Better late than never...

It was the first day of lectures when Amara found herself lost in the corridors of Jose Campus. She had been searching for her first class venue, but somehow, she had lost her way. By the time she realized she was completely off track, it was already too late. Looking around for someone who could help, she found no one. With a sigh, she decided to sit on one of the corridor chairs, contemplating her next move.

She couldn't understand how she had managed to get lost in such a seemingly small yet compact environment. "Or perhaps I underestimated it," she whispered to herself. "What should I do now? Being late on the first day wouldn't make a good impression. Maybe I should call my roommate—she must know her way around." She murmured while rummaging through her bag for her phone. Just as she was about to make the call, a voice spoke from behind her.

"Are you looking for something?" The voice carried a hint of concern.

It took Amara a few seconds to respond. "No…" she trailed off, unsure whether she should trust this stranger. On one hand, she desperately needed help, but on the other, she feared he might make fun of her predicament.

Tera, observing the frown on Amara's face, found the situation amusing. He let out a soft chuckle—one so warm and sincere that Amara had never heard anything like it. A subtle silence settled between them as they both pondered their next steps. While Tera wanted to help, he also wanted to ensure that his approach wouldn't diminish his chances of making a good impression in the future. Finally, he broke the silence.

"I can actually help," he said, making Amara raise an eyebrow.

"How do I know you won't just make fun of me? You haven't given me a single reason to believe anything you say," she stated matter-of-factly.

Tera smirked. "Mmmh… You have a point. But I think you've missed something important here. I never asked you to believe me. This is about willingness—about making a choice that might save you from a scolding from your lecturer."

Amara's eyes narrowed. "Impossible. How do you even know I'm looking for my lecture hall? The last time I checked, I was alone in this corridor. I hope you're not already stalking me on my first day."

Tera chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Why would I stalk you? It's not like I'm interested in any of your drama."

"You're such a bad liar. If you weren't stalking me, then how did you know why I'm here?" she pressed.

"I guessed," he admitted with a grin. "And judging by your reaction, my guess was spot on." He chuckled before continuing, "But since you don't seem to need my help, I don't see why I should waste my time here." He turned and took a few steps away.

Amara watched his retreating figure and suddenly realized the gravity of her actions. "Wait, I…" Her voice faltered, but it was enough to make Tera pause and turn back to her.

"I'm glad you've come to your senses," he said, folding his arms. "Now, if you're done being stubborn, tell me your problem—but make it quick. I don't have all day, and I doubt you do either."

His bluntness took Amara aback. His mood seemed to shift so effortlessly—one moment, he was warm and kind, and the next, he was completely different. A sense of confusion lingered in her mind. Taking a deep breath, she decided to set her pride aside.

"I'm sorry for how I treated you. I shouldn't have been so dismissive," she admitted, holding her ears in an exaggerated gesture of apology.

Tera burst into laughter at the sight. "Alright, alright. Just don't do it again."

"I won't." Amara smiled. "Now, back to why I'm here—I'm looking for this lecture venue," she said, showing him her timetable. "But I guess it's too late now. The lecture will be over in five minutes. Thank you for wanting to help, though."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Tera staring after her with a bemused expression. What an interesting first encounter.

later that day...

Amara sighed as she walked into the cafeteria, exhausted from her first day of university. She had finally figured out her way around, but the struggle of getting lost had drained her energy. She grabbed a sandwich and a bottle of water before searching for a seat. The cafeteria was full, and finding an empty table was impossible.

Just as she was about to give up and eat while standing, a familiar voice called out, "Still wandering around, lost?"

She turned and met Tera's teasing gaze. He was sitting at a corner table, a half-eaten meal in front of him.

"You again?" Amara groaned, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Yep. Looks like fate isn't done with us yet," he smirked, gesturing to the empty seat across from him. "Sit. Unless, of course, you'd rather roam around looking for a table that doesn't exist."

Amara hesitated but then gave in, pulling out the chair and sitting down. "I suppose I should thank you for your offer," she said, unwrapping her sandwich.

"You should," he agreed with a grin.

She rolled her eyes. "You're insufferable."

"And you're stubborn."

A brief silence stretched between them before Tera spoke again. "So, aside from getting lost, how was your first day?"

Amara shrugged. "Chaotic, but not terrible. I met a few classmates, figured out my schedule—eventually." She gave him a pointed look. "And I even managed to get to my last class on time."

"Impressive," he said, nodding approvingly. "Maybe next time, you'll trust me when I offer to help."

"Maybe," she admitted.

Tera smirked. "Better late than never."

Amara couldn't help but chuckle. Maybe meeting him today wasn't such a bad thing after all.