Chapter 3:
The Encounter and The Promise

Kath stepped toward the table where her best friend sat, calling out warmly as she went. She watched Olivia closely, noticing how the girl was fumbling and rummaging frantically inside her large, stylish handbag, her expression filled with quiet concentration. Olivia's fingers moved quickly through layers of compartments, pulling out lip balms, hair ties, crumpled receipts, and small trinkets, but she seemed unable to find what she was searching for. She looked so focused on her search that she barely lifted her head when Kath approached, her dark brow furrowed slightly in worry.

"Did you see my phone anywhere?" Olivia asked finally, glancing up at Kath with a little bit of anxiety in her eyes.

Kath shook her head gently, her smile soft and reassuring as she settled into the seat across from her. "No, I didn't see it. Why? Is it missing?" she asked, bringing her half-eaten sandwich to her mouth and chewing slowly, her gaze moving around the bright, sunlit café. The room was filled with the soft hum of conversation, the clinking of cups and plates, and warm golden light streaming through the large glass windows, making the whole space feel open and welcoming.

"Probably," Olivia said with a small, pouty frown, closing her bag and leaning back in her chair. "Because it's definitely not here. I checked everything, and it's nowhere to be found."

Kath swallowed the last bite of her sandwich and wiped her hands on a clean napkin, setting it down neatly on the table. "Well, don't worry too much about it," she said calmly. "Let's just go check outside, okay? I think I left my phone in the car too, so we can get both of them at the same time."

Olivia let out a soft sigh of relief, her expression softening into gratitude. "Oh, thank you! You're a lifesaver, Kath. I don't know what I would do if I lost it."

Kath stood up from her seat, adjusting her crossbody bag over her shoulder and straightening her outfit-her loose, soft rust-brown knit sweater, paired with light-wash jeans and a simple belt, looking effortless and comfortable on her. "It's no problem at all, Livie. Come on, let's go."

They walked together toward the main entrance of the café, stepping out into the bright morning air. The campus grounds were alive with activity: students hurried past them, some walking alone, others laughing in groups, their voices carrying across the open space. The air smelled fresh and clean, carrying the scent of cut grass and blooming flowers from the gardens nearby, and a gentle breeze brushed against Kath's skin, cool and refreshing.

As they reached the parking lot, Kath spotted Matt standing near their sleek black car, leaning casually against the doorframe. He stood tall and attentive, dressed in his neat uniform, waiting patiently for them. As soon as he saw them approaching, he pushed himself off the car and straightened up, a polite smile on his face.

"Hey Kath, do you need something?" he asked, his voice calm and respectful.

"Can you unlock the car for us, please?" Kath asked, holding out her hand toward the vehicle. "We both left our phones inside, and we need to get them."

Matt nodded immediately, reaching into his pocket for the remote key. He pressed the button, and with a soft click, the doors unlocked and the dashboard lights flashed briefly to confirm.

"Thank you," Kath said, opening the door and stepping inside. The interior of the car was cool and comfortable, smelling faintly of soft leather and citrus air freshener. She reached into the front seat and grabbed her phone, then turned to the back where Olivia sat waiting, and picked up her device from the cushion where it had been left. She held both in her hands-their smooth surfaces warm from the sun-and closed the door gently behind her.

Kath turned around to walk back toward the café, her mind a little distracted as she looked around at the busy campus, not paying close attention to where she was going. In her hand, she held both phones securely, but her thoughts were split between her surroundings and making sure she didn't drop anything. And that was when it happened: her foot caught slightly on an uneven part of the pavement, and before she could steady herself, she stumbled forward, her body lurching into someone else's path.

She didn't see him coming at all. The collision happened so quickly there was no time to react. Her back hit his chest with a firm, solid thud, the force of the impact making her stumble and lose her balance completely. She let out a small, startled sound, her heart jumping into her throat, and quickly tried to steady herself, reaching out to catch herself before she fell.

"I'm so sorry!" Kath exclaimed immediately, her voice filled with embarrassment and regret. She bowed her head quickly, her cheeks heating up with shame at her clumsiness. "I didn't mean to bump into you-I wasn't looking where I was going. Please, forgive me."

But as she lifted her head to apologize properly and see who she had run into, her breath caught in her throat, and she felt a strange mix of embarrassment and something else wash over her all at once. Standing in front of her was Gavin-Gabriel Vincent Lorenzo-the very person Olivia had been talking about nonstop for months.

