper against the wall.
"An apology letter?" Max asked.
"Obviously not," Nathan shrugged. "I have to draw someone."
"Sure. Let's see which lady stole your senses and made you run across the road like a madman," Max snickered, watching as Nathan sketched in extreme detail - each strand of her hair grazing her cheek and every crease of her shirt following her movements. Her eyelashes gently dropped down, lowering her gaze, while her lips had soft dents around the rubber band that passed through.
As he finished sketching her, Max was left awestruck. The picture was drawn so well that she seemed to come alive and breathe right through the page.
"Who is she?" Max asked, mesmerised.
"I have no clue," Nathan replied, marvelling at his own art. "But one thing's for sure: I am doomed, and I'll be damned if I ever meet her again."