Chapter 1: The First Meeting

                                    

                                          
The first day of college was dazzling, the sun high in the sky, almost as if it, too, had come to witness the beginning of something new. Students buzzed in the corridor outside the grand auditorium, their voices a blend of laughter, anticipation, and cautious excitement. Among them, Max stood out-a bit disheveled, his gaze flitting around as he tried to blend in while also subtly surveying his surroundings.
And then she appeared. In the midst of the crowd, Nancy entered, her blue suit glimmering under the sunlight streaming through the tall windows. She seemed oblivious to the stares she attracted, walking with an effortless grace, her friend by her side, both seemingly lost in their own conversation.
Max's gaze lingered as she passed by him. Something about her struck him, though he couldn't quite place what. She walked into the auditorium, her laughter fading as she slipped into the seats just a row in front of him.
But fate, with its strange sense of humor, had other plans. Just as he was about to shrug off his curiosity and immerse himself in the orientation's opening speech, Nancy settled herself next to him. And for a whole semester, that's as close as they came-a proximity filled with glances, brief moments, yet no words exchanged.
The semester wore on, and while they never spoke, Max found himself noticing Nancy far more than he intended. It wasn't just her presence that captured his attention; it was the way she carried herself-unfazed, almost daring the world to challenge her. But it seemed that her every action somehow pricked at Max's nerves, and he had no idea why.
The first real spark of friction occurred during the class debate. Students had been assigned sides at random, and fate put Max and Nancy on opposing teams. The topic was intense-economic reform policies, something both of them held strong opinions about.
Max presented his opening argument confidently, barely glancing at Nancy. But the moment she stood up to counter him, something shifted in the room. She presented her points with razor-sharp precision, each sentence slicing through his argument. Max's jaw tightened as he felt his ideas unravel. When she concluded, she didn't even look at him, simply sat down with an air of finality, as though she knew she had won.
That moment set the tone for the rest of their interactions in college. The two found themselves at odds in nearly every class activity, from group assignments to presentations. It wasn't even intentional-they just happened to be on opposite sides of any debate, and every disagreement became an unspoken contest of wills. Classmates noticed the tension and whispered, amused by the constant clash.
By mid-semester, they were known as rivals, their silent competition becoming the unacknowledged pulse of the class. Max would find ways to counter Nancy's points in discussions, a subtle smirk on his face each time he managed to land a clever retort. Nancy, in turn, would roll her eyes at his interruptions, responding with an edge of sarcasm that always caught him off guard.
One day, their animosity spilled over during a group project. They'd been assigned to the same team, much to their dismay, and both were determined to take control. The rest of their teammates watched helplessly as Max and Nancy argued over the project's direction, each refusing to back down.
"Can't you just listen for once?" Max snapped, his frustration barely concealed.
Nancy folded her arms, an eyebrow arched. "Listen to what? Your half-baked plan? Not happening."
They ended up dividing the project into two conflicting parts, presenting it with barely concealed scowls. Surprisingly, the professor found the result fascinating, praising their "collaborative contrast." But neither of them took it as a compliment; if anything, it only fueled their rivalry.
Outside of class, Max's irritation would sometimes dissolve into bewilderment. Why did he care so much? He had friends who noticed, nudging him with grins, hinting that his annoyance might actually be something else. But Max dismissed it, brushing off their teasing with a glare. Nancy was just...infuriating.