Glimpes into the Past

The induction seminar hall buzzed with anticipation as students took their seats, ready to dive into the new world of artificial intelligence. Thea adjusted her purple dress as she sat down in the second row, her eyes scanning the massive screen in front of her. Just as she settled in, someone slid into the chair beside her.

Aiden.

She barely knew him then—just a name she had overheard in passing. He was one of the key members of the AI research team at the university, but to her, he was just another stranger in the crowd.

The professor stepped forward and began speaking. "Today, we will be working with a newly developed AI model. Please install the application using the link provided on the screen."

Thea pulled out her phone and followed the instructions, but a frown soon creased her forehead. The app refused to install no matter how many times she tried. She sighed in frustration, biting her lip as she tapped the screen repeatedly.

"Having trouble?" A deep, calm voice pulled her from her struggle.

She turned her head to find Aiden watching her, his gaze curious yet composed. Before she could respond, he leaned slightly closer, his fingers swiftly navigating her phone screen. His proximity made her heart flutter, though she told herself it was just nerves.

"There you go," he said after a few seconds, handing her phone back. "The system needed a manual update first. Should work now."

She looked down, and sure enough, the app had installed successfully. A rush of relief filled her. "Oh! Thank you. I was about to throw my phone at the wall."

Aiden chuckled, a low, rich sound. "That wouldn't have helped. But I'm glad I could stop a tragedy."

Thea laughed lightly, feeling a strange warmth settle over her.

The seminar continued, and they found themselves engaging in quiet discussions about the AI model, sharing thoughts and ideas. When lunchtime arrived, Thea was about to walk toward the cafeteria alone when she heard Aiden's voice behind her.

"Mind if I join you?"

She turned, surprised. "Not at all."

As they reached the lunch area, her best friend Silvia was already at a table, waving enthusiastically. "Thea! Over here!"

Thea led Aiden to the table, and Silvia's eyes immediately flicked between them with interest. "And who's this?" she asked, smirking.

"This is Aiden. He just saved me from an AI-induced breakdown," Thea said, sitting down.

Aiden gave Silvia a polite nod before settling in beside Thea. "I just did what anyone would do."

Silvia grinned, clearly amused. "Right. Well, anyone hasn't done it before."

Thea shot her a look, but Aiden didn't seem fazed. Instead, he engaged easily in their conversation, proving to be just as insightful outside the seminar as he was in it. Thea found herself enjoying his company more than she expected, and as they ate, she realized something strange.

She was actually looking forward to seeing him again.