The first meeting

The exchange student sat down in class, glancing around nervously at his new surroundings. He looked up in surprise when someone tapped his shoulder, and he felt an instant spike of attraction at the sight of her apologetic smile.

"Can I sit here?" the girl with vibrant red hair asked, her lavender eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Of course," he replied, a shy smile forming on his lips. He turned his attention back to the front, then added, "I’m new here, but I’ve already heard nightmare stories about this course. Is it really that hard?"

As she chuckled softly, he noticed a distance in her eyes, as if she didn’t want to get too close to the new student. Her laughter was tinged with caution, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a hint of vulnerability. It was clear she had her reasons for being guarded, an instinctive wall built from past experiences that kept others at bay. Despite the warmth in her smile, he sensed her hesitation, leaving him intrigued yet aware that breaking through those walls wouldn’t be easy.