He looked exactly as handsome and striking as she had imagined, and even more so in person. He stood tall and broad-shouldered, his posture straight and confident, wearing his signature cream-and-navy varsity jacket with the bold dark "M" stitched across the chest, layered over a plain white t-shirt and fitted dark trousers. His soft black hair fell neatly over his forehead, framing sharp, defined features-high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and lips that were set in a serious, unsmiling line. And his eyes-they were the most striking feature of all: a vivid, intense shade of deep green, bright and piercing, holding a depth of emotion and mystery that made you feel like he was looking right through you, even when he looked calm. His expression was serious, almost stern, and he stood perfectly still as she collided with him, not moving an inch, as if he was used to being in control of every situation.

Slowly, he extended one hand toward her-his fingers long and slender, his palm open and waiting to help her stand up. His movements were graceful and deliberate, and even in that simple gesture, there was a quiet elegance that felt entirely natural to him.

"Miss, are you alright?" he asked finally, his voice rich and smooth, with a distinct refined English accent that made every word sound deeper and more polished than it would have otherwise. The sound of his voice seemed to snap Kath out of her momentary daze, and she blinked quickly, trying to gather her thoughts and stop her cheeks from turning even redder.

She shook her head slightly, as if to clear her mind, then nodded quickly, her hands moving to take his hand. "Y-yes, I'm fine. I'm really sorry again-I'm just so clumsy today."

Her fingers wrapped around his, and the moment their skin touched, she felt a strange, unexpected sensation run through her-a warm, soft feeling that spread from where their hands met all the way up her arm and settled somewhere deep in her chest. It was a feeling she had never experienced before: gentle, surprising, and somehow familiar all at once, and it made her heart beat a little faster than usual. His hand was firm and warm, and when he pulled her gently to her feet, his grip was steady and careful, like he was being very gentle even though she was the one who had run into him.

"Be more careful next time," he said simply, his voice flat and without any real emotion, though there was no anger or irritation in his words either. He let go of her hand as soon as she was standing steadily, and took a small step back, creating a little distance between them. His expression remained serious and distant, but Kath couldn't help but notice something hidden behind that cold, snobbish attitude he tried so hard to show everyone. There was something in those bright green eyes-a quiet thoughtfulness, a depth of feeling, like he was holding back secrets or feelings he didn't want to share with anyone else. She could see it clearly now: he wasn't just a distant, unapproachable person-there was much more to him than his serious face and quiet demeanor let on.

"I will," she promised quickly, bowing her head again out of habit. "Thank you... for helping me."

He gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, and then turned away, adjusting his jacket and starting to walk toward the opposite direction without another word. He didn't say goodbye, and he didn't look back, and Kath stood there for a moment longer, watching him go, her mind still swirling with the strange, warm feeling his touch had left behind.

When she finally turned around and walked back inside the café, she found Olivia sitting exactly where she had left her, looking bored and restless. Olivia was stabbing her fork into her bowl of salad over and over again, her movements slow and uninterested, her gaze staring blankly at the table in front of her like she had lost all appetite. She looked up when she heard Kath's footsteps, and her face lit up a little when she saw her approaching.

"Here's your phone," Kath said, placing the device gently in front of Olivia. "And yours too."

Olivia grabbed it quickly, pressing the power button to turn it on, and let out a small sigh of relief when the screen lit up. "Thank you, Kath," she said, smiling gratefully at her. But even though she had her phone now, she still looked bored and unenthusiastic, scrolling through the screen with her thumb but not really looking at anything.

"He hasn't talked to me at all today," Olivia said finally, letting out a long, disappointed sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "He's acting like we have never met before, like we are just complete strangers. It's like he doesn't even notice I exist."

Kath sat down across from her again, setting her bag down on the chair beside her and taking a sip of the cold water she had ordered earlier. "Speaking of him," she said, leaning forward slightly and speaking in a low voice so no one else could hear them, "he really does seem like such a snob. He only ever speaks when the teacher asks him something, and even then, his answers are short and straight to the point. He never talks to anyone else, and he acts like he thinks he's better than everyone else."

Olivia rolled her eyes dramatically, pushing her salad around in the bowl with her fork. "Ugh, tell me about it! It's so frustrating! But you know what? He's just like that with everyone. He's not actually mean, he's just... distant. But that doesn't make it any easier for me, you know? I've been trying so hard to become friends with him ever since we were little kids, and he never pays me any attention at all. It feels like I'm invisible to him."

