The first time I met Pooja was at a Starbucks, a date we had scheduled over text just a few days prior. We had been chatting for a while, getting to know each other, and finally decided it was time to meet in person. I arrived a bit early, nerves running through me as I waited by the counter, scanning the crowd for her. When I walked in, I recognized her immediately. There was something magnetic about the way she carried herself—graceful, yet confident. We exchanged a nervous smile, both of us a little unsure but excited about what was to come. After a quick greeting, we ordered our drinks, and settled into a cozy spot by the window. As we started talking, any nerves I had seemed to fade away. The conversation flowed effortlessly, like we were old friends catching up. I couldn’t help but feel like we had known each other for much longer than just a few days. Her laughter was genuine and infectious, making the entire experience feel light and easy. We spent hours throughout the day completely absorbing in each other’s company, losing track of time. By the time we parted ways, I had a strong sense that this was the beginning of something special, and I couldn’t wait to see where our connection would take us.

I was in class all morning but my mind was running at the thoughts of a coffee date I had with some boy. Was it a date? I don’t know. I got to Starbucks well before we decided to meet. The moment he walked in, my eyes immediately found him. Ashil looked even more handsome in person in his quarter-zip sweatshirt fitting just right, his glasses adding to the quiet confidence he carried. But what really caught me off guard were his light brown eyes. Warm, kind, and completely mesmerizing. And that’s when it hit me. I was nervous. Me. Nervous around a guy? That never happens. I could barely hold his gaze without feeling my blush come in and my heart race. What was wrong with me? We sat at a table by the window, and talked for what felt like hours. It felt like we had known each other forever. He made me laugh without even trying, and every time he smiled, I felt myself getting pulled in deeper. By the time we finally said goodbye, one thought was crystal clear. I was in trouble…