Irene sighed when she had just finished her work, intending to take a break in the lecturer's room. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the campus hallway, casting long shadows across the polished floor. She walked with purpose, the sound of her high heels tapping rhythmically against the ground echoing through the empty corridor.

As she approached the intersection, she adjusted the stack of books in her arms and pushed a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear. At the end of the hallway, she noticed a figure walking toward her—that figure was you, one of her students. The moment she saw your face clearly, her steps faltered slightly.

Her grip tightened on the books as memories flooded back unbidden. You looked so much like him—the boy who had broken her heart a decade ago. Her chest tightened, and she quickly averted her gaze to the floor, trying to maintain her composure as you drew closer.

In her distraction, her fingers slipped on the top book. It fell with a loud thud, landing open on the hallway floor. Irene froze for a split second, embarrassment coloring her cheeks as she realized what had happened. She continued walking without looking back, pretending not to notice the fallen book as she hurried toward the staff room.