Vio's days on campus felt different ever since his relationship with Sheren grew closer. Every morning, he found himself looking for Sheren in the dorm cafeteria or around the lecture buildings. Their time together no longer felt awkward; instead, it became something he eagerly anticipated. Though Vio had yet to fully understand his feelings, he knew there was something that made his heart feel warmer whenever he was near Sheren.
One day, while sitting under a large tree in the campus park, Vio saw Sheren walking toward him, carrying two cups of iced coffee. She smiled and sat beside him, handing him one of the cups.
"You like coffee, right? I stopped by the campus café and thought of getting this for you," Sheren said with her signature smile.
Vio took the cup and looked at Sheren with gratitude. "Thanks, Sher. That’s really thoughtful of you."
Sheren chuckled. "I just remember you saying that you need coffee to stay focused. So, I thought this could be a little boost before class."
Vio took a sip of his coffee, feeling the cool sensation run down his throat. They talked about many things, from class assignments to the latest movies playing in theaters. The more time he spent with Sheren, the more Vio realized he could talk with her for hours without ever getting bored.
Meanwhile, Vio's friends started noticing the changes in him. During lunch at the cafeteria, Arnold, who was usually glued to his phone, now looked at Vio with a knowing expression.
"Vi, have you noticed that you’ve been looking for Sheren more often?" he asked teasingly.
Fariz joined in, "Yeah, you used to be indifferent to girls. Now, all of a sudden, you're so attentive. What’s going on?"
Vio sighed, stirring his food with his spoon. "I don’t know, guys. I just feel comfortable talking to her. I don’t really understand what I’m feeling right now."
Syauqi gave a small smile. "Looks like you’re starting to like her, Vi. You just haven’t realized it yet."
Vio fell silent. Was that true? Was this what people called ‘liking someone’? He did feel happy whenever he was with Sheren, but he was still hesitant to call his feelings love.
One night, while working on an assignment in his dorm room, Vio received a message from Sheren.
Sheren: "Vio, are you busy? Can I call you?"
Vio smiled and quickly replied.
Vio: "Not too busy. Go ahead."
A few seconds later, his phone rang. Vio answered immediately.
"Hello, Sher? What’s up?"
From the other end of the line, Sheren’s soft voice sounded hesitant. "It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to talk. Today felt really exhausting."
Vio chuckled lightly. "Must be all those piling assignments, huh?"
Sheren sighed. "Yeah. Sometimes, it feels overwhelming. But weirdly, talking to you makes me feel calmer."
Vio felt something stir in his heart. "If that’s the case, I’ll always be here whenever you need someone to talk to. You’re not alone, Sher."
On the other end, Sheren was silent for a moment before finally saying, "Thank you, Vio. You’re such a good friend."
Her words made Vio smile, though a strange feeling surfaced within him. He was beginning to realize that their closeness meant more than he initially thought. Maybe, just maybe, he was truly starting to fall for Sheren.
ns 15.158.61.38da2
