When she was fifteen 34

The dorm’s lights stayed on late, and though Lucas was committed to his studies, he was considerate of his roommates‘ needs. 

Early on, when he first stayed up late reading, the light had disturbed their sleep. 

The moment someone brought it up, Lucas quickly adjusted–not by cutting back on his reading but by finding new places to 

study late into the night. 

Normally, Lucas would wait until everyone else in the dorm had fallen asleep before grabbing his books and finding a quiet spot 

to continue studying. 

However, tonight was unusual–he was the first to go to bed. 

Lucas didn’t feel the need to explain himself. It was just one early night, nothing worth discussing. Seeing that he was already 

half–asleep, his roommates refrained from asking any more questions and kept their movements quiet. 

The night passed peacefully. 

The only thing Lucas regretted was that he hadn’t dreamed of those two people again. 

Monday morning came early, and at Ashford University, Mondays began with a campus–wide gathering for greetings and 

updates before the first class. Participation was limited to freshmen, and while the weekly tradition had been scaled back to a 

monthly event as finals approached, fate had it that this Monday fell on Lucas‘ turn. 

At 6:30 a.m., he finished washing up and headed to the field. Members of the student council were already gathered near the 

stations, preparing for the opening speech. 

Lucas scanned the crowd idly, his gaze brushing over familiar faces until it landed on someone unfamiliar. 

A girl. 

She stood among the group, still drowsy, rubbing her eyes as she spoke with the person next to her. Her every movement carried 

a youthful, unpolished air, brimming with the unfiltered energy of a student just beginning her journey. 

Lucas‘ heart skipped, then raced, the sound pounding in his ears like a drum. 

He froze, rooted to the spot, unable to take another step. 

He had never seen the girl’s face in his dream, and most of what he had dreamed was now a hazy memory. But staring at her now, a voice from deep within him screamed relentlessly, “It’s her. It’s her!” 

One of his roommates, noticing Lucas staring so intently, followed his gaze. When he saw the girl Lucas was fixated on, he 

couldn’t suppress a chuckle. 

“Well, well,” his roommate teased, slinging an arm over Lucas‘ shoulder. “Looks like our star scholar had been struck by Cupid’s 

arrow!” 

2/3 

Chapter 18