Kath looked at her with a confused expression, tilting her head slightly to the side. "Wait a minute-you've known him for that long? And you've never had a chance to actually talk to him properly? How is that even possible?"

Olivia nodded sadly, setting her fork down and resting her chin on her hand. "Yeah, it's true. Our dads are really good friends-they work together all the time, and our families have known each other for generations. They go to the same events, we see each other at parties and gatherings, but he always keeps to himself. He's always busy, or he's with his own friends, or he's just not in the mood to talk. I've tried so many times to start a conversation, to say hello or ask him something, but he just nods or gives a short reply and then walks away. It feels like he doesn't even want to be around me."

Kath thought about what Olivia said for a moment, then remembered what had happened just a little while ago. "Actually, speaking of him," she said, leaning in closer, "I actually bumped into him outside, just a little while ago. I wasn't looking where I was going, and I ran right into him. I felt so terrible about it, but he helped me stand up again."

Olivia's eyes widened immediately, her head snapping up so fast Kath thought she might hurt herself.

"What? Really? What happened? Did you talk to him? What did he say?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and excitement, leaning forward so far over the table Kath thought she might fall right into it.

Kath smiled a little at her reaction, shaking her head slowly. "It was nothing really. I just stumbled and hit him, and he caught me. He was polite enough, but he didn't say much. He just helped me up and then left. It wasn't a big deal, really."

The Next Day

"Liv, I really doubt that he's going to accept these muffins if I'm the one who gives them to him," Kath said to her the next morning, holding out the small, decorated container of blueberry muffins Olivia had asked her to bring. She rolled her eyes at Olivia, letting out a soft laugh at how nervous and shy her friend was being. "You know what? You're the one who is supposed to do this. You're the one who has known him for years, and you're the one who likes him. You should be the one to hand them to him, and at least say a simple 'hello' or 'good morning' to him."

Olivia shook her head quickly, pouting and waving her hands in front of her face like she was trying to stop Kath. "No way, Kath! I can't do it! I get so nervous around him that I can barely even speak, let alone give him something and say something nice. Please, Kath, please! You have to help me. You're the only one I can ask for this."

Her pleading expression and her big, hopeful eyes were impossible to say no to. Kath took a deep breath, letting out a long sigh, and finally gave in. "Alright, alright, fine. I'll do it. But you have to promise me you'll stop looking so scared, okay? You need to at least try to talk to him yourself sometime."

Kath took a firm, tight hold on the container in her hands, feeling the soft warmth of the pastries through the paper wrapping. She turned back to look at Olivia, who stood there a few feet away, her hands pressed together in front of her chest, her eyes wide and full of encouragement, mouthing the word "Go" over and over again, her lips moving quickly with the word. Kath shook her head at her, feeling a little silly about the whole situation, but she couldn't help but smile. It was really such a simple thing, but for Olivia, it felt like the most important thing in the world.

Kath took a few steps forward, walking across the campus hallway, looking around until she spotted him. He was standing right by his locker, his body leaning casually against the metal door, one hand resting on the handle while the other held his phone up in front of him, his eyes focused on the screen as he read or replied to a message. He looked so calm and composed, so completely at ease in his own space, and even from a distance, he looked just as handsome and mysterious as he had yesterday. The morning light hit him just right, making his dark hair look softer and his green eyes look even brighter than before.

Kath walked closer, trying to make her footsteps as quiet as possible, but even so, he must have heard her coming because he looked up from his phone just as she reached him. He closed his locker door gently and stood up straight, looking at her with that same serious, unreadable expression he always wore. He didn't smile, and he didn't say anything at first, just waited for her to speak, his green eyes studying her face like he was trying to figure out why she was approaching him.

Kath felt her heart start to beat a little faster again, just like it had when they met yesterday. She took another deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and held out the container of muffins toward him, her hands feeling a little shaky but steady enough.

"Hi," she said, her voice sounding a little softer than she intended, but clear enough for him to hear. "These are for you. Olivia asked me to give them to you. She made them herself, and she hopes you like them."

She waited, watching his face closely, trying to see if there was any change in his expression. He looked down at the container she was holding, then back up at her, his bright green eyes searching hers for a moment before he finally spoke.

"Olivia?" he asked, his voice low and calm, though there was a hint of curiosity and even a little warmth in his tone. He took the container from her hands carefully, his fingers brushing against hers for just a second, and that same strange, warm feeling from yesterday washed over her again, making her chest feel light and strange all at once. "Thank you. Tell her I appreciate it. And tell her... thank you."

