Sia closed her notebook and stepped out of the classroom. It was lunchtime, as usual, and the corridor buzzed with life—students laughing, some rushing between classes, others huddled in corners gossiping. The school was never completely quiet, yet Sia walked at her calm pace, lost in her own thoughts.
She was the kind of student who preferred observing from the sidelines rather than blending into the crowd. Even with her best friend, she shared only the essentials—unnecessary drama and loud chatter were never her thing. She liked routine, predictable patterns, and above all, she loved keeping her handwriting neat.
Reaching the end of the corridor, her gaze instinctively drifted toward the left side of the ground. It wasn't a conscious habit—it had just become a natural reflex. Every break, for a couple of seconds, she would look toward the ground.
And today, he was there.
Yuvan.
On the basketball court, in the middle of his practice.
His movements were smooth, controlled, and focused. The gentle bounce of the ball, the soft slide of his shoes on the wooden floor, the intense concentration on his face—he was completely immersed in his practice. No show-offs, no unnecessary attitude. Just him, quietly devoted to his discipline.
Sia had never spoken to him, yet she felt she could understand one thing: Yuvan was someone who truly believed in self-discipline. He wasn't the most handsome, nor the most popular boy. But his calm demeanor stood out, like a quietly appealing habit that naturally drew attention.
She watched him for a few seconds, expression neutral. There was no admiration, no crush—just a simple curiosity. A familiarity that had grown over time.
Lately, it felt as though they did notice each other, though they never spoke. Their lives ran parallel—never intersecting, yet visible to one another.
Yuvan, too, occasionally cast a sideways glance while practicing. He wasn't consciously aware—it was just a brief shift of attention, a fleeting recognition of something familiar in his peripheral vision. There was no romance, no drama. Just acknowledgment. A quiet recognition.
Some juniors cheered from the corner of the ground, but Yuvan never reacted. He remained composed, focused solely on the ball, the court, and his goals.
Adjusting the strap of her bag, Sia let out a soft sigh and turned toward the corridor. The break was far from over, but she never felt comfortable in the crowd. She treated school as a space for learning—her main focus was always books. Friends, crushes, drama… none of it drew her attention.
Yuvan was the same. He wasn't interested in romantic flings or unnecessary attachments. He quietly worked toward his life goals.
Their noticing of each other wasn't a typical teenage romance. It didn't feel like they secretly liked each other. Nothing like in the movies—"Your face has captured my heart."
No.
They were just two disciplined, ordinary teens…
who happened to observe one another without intention.
Sia made her way to the cafeteria. Her favorite pastry awaited her, but she wasn't particularly excited. What mattered more was finishing her homework on time.
The cafeteria was crowded, filled with the mixed scents of food, loud laughter, and the constant shuffle of tables. Bright lights and noise made her uncomfortable, but she picked a corner table and sat quietly.
Opening her tiffin, a small thought crossed her mind:
"Sometimes we notice people for no reason… maybe simply because they exist in our routine."
It wasn't romantic. It wasn't meaningful. Just a passing thought.
Shaking her head, she focused on her notes, nibbling a small piece of pastry.
These school years were completely ordinary. Ordinary classes. Ordinary results. Ordinary days.
Yet, some small things became part of the routine—like Sia glancing that way… and Yuvan's half-second glance back.
At this stage, there was no special moment. No story had begun. No love was blossoming.
There was only a simple truth—
They existed in the same world… quietly noticing each other for no reason.
And even in that simplicity, there was a strange softness. A warmth that would eventually grow into something beautiful.
But for now… it was just a normal school chapter.