From my voice — 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.