Chapter 3: Saira Lys

Saira gazed up as the mysterious boy who had helped her disappeared into the shadows. She never caught a glimpse of his face. But she heard his voice. It was soft, soothing, captivating in a way she couldn't quite explain. A sound unlike anything she had ever known.

She was momentarily spellbound, rooted to the spot. Time seemed to stretch, and for a brief moment, everything around her faded away. But reality pulled her back, and she shook herself free of the enchantment.

With a deep breath, she turned and headed back to her hotel room.

Her friends were waiting for her when she stepped inside.

"Took you long enough, girl," Zoya said, her voice laced with concern. "Where were you?"

Saira shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Just faced a minor problem, girls."

Kaia raised an eyebrow, her worry evident. "Was it serious?"

Saira hesitated for a moment before she began recounting the events. She described how she'd run into trouble with the notorious boys of the school and how she'd managed to escape. Then, her tone shifted as she spoke about the mysterious boy who had helped her.

"You should've seen him, girls..." Saira's eyes sparkled, a dreamy look on her face. "He was so cool!"

Zoya and Kaia exchanged a knowing glance, shaking their heads in unison.

"Well," Zoya said with a playful sigh, "Looks like there's no saving this lovesick girl now."

* * *

The final day of the high school tour had arrived—the last adventure before graduation. For five days, Saira and her friends had collected memories like souvenirs, each moment precious in its own way. But among them all, one stood out—the moment she had been saved by a mysterious stranger. She hadn't gotten the chance to thank him, and the thought lingered in her mind. Who was he? And why did she feel so drawn to him?

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the scene, students bustled about, gathering their belongings. It was time to return to school. Saira dragged her suitcase toward the bus, her mind still preoccupied with the mystery.

Then, a voice—familiar yet distant—cut through the noise.

Her heart skipped a beat. She knew that voice. It belonged to him.

Spinning around, she searched for the source. And there—just for a fleeting second—she saw him. A mere glimpse, but enough to send a spark through her veins.

He wasn't exceptionally tall, yet he still stood above her. A black hoodie concealed most of his figure, and a pair of glasses shielded his face, but it was his eyes that held her captive—sharp, intense, knowing. A distinct smile tugged at his lips, a quiet confidence in the way he carried himself.

He was good-looking, yet somehow invisible. Even in a school where she thought she knew every face, he had remained unnoticed. Until now.

Saira's fingers clenched around the handle of her suitcase. 

I finally found him!