Memory: The First Encounter

Samantha sat in class, but her mind was elsewhere. No matter how hard she tried to focus, her thoughts kept drifting—to her complicated feelings for Sean, her father's medical expenses, and the troubled marriage between Sean and Stella. Everything felt like a tangled mess, weighing her down, making it impossible to concentrate.

At the campus cafeteria, she sat in silence, lost in her thoughts. Memories from the past started to resurface, moments she had once cherished.

She had noticed Sean from the very beginning—her senior, the quiet and reserved one. Unlike the other girls, who swooned over popular guys, she had found herself inexplicably drawn to him. But Sean never seemed to notice her.

Lisa, her ever-blunt and outspoken friend, let out a frustrated sigh.

"Sam, you need to step it up! How long are you gonna keep waiting for him to notice you?"

"I'm too shy, Lis," Samantha admitted, hesitant.

"Sean’s good-looking, I’ll give him that. But he's not rich, so…" Lisa trailed off.

"He's smart, though. Unlike us, he got into this prestigious university on a scholarship. We had our parents' money and connections," Vei pointed out matter-of-factly, shooting Lisa a knowing look.

"Ouch, Vei! You always know how to hit where it hurts," Lisa groaned but laughed anyway.

Samantha didn’t care about Sean’s financial situation. She was captivated by him—his intelligence, his quiet demeanor. Money had never been an issue for her. After all, she had grown up in luxury, thanks to her mother, Ursula, who had a penchant for marrying wealthy men.

Her stepfather, Nichollas Cooper, was no exception. As the owner of the massive Cooper Company, he had given Samantha everything she could ever want. He never denied her anything, never said no.

But none of that mattered when it came to Sean.

"Alright, Lis. I’ve decided—I’m going to make the first move," Samantha declared, determination lighting up her eyes.

Lisa and Vei exchanged knowing glances before grinning. "That’s our girl!" Lisa cheered.

Samantha's gaze drifted across the cafeteria, landing on Sean. He sat alone, eating a simple meal he had brought from home. A pang of sadness tugged at her heart. Was he really struggling so much that he had to bring such a modest lunch every day?

Summoning her courage, she approached him with a bright smile. "Hi, Sean!"

He barely glanced at her before returning to his meal, uninterested.

Undeterred, she took another step forward.

"Your table looks empty. Mind if I sit with you?"

Sean remained silent, not even acknowledging her presence.

As the minutes passed, Samantha could feel his irritation growing. Finally, he put down his fork and looked at her with cold, unreadable eyes.

"Listen, princess. I don’t need your fake kindness. If you’re just here to mock my food, do yourself a favor and leave," he said icily.

Samantha’s smile faltered. "I wasn’t mocking you, Sean. I just wanted to get to know you," she said, her voice softer now.

"Suit yourself," he muttered, dismissing her entirely.

She stood there, stunned. He had shut her down completely, making her feel like a fool. But as he finished his meal and walked away without another word, she found herself watching his retreating figure, disappointment tightening in her chest.

With heavy steps, she returned to her friends.

"That bad, huh?" Lisa teased, though there was sympathy in her eyes.

Samantha recounted what had happened, and Vei sighed.

"He probably feels inferior. You’re rich, gorgeous, and well-connected. And Sean? He’s just a scholarship student," she said matter-of-factly.

"Don’t give up, though!" Lisa added quickly. "Persistence is key!"

Samantha forced a smile, grateful for their support.

"Thanks, guys. You’re the best."

They laughed together, trying to lift her spirits.

——

Samantha wasn’t one to give up so easily. She had spent the morning carefully making sandwiches—just for Sean. Today, she would try again.

She found him sitting alone at the far end of the cafeteria, sipping coffee, his usual packed meal absent from the table.

Perfect.

Taking a deep breath, she approached him once more.

"Oh, hey! Fancy running into you again," she said, pretending it was pure coincidence.

Sean barely reacted, his attention buried in the book he was reading.

Undeterred, she set the lunchbox down in front of him.

"I made some sandwiches. Thought you might like some," she said, offering a bright smile.

Silence.

"Kinda looks like you’re busy… so I’ll just leave this here," she continued, refusing to let his indifference deter her. "Hope you like them. Oh, by the way, what book are you reading?"

Sean let out a slow, irritated sigh but still didn’t look up.

Samantha bit her lip, determined not to let his coldness affect her.

"You know, we haven’t even properly introduced ourselves. I’m Samantha Cooper—"

"I don’t care," Sean cut her off sharply.

Her chest tightened.

Forcing a small laugh, she nodded. "Got it… Well, I should get going. I have class soon."

She turned to leave, trying to keep her dignity intact, but Sean’s next words stopped her in her tracks.

"Take your food with you," he said flatly. "I don’t need your pity. Who knows what you’ve put in there?"

She froze. Did he really think she would do something so cruel?

"Are you serious? You think I’d poison you or something?" she asked, half in disbelief, half in amusement. "Sean, come on, it’s just a sandwich."

His brows furrowed slightly, finally looking up at her. For the first time, their eyes met—his deep blue gaze locking onto hers.

Samantha felt her heart skip a beat. Damn! His eyes were stunning.

"Don’t look at me like that, Sean. You’re making me nervous," she joked, trying to mask the strange, fluttering feeling in her chest.

Sean’s eyes widened slightly, as if surprised by her reaction.

She took a deep breath and smiled.

"Fine. If you don’t want them, throw them away. No hard feelings," she said before walking off.

Once she was gone, Sean stared at the untouched lunchbox. His fingers hesitated before finally lifting the lid. The sandwiches looked perfect—neatly made, fresh. He hesitated for a moment longer before finally giving in and taking a bite.

The moment the flavors hit his tongue, something inside him softened. It was delicious. He let out a quiet sigh. Truth was, he had noticed Samantha long before she had ever noticed him. From the very first moment he saw her, he had been drawn to her. But he knew better.

She was way out of his league. And that was exactly why he had to push her away.

Meanwhile, at another table, Lisa and Vei sat with their phones out, secretly video-calling Samantha.

And when they saw Sean eating her sandwiches?

They nearly screamed with excitement.

"Gotcha, Sean," she whispered.

Samantha, watching from her screen, couldn’t stop the grin that spread across her face.