Hanin

Today I have Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, and Professional Ethics classes. Then the Litigation workshop… and after that, that infamous Statistics class. I need to raise my average; I can't afford less than 4.5.

I walk calmly, mentally reviewing my day

My plan is organized, my tasks clear… and then something collides with me.

heat, liquid, an impact against my chest

The anger rises as quickly as the steam from the coffee. I look at the stain and feel my patience break. Who the hell—?

I look up. My eyes widen. My breathing fails. The heat I feel isn't from the coffee. It's worse. Deeper, more burning… and completely unexpected.

I breathe deeply. I smile. I can't let them see me tremble. I feign calm. I say it's okay.

I grab his arm without warning and take him with me

I drag him with a gentle firmness towards a secluded corner of the campus. My legs tremble, my heart beats as if it wants to escape from my chest. I don't understand why this stranger disarms me like this… but I'm not going to let him go.

I get closer, my voice low, tempered, and dangerous.

—You're going to make it up to me.—

I don't say how. Maybe a date. Maybe an expensive coffee every day. Maybe he spends all his money on me. Or something simpler: his time. Something in him ignites me, confuses me, accelerates me… and I want to understand it.

Love? I don't know. But I do know that I don't intend to let this end here.