Time slips away with each step he takes. I close my eyes briefly, savoring his proximity, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. My cheeks flush, as if kissed by the bloom of spring. His scent lingers in the air, intoxicating, leaving me unmoored. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, their wings stirring for the first time, urging me to let them soar around him, scattering my feelings in their wake.

Is this love, or merely attraction? I've never felt compelled to look at someone twice, yet here I am, wanting to lose myself in his presence, to gaze at him endlessly. The chatter of my peers fades into a distant hum as the symphony of rain melds with the whirlwind of my thoughts. Questions rise within me like a storm, relentless and consuming.

"Why does my heart race when I see him?
Why can’t I tear my eyes away?
Is this a fleeting crush, or something more?"

For the first time, I let my heart lead, silencing the rational whispers of my mind. I lean back, surrendering to a brief nap before the bus reaches its destination. When I awake, the world has shifted. The bus halts, and I step out, finding myself at the gates of a place where dreams take shape—college.

The rain has ceased, replaced by the warmth of sunshine, which somehow reminds me of him—a puzzle I’m yet to solve, a riddle without clues. Though clueless, I am far from hopeless. With a deep breath and a pep talk to steady my resolve, I step forward, ready to seek my class—or perhaps, the answer to this enigma.