Vivienne accepted the campus map from the registration desk with a grateful smile before stepping back into the bustling courtyard.
"Freshman Residence... West Hall..." she murmured, scanning the map. "That shouldn’t be too difficult."
It turned out to be considerably more difficult than she’d anticipated.
St. Albion University was enormous.
The campus resembled a small city more than a university. Elegant stone buildings stood proudly beneath centuries-old trees, their ivy-covered walls connected by broad walkways and landscaped courtyards. Students, parents, professors and university staff moved in every direction, each seemingly knowing exactly where they were supposed to be.
Vivienne, unfortunately, did not.
Five minutes later, she found herself standing at another intersection, turning the map around for what felt like the tenth time.
"...Why does every building look important?"
She looked around, hoping to ask someone for directions.
Freshmen were busy saying emotional goodbyes to their families.
Parents fussed over luggage and paperwork.
Several Student Council officers hurried past carrying stacks of documents while discussing orientation schedules.
Everyone looked occupied.
"I don’t want to interrupt them..."
With a resigned sigh, she lowered her eyes to the map once more and continued walking.
"If I go through this courtyard..."
"...then according to this..."
"...No, wait..."
From the opposite direction, another student crossed the courtyard, equally absorbed in the documents he was reading.
Neither noticed the other until—
Thump.
The folder slipped from his arm.
Dozens of neatly arranged papers fluttered across the stone pavement.
"Oh!"
Vivienne’s eyes widened.
"I’m so sorry!"
Without hesitation, she knelt to the ground and hurriedly gathered the scattered pages.
"I wasn’t looking where I was going."
"It’s alright."
The voice above her was calm and unexpectedly pleasant.
"I should have been paying more attention as well."
Still kneeling, Vivienne reached for one last sheet.
Another hand reached for it at exactly the same time.
Their fingertips almost brushed.
"..."
She instinctively lifted her head.
...and promptly forgot what she had been about to say.
The young man kneeling opposite her looked as though he’d stepped straight out of the pages of a luxury fashion magazine. Morning sunlight filtered gently through the canopy overhead, catching against neatly combed black hair and softening features that would have otherwise seemed too sharp to be real. Even kneeling on the pavement, there was an effortless elegance about him. His navy senior uniform fit him impeccably, broad shoulders and composed posture giving him a quiet presence that somehow made the lively courtyard fade into the background.
...Wow.
Heat immediately rose to her cheeks.
He’s... really handsome.
She mentally shook herself.
Focus, Vivienne. You just bumped into him.
Realizing she’d been staring for a second too long, she quickly lowered her gaze again, picked up the final sheet and offered it to him with both hands.
"I’m terribly sorry," she said, smiling sheepishly. "I was too busy trying to understand this map."
The young man accepted the papers before returning the smile—small, polite, almost imperceptible.
"It happens every year."
Only then did he finally look at her properly.
Morning sunlight slipped through the leaves overhead, weaving itself into strands of long golden hair until they seemed almost to glow. A gentle breeze lifted several loose strands across her face before she tucked them neatly behind one ear. When she looked up again, a pair of bright blue eyes met his with unmistakable embarrassment and sincere apology.
Beautiful.
It was the first word that came to mind.
Long golden hair.
Clear blue eyes.
A face he was certain people would remember after seeing only once.
She smiled apologetically as she handed him the last of the papers, a faint blush still lingering across her cheeks from the awkward collision.
For some reason...
He felt as though he’d seen that smile before.
Then another thought quietly surfaced.
Have we met before?
Vivienne let out an embarrassed laugh as she held up the folded campus map.
"I’ve only been here ten minutes, and somehow I’ve already managed to get lost."
For the first time, the corners of his lips curved ever so slightly.
"St. Albion has that effect on most freshmen."
"I feel slightly better knowing I’m not the only one."
"You aren’t."
He pointed toward a tree-lined avenue stretching beyond the courtyard.
"The freshman residence registration office is straight ahead. Take the second building on your left. There’ll be signs once you’re close."
Vivienne’s face immediately brightened.
"Oh! Thank you so much."
Remembering her manners, she gave a small bow.
"I’m Vivienne Beaumont. First year."
The name made him pause.
"...Vivienne Beaumont?"
His eyes returned to her face.
Golden hair.
Blue eyes.
Six years...
A faint memory surfaced of a little girl who stubbornly followed Anthony everywhere, forever trying to pull her fiancé away whenever the cousins spent time together.
Could this really be...?
Without thinking, he asked quietly,
"You don’t remember me?"
Vivienne blinked in confusion before offering an apologetic smile.
"I’m afraid my memories from when I was little are rather hazy."
The answer sounded perfectly honest.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Then the young man inclined his head politely.
"Damian."
"Damian Blackwood."
Vivienne’s eyes widened for the briefest instant before she quickly composed herself.
"So it was Senior Blackwood."
She smiled warmly.
"It’s nice to see you again."
"It has been quite some time."
"It has."
Damian found himself smiling faintly.
Six years was a long time.
Children grew up.
People changed.
Perhaps it wasn’t so strange that neither of them had recognized the other immediately.
He glanced toward the avenue he’d pointed out moments earlier.
"If you’d like, I can walk you to the registration office. It’s on my way."
Vivienne immediately waved both hands with an embarrassed laugh.
"Oh, no, that’s alright. You’ve already helped me enough, and I’m sure you’re busy yourself. Besides..." She lifted the map with a playful smile. "I think I’d better learn how to read this properly sooner rather than later."
Damian let out a quiet chuckle.
"Very well."
After a brief pause, he added, "Welcome to St. Albion."
"Thank you, Senior."
She offered one last graceful bow before turning toward the avenue he had indicated.
Damian watched her disappear into the flow of students for a quiet moment before gathering his folder beneath one arm once more.
Then, without another word, he continued toward the administration building.
Behind him, the courtyard gradually returned to its cheerful bustle, as though the brief encounter between two former childhood acquaintances had been nothing more than an ordinary morning on campus.