He didn't say anything else. He just nodded once, turned around, and opened his locker again, putting the container inside before closing it and going back to what he was doing. He didn't say goodbye, and he didn't ask her to stay or talk more, but as she stood there watching him, she couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, behind that cold, snobbish attitude he tried so hard to show everyone, there was actually a little bit of kindness and thoughtfulness hidden away somewhere.

Kath turned around and walked back to where Olivia was waiting, and when Olivia saw her coming, she immediately ran up to her, her eyes shining with hope and excitement.

"What did he say? Did he take them? Did he say anything?" Olivia asked quickly, her voice full of eagerness.

Kath smiled at her, nodding her head. "He took them, Livie. And he said thank you. He didn't say much else, but I think he appreciated it."

Olivia let out a small, happy sigh, her shoulders relaxing for the first time all morning, and a genuine, bright smile spread across her face. "Really? Oh, that's wonderful! Thank you so much, Kath. You're the best friend anyone could ever ask for."

Kath laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're welcome, Liv. But you have to promise me you'll try to talk to him yourself soon, okay? You can't always rely on me to do everything for you."

Olivia nodded quickly, her smile still bright and full of hope. "I will, I promise! I'll try my very best, I swear!"

As they started walking toward their next class together, Kath found herself glancing back over her shoulder one last time, just to catch another glimpse of Gavin. He was still standing by his locker, now leaning against it again as he opened the container and looked inside, a small, almost unnoticeable change in his expression-something that looked almost like genuine appreciation, softening the serious lines of his face. The morning sunlight continued to fall around him, making his dark hair glow and his vivid green eyes look even more striking, and Kath felt that same strange, warm feeling settle gently in her chest again.

She couldn't explain it, but ever since they had met, there was something about him that felt familiar, even though she knew they had barely spoken. There was a quiet depth to him, a complexity that went far beyond the cold, distant exterior he showed to everyone else. He wasn't just a rich, privileged boy who acted like he was better than everyone-she could see now that there was more behind those green eyes, more thoughts and feelings that he kept carefully hidden away.

Beside her, Olivia was walking with a lightness in her step that hadn't been there all morning. She hummed softly to herself, her fingers brushing lightly against her bag, and she kept glancing ahead, as if she could already picture herself talking to him properly, laughing with him, and finally becoming the friend she had always wanted to be. Kath smiled to herself, happy that she had been able to help, even in such a small way.

"You know," Kath said finally, breaking the comfortable silence between them, "I really think that if you just take the first step and talk to him, he'll respond. He's not as scary as he seems, Liv. He just... keeps to himself."

Olivia turned to her, her eyes shining with determination. "I know. And I will! Next time I see him, I'm going to say hello. I'm going to ask him how he's doing, and I'm going to make sure he knows I'm not just going to disappear."

Kath laughed softly, nodding in approval. "That's the spirit. I'll be right here to cheer you on, no matter what happens."

As they reached the classroom door, Kath took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity building up inside her. She had never expected that a simple accident-bumping into someone outside the café-would change everything like this. She had never expected to feel this way, or to find herself so interested in someone who seemed so closed off. But as she thought about his warm hand, his gentle voice, and those beautiful green eyes, she realized that whatever happened next, her life would never be quite the same again.

Gavin, too, stood there for a long moment after Kath and Olivia had walked away. He closed the container of muffins gently, holding it carefully in his hands, and looked down at it with an expression that was much softer than anyone had ever seen from him. He thought about the way she had looked when she had stumbled into him-flustered and embarrassed, but still kind-and about the sound of her voice when she had spoken to him.

He had always kept people at a distance, never letting anyone get too close, never letting anyone see the parts of him that he kept hidden. But something about her had felt different. Something about Kath had made him want to listen, to be patient, to be more than just the cold, distant person everyone thought he was. He ran his fingers lightly over the paper container, and a small, almost unnoticeable smile touched his lips-something so rare and so private that no one else would ever get to see it.

He put the container carefully inside his locker, making sure it was safe, and then closed the door, turning his attention to his books. But even as he opened his notebook and began to prepare for his classes, his mind kept drifting back to that moment outside. He thought about the warmth of her hand in his, about the way her eyes had looked when she had looked up at him, and he knew, deep down, that this was just the beginning.