Chapter 1:
I used to be a very quiet person. I never knew someone could truly love "me" as I am—until I met Tasnim.
It was the month of October. That day, she noticed me carefully, but I was lost within myself.
First day of college, first class. Among so many people, I somehow felt completely lost.
An unfamiliar fear worked inside me in that crowd of strangers. Yet, among hundreds of people, she found me.
I didn't know back then that I, too, could be loved by someone.
"Hi, I'm Tasnim."
Just those simple words—and I fell in love with her voice. I was so lost in it that I even forgot to shake her hand. I don't know what she thought, but that day, she just walked away.
A few days later, we met again in our economics class. That day, I observed her properly.
Her glowing dusky complexion, those magical eyes, and her smile… oh, that smile—I'm still lost in its charm.
The moment I saw her, I was about to say sorry for that day, but before I could—
She spoke first,
"So, Mr. Quiet… are you just going to stare again today, or will you actually talk?"
I suddenly returned to reality. Feeling a bit awkward, I said,
"Sorry… that day… actually, I…"
She smiled and said,
"Relax, I didn't mind. You're just… different."
"Different?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah," she said, looking outside the window,
"In this crowd, everyone is busy trying to show themselves. And you… you're busy hiding yourself."
Her words touched something deep inside me.
No one had ever understood me like that before.
I didn't even realize how that class ended. She kept glancing at me sometimes, and whenever I noticed, I would quickly look away.
After that…
We started seeing each other more often.
Sometimes in the library—
She would sit with a book, and I would pretend to study while secretly watching her.
Sometimes in the cafeteria—
She would talk, and I would listen.
But the surprising thing was… she liked my quietness.
One day, she suddenly said,
"You know, when I'm with you, I feel calm."
I smiled a little and said,
"But I don't even talk much…"
She shook her head,
"Not everything needs to be said. Some people… their presence is enough."
That day… I realized—
Someone could love this version of "me" too.
That lost, frightened version of me from October…
was slowly changing.
One day, while we were walking together, she suddenly stopped.
A soft breeze was blowing, her hair gently moving with the wind.
She looked at me and said,
"Can I tell you something?"
"Hmm…"
"Do you know… you look really beautiful when you smile?"
I went silent.
Because no one had ever said something like that to me before.
Then she came a little closer and said softly,
"And one more thing… I like you."
In that moment…
all the words inside me just… stopped.....6