As an ordinary genius

The internship was a whirlwind of hard work and small victories, but when Ethan returned to campus for weekend lectures, he couldn't avoid being swept back into university life. His roommates, always eager to reconnect, had convinced him to join them for a party on Friday night.

"You've been avoiding us for weeks, Ethan," Raj said, tugging at his arm as they walked toward the student lounge, where the party was already in full swing.

"I've just been busy," Ethan muttered, though he knew it was a weak excuse.

"Well, tonight, you're not busy," Mike said, grinning. "You're going to have fun whether you like it or not."

The student lounge had been transformed into a makeshift club, with dim lights, loud music, and a crowd of students dancing, laughing, and enjoying themselves. Ethan stuck close to his roommates at first, feeling out of place.

"Here," Liam said, handing him a cup. "Loosen up a little."

Ethan hesitated but took a sip. The drink was strong, and he coughed, drawing laughter from his friends.

"That's the spirit!" Raj said, clapping him on the back.

As the night went on, Ethan found himself relaxing. The music was loud, the energy infectious, and for a brief moment, he felt like a normal college student again.

Ethan was talking to a group of students when he spotted her—Felicity, standing near the entrance with a few of her friends. She was wearing a simple dress, her blonde hair catching the light as she scanned the room.

His heart skipped a beat.

"Dude, you're staring," Raj whispered, following his gaze.

"I'm not," Ethan said quickly, though he could feel his face heating up.

"Go talk to her," Mike urged.

"No way," Ethan said, shaking his head.

"Why not?" Raj asked. "This is your chance!"

Ethan hesitated, but before he could argue, Mike and Raj nudged him toward her.

Felicity spotted him approaching and smiled. "Ethan! I didn't think you were the partying type."

"I'm not," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "My roommates dragged me here."

"Well, I'm glad they did," she said, her smile widening.

They chatted for a while, the noise of the party fading into the background. Felicity talked about her latest project, her plans for the summer, and Ethan found himself laughing and relaxing in her presence.

Then, fueled by a mix of nerves and liquid courage, Ethan blurted out, "I like you, Felicity."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

"I—I like you," he repeated, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I've liked you for a while now, but I didn't know how to say it."

Felicity opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Ethan stumbled.

"Sorry," he mumbled, his vision blurring. "I think I need some air…"

He turned and walked away, leaving Felicity standing there, stunned.

Ethan woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and a vague sense of unease.

"What happened last night?" he muttered, sitting up in his bed.

"You were the life of the party, man," Mike said, smirking from across the room.

"What do you mean?" Ethan asked, rubbing his temples.

"You don't remember?" Raj said, raising an eyebrow.

"Not really," Ethan admitted.

"Well," Liam said, "let's just say you had an interesting conversation with Felicity."

Ethan froze. "What kind of conversation?"

"You told her you like her," Raj said bluntly.

Ethan's heart sank. "I did what?"

"You confessed, then bailed before she could respond," Mike said, laughing. "Classic move."

Ethan groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is bad. This is really bad."

"Relax," Liam said. "She didn't seem mad. If anything, she looked… surprised. Maybe even happy."

Ethan wasn't convinced. "I can't face her. What if she thinks I'm an idiot?"

"Well, you can't avoid her forever," Raj said. "You'll have to talk to her eventually."

"Yeah," Ethan said quietly, though the thought filled him with dread.