BabyLotus

Entering the college life, Simon meets a girl, who he unexpectedly falls for. Despite his deepening affection for her, Simon is held back by a web of reluctance and self-doubt, unable to confess his true feelings. As he navigates the complexities of new friendships and personal growth, he embarks on an emotional journey of self-discovery and unfortunate timing. Will Simon be brave enough to share his heart, or will the opportunity to express his love remain forever unspoken?

Silent Rejection

As several school days passed, we found ourselves engrossed in a class learning how to calculate binary values. The professor meticulously explained the long method, guiding us through every intricate detail. Eventually, we grasped the concept well enough to pass a short quiz. Then, the professor introduced a shortcut method for solving binary values. Witnessing its efficiency, Jackie exclaimed, "It's amazing how this works!"

Playfully, I quipped back, "You know what's amazing?". She responded "What is?". I answered "Me, I'm the amazing spider-man". She sighed while she rolled her eyes with a little smirk on the side of her face. My heart raced, a mix of elation and confusion. It felt like I just shot a buzzer beater in basketball. A clutch pentakill in gaming. I laughed a little but mostly remained quiet. My heart fluttered but mostly confused. Who would have thought that in the Korean Dramas, where a person says that their heart is fluttering and are confused why they are feeling that way, is the exact feeling I have.

I couldn't shake the confusion, silently questioning myself, "Why am I feeling this way? I like Charlize, she's the one I have feelings for." Yet, as I reflected later at home, I began to realize that Jackie might be the one who puts the flame in the fire, igniting a spark within me, the one making my heart beat faster, and putting a smile on my face.

Chapter 4: The Flame