Day 28: Campus Crush, Part 2

If I thought Amanda couldn’t get any more fascinating, today proved me wrong. I wasn’t even supposed to run into her—it was one of those accidental, universe-aligning moments that leaves you wondering if fate might actually exist.

The day started innocently enough. I had a packed schedule: two lectures, a group project meeting, and a quick trip to the student office to sort out some paperwork for next semester. I wasn’t expecting any major excitement, least of all an encounter that would have me overthinking for the next week.

After my afternoon lecture, I decided to swing by the campus café for a quick bite. The place was buzzing as usual—students everywhere, juggling coffee cups and textbooks. I was scanning the crowd for an empty seat when I spotted her. Amanda.

She was sitting at a corner table, earbuds in, laptop open, and a serious expression on her face. Her hair was tied back, and she was wearing one of those oversized hoodies that somehow made her look effortlessly cool. I debated walking over for a solid thirty seconds. Should I say hi? Would I interrupt her? Was this even a good idea?

Before I could overthink myself out of it, she looked up and saw me.

“Eddie!” she called, waving me over. “Do you want to sit?”

I tried to play it cool, despite my heart doing backflips. “Sure, if you don’t mind.”

**********

Apparently, she was working on a personal essay for her elective class. “It’s about balancing academics and mental health,” she explained, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I figured it’s something we all struggle with, so why not write about it?”

I nodded, impressed. “That’s a solid topic. Have you figured out your angle?”

She sighed, rubbing her temple. “Sort of. I’m trying to make it relatable without sounding preachy. But it’s harder than I thought.”

It was fascinating listening to her talk about her writing process. Amanda had this way of making even the most mundane things sound profound. As she spoke, I noticed the small details: the way she tapped her pen against the table when she was thinking, the way her eyes lit up when she hit on an idea.

Eventually, she asked about my day, and we ended up talking about the group project. I made a self-deprecating joke about how Faisal’s snack obsession was becoming a major distraction, and she laughed—like, genuinely laughed.

“You guys are such a chaotic team,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t know how you get anything done.”

“Well, you know,” I said, shrugging dramatically. “Pure charm and a lot of last-minute panic.”

**********

The conversation flowed so easily that I lost track of time. At one point, she glanced at her watch and gasped.

“Oh no, I’m late for my club meeting!” she said, hurriedly packing up her things. “It was nice talking, Eddie. Thanks for the company.”

“No problem,” I said, trying not to sound too eager. “Good luck with your essay!”

As she walked away, I sat there for a moment, replaying the entire conversation in my head. It wasn’t anything monumental—just two classmates chatting over coffee. But to me, it felt like a victory.

**********

Lesson of the day: Sometimes, the best moments happen when you least expect them. Also, I really need to stop grinning like an idiot every time Amanda talks to me.