I don't know why, but maybe my heart always belonged to my past.
Maybe that's why I waited for him for so many years.
Or maybe it wasn't love anymore. Maybe it had become a habit, a memory, or a hope that I wasn't ready to let go of.
Because after finally having real conversations with him, I realized something.
He never waited for me.
He never knew what I felt.
And perhaps… it had always been one-sided.
While walking back toward the hostel, my thoughts were all over the place.
Then senior suddenly asked,
"If one day he comes to know that you liked him for all these years… what do you think he would say?"
I looked at him.
The question caught me off guard.
I stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then I replied honestly.
"I don't know. I genuinely don't know the answer to that."
He looked at me for a moment and then smiled softly.
"Then don't you think you should tell him someday?"
I shook my head.
"Not right now. I don't want him to stop talking to me because of all this. After so many years, we have finally started having small conversations. His visit is going to happen again soon, and honestly… I am happy just knowing that I'll get to see him."
Senior looked at me carefully.
There was a strange expression on his face.
Almost like he wanted to say something.
But he didn't.
Instead, he smiled.
"You're very patient."
I laughed.
"No. I think I'm just stupid."
He immediately replied,
"No. Someone who can wait this long for another person isn't stupid. They simply love deeply."
For some reason, hearing that from him made me emotional.
Because for years, people would have probably called me crazy.
But he didn't.
He understood.
Then suddenly I asked,
"Why did you ask me all this?"
He looked ahead.
"Nothing. Just like that."
I knew there was something else behind his words.
But I didn't ask again.
After some time, we reached the hostel gate.
"Goodnight, practical partner."
I smiled.
"Goodnight, senior."
Then we went our separate ways.
---
As soon as I reached my room, I lay down on my bed and stared at the ceiling.
Everything felt unreal.
The fact that I was in medical college.
The fact that I had amazing friends.
The fact that I was talking to him after all these years.
And the fact that there was someone who listened to my every problem without judging me.
Destiny really works in strange ways.
I kept recalling every small moment.
His message.
His reply.
His visit.
Senior's advice.
Everything.
I smiled unknowingly.
Then my roommate suddenly threw a pillow at me.
"Why are you smiling alone?"
I quickly sat up.
"Nothing!"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Liar."
I laughed.
"Go to sleep."
After talking for some time, we finally slept.
---
Unfortunately…
I slept too peacefully.
Because the next morning—
I woke up late.
Again.
My roommate almost screamed.
"WE ARE LATE!"
I immediately sat up.
"What?!"
"It's anatomy practical today! Get ready quickly!"
I literally jumped out of bed.
I ran to the bathroom.
Brushed my teeth in record time.
Changed clothes.
Packed my bag.
And within fifteen minutes, both of us were running toward college.
I was breathing heavily.
"If sir sees us late today, we are dead."
My roommate nodded dramatically.
"Completely dead."
Luckily, when we reached the practical hall, sir had not arrived yet.
Both of us sighed in relief.
Then someone behind me said,
"Late again?"
I turned around.
Senior.
He was smiling.
I laughed awkwardly.
"Only five minutes late."
He crossed his arms.
"If my practical partner didn't come, I would have had to do the practical alone."
I smiled.
"That can never happen. I can never joke with my studies."
He nodded.
"Good."
Then sir entered.
The entire class became silent.
The practical session started.
And surprisingly…
It was one of the best practical classes.
Sir was in a very good mood.
He explained everything patiently.
Even cracked a few jokes.
Everyone was happy.
Our group kept discussing bones and anatomical structures while somehow turning everything into funny conversations.
Even seniors were laughing.
For the first time, anatomy didn't feel scary.
At one point, I made a silly mistake while identifying a structure.
My entire group started laughing.
I covered my face.
"Please pretend you never saw that."
Senior laughed.
"Future doctor, you need more practice."
I made an angry face.
"I know!"
Everyone laughed again.
The class passed surprisingly fast.
After practicals ended, our entire group went to the canteen.
The atmosphere was cheerful.
Some were discussing studies.
Some were complaining about hostel food.
Some were planning movies.
Then one of my friends suddenly said,
"Guys, we seriously need a break."
Everyone agreed immediately.
Suddenly one of our professors entered the canteen with a few seniors.
"Attention everyone," he said with a smile.
"After discussing with the faculty, we've decided to organize a two-day educational picnic this weekend for first-year students. Seniors will also join as mentors."
For a second, the entire canteen went completely silent.
Then...
"A trip?"
"Seriously?"
"Two whole days?"
The entire table suddenly became energetic.
Everyone was talking at the same time.
I laughed seeing all this.
Then my friend looked at me.
"You're coming too."
I blinked.
"Me?"
"Obviously you."
I thought for a few seconds.
Honestly…
A picnic sounded fun.
I hadn't done anything like this in a long time.
So I smiled.
"Okay. I'm in."
Everyone cheered.
Then we started planning everything.
Food.
Games.
Music.
Photography.
Who would bring what.
The excitement was visible on everyone's faces.
Even senior looked happy.
"Looks like this weekend is going to be interesting."
I smiled.
At that time…
I had absolutely no idea how true his words would become.
Because while everyone was happily making picnic plans…
my phone suddenly vibrated.
I looked down.
A message notification.
From him.
I smiled automatically.
But the smile slowly disappeared the moment I opened the message.
Because there was only one sentence.
"I might be coming to your city this weekend. Are you free?"
I froze.
The same weekend.
The same picnic.
The same day.
And suddenly…
I had a strange feeling.
A feeling that this picnic wasn't going to be ordinary at all.
Because somewhere deep inside me…
I knew that this weekend was about to change something.
Something important.
Something I never saw coming.
And for the first time in many days… I wasn't excited anymore.
I was nervous.
I read the message once.
Then twice.
Then for the third time.
I couldn't believe it.
This weekend?
Out of all the weekends, why this one?
My heart suddenly started beating faster.
I looked at my friends who were still discussing the picnic enthusiastically.
Some were deciding the menu, some were arguing about songs for the journey, and others were already planning what outfits to wear.
Meanwhile, I was sitting there holding my phone like my entire world had stopped.
"What happened?" my roommate asked.
I quickly locked my phone.
"Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You look worried."
I forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
But honestly, I wasn't.
Because for the first time in years, two worlds that I had kept completely separate were about to collide.
On one side, there was my college life—my friends, my roommate, and the senior who knew everything about me.
On the other side, there was him—the person I had waited for, prayed for, and silently loved for years.
And now both were going to be in the same city on the same weekend.
Was this another coincidence?
Or was destiny really planning something?
I didn't know.
After a few seconds, I opened the message again.
I wanted to reply immediately.
But what should I say?
Yes, I'm free?
No, I'm busy?
Can we meet another day?
Thousands of thoughts entered my mind.
Then another thought came.
What if this was the opportunity I had been waiting for all these years?
What if this meeting changed everything?
Or…
what if it broke every hope I still had?
I took a deep breath and looked at the screen one more time.
And at that moment, I realized something.
This weekend wasn't going to be normal.
Not at all.
Somewhere, deep inside my heart, I had a strange feeling…
that after this weekend, nothing would remain exactly the same.😖