CHAPTER:7

As I reached the main college block, I found Rachel and Abby staring at me from head to toe. I snapped my fingers and boldly said, "Don't you like the new me?" They burst into laughter and said they would share their thoughts later, but first, they bombarded me with questions. They asked how I was, whether I was alright, fit to attend classes, and if I had permission from my doctor, and so on. Their relentless stream of silly yet caring questions continued for half an hour until I finally got a chance to speak freely. I asked them once again, "Why were you laughing?" To which Abby and Rachel responded that they were amused by the silly faces I was making in front of the senior—blushing, smiling, and acting like a kid. I felt so embarrassed upon hearing this. I had made all kinds of expressions in front of him while he remained calm and collected.

In the hallway, we bumped into Walter, Mason, and Vincent on our way to chemistry class. They inquired about my health, and soon many of my batchmates joined in, showing their concern. I never really liked being the center of attention, especially not when it came to people's sympathy and gossip.

Suddenly, someone pulled me out of the crowd—it was Louis. He instructed everyone to head to their classes, then he took my hand and led me to another block. Everything around me seemed to fade away, leaving only him—his deep, enchanting blue eyes and his strong hand in mine. Oh, Louis. He asked if I was alright and if I felt anxious. Lost in admiring his presence, I was taken by surprise. He said, "Sam, Sam, are you alright?" He shook my shoulders gently, bringing me back to reality. I managed to respond that I was okay, but I couldn't help wondering how he knew so much about me and my feelings. As I gathered my thoughts, I hurried to my class as the bell rang, fearing that lingering any longer might lead me to do something foolish.