Kiana lay on her bed, tears streaming down her face like a relentless rain. She had vowed not to cry, to move on from Sid, but her heart refused to listen. Memories of him lingered, etched in her mind like a painful tattoo.

The streetlight outside cast a warm glow through her window, illuminating her face. It was as if Sid's presence still haunted her, his eyes watching her, his smile lingering. Kiana's eyes welled up anew, her vision blurring.

She thought she had moved on, or at least was trying to. But every glance, every gesture, every whispered word echoed Sid's name. The ache within her grew, an unrelenting reminder of what could never be.

As night wore on, exhaustion claimed her, but sleep offered no solace. Her dreams were filled with Sid's smiling face, his laughter, and his piercing gaze.

Morning brought no relief. Kiana woke up with a throbbing headache and sore eyes. She winced, gingerly touching her puffy eyelids. The mirror reflected a tired, tear-stained face.

Grabbing an ice pack, Kiana settled onto the sofa, pressing the cold compress to her eyes. "I will ignore him," she whispered to herself. "I will move on. I will forget you, Sid... Completely." But the resolve faltered as memories resurfaced: Sid's intense gaze, his husky voice, that had set her soul ablaze.

As she sat there, Kiana's determination began to crystallize. She would not let Sid consume her. She would rise above her emotions, focus on herself, and move forward.

But just as she found a glimmer of resolve, her phone buzzed, shattering the silence. Kiana's heart skipped a beat. Was it Sid? Had he finally reached out?

Kiana's heart sank as she picked up the call, her mind still reeling from the emotional turmoil. "Hey, Clara," she said, trying to sound more composed than she felt.

"Hey, girl! I just got word from our professor," Clara exclaimed. "There's a surprise test in our uni today. And get this – the university is selecting the best students for a broadcast about Cambridge!"

Kiana's fatigue momentarily lifted, replaced by a spark of interest. "That sounds amazing! What's the criteria for selection?"

"They're looking for students with exceptional academic records, public speaking skills, and knowledge about Cambridge's history and culture," Clara explained. "We need to ace this test to be considered."

Kiana's competitive spirit kicked in. This could be the perfect distraction from Sid and her emotional chaos. "I'm so down for this! When's the test?"

"In two hours," Clara replied. "Meet me at the library, and we'll cram together. We can't let this opportunity slip away!"

With renewed determination, Kiana sprang into action. She hastily got ready, her mind shifting gears from heartbreak to academic ambition.

As she rushed out the door, Kiana felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this test – and the prospect of representing her university – would be the catalyst she needed to move on from Sid.

But little did she know, fate had other plans.

Kiana stepped into the warm shower, letting the soothing water wash away her tears and fatigue. She closed her eyes, feeling the gentle massage of the water jets ease her tension. As she lathered up her soap, the sweet scent filled the air, calming her senses. With each rinse, she felt her resolve strengthening – today was a new day, a chance to move forward. The warm water cascaded down her face, cleansing her of last night's heartache. She emerged from the shower, refreshed and ready to tackle the day, her determination renewed.

There's plenty of time before the exam starts. After doing her breakfast Kiana stepped out of her cozy apartment, the crisp morning air greeting her like a refreshing hug. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about the surprise test. Locking the door behind her, she made her way to her car.

As she drove through the bustling streets, Kiana's thoughts drifted to Sid. She pushed the memories away, focusing on the road ahead. The 15-minute drive flew by in a blur.

Upon arriving at the university campus, Kiana parked her car and grabbed her essentials. She checked her phone for any last-minute updates from Clara.

With a final deep breath, Kiana stepped out of the car and into the vibrant campus life. Students rushed past her, chatting and laughing. The sound of leaves crunching beneath her feet accompanied her as she walked towards the auditorium.

The imposing building loomed before her, its grandeur a reminder of the importance of today's test. Kiana's heart quickened as she pushed open the heavy doors and slipped inside.

That's when she saw him – Sid, standing confidently, organizing the event as head of the student community.

Before he could notice her, Kiana tried to flee, but Clara's piercing voice stopped her in her tracks: "Hey Ki! Over here."

Kiana's eyes widened in alarm as Clara's voice echoed through the auditorium, drawing everyone's attention, including Sid's. She felt like she'd been caught in a spotlight, her heart racing with discomfort. Kiana's cheeks flushed, and her heart skipped a beat.

Sid's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her hurried appearance. Kiana's cheeks flushed, knowing she couldn't escape now.

Clara waved enthusiastically, oblivious to Kiana's distress. "Hey, Ki! Over here!" she repeated, beckoning Kiana towards their study group.

Kiana reluctantly made her way towards Clara, her eyes darting towards Sid, who was still watching her. His expression was inscrutable, but the intensity in his gaze made her skin prickle.

As she reached Clara's side, Kiana muttered under her breath, "Thanks for announcing my arrival."

Clara grinned mischievously. "Sorry, girl! I didn't mean to put you on the spot."

Kiana shot Clara a warning glance before turning to face the room, her eyes avoiding Sid's. The auditorium seemed to shrink, the air thickening with tension.

Sid, still standing at the front, cleared his throat, his voice commanding attention. "Alright, everyone. Let's get started. Today's test will determine the representatives for the Cambridge broadcast."

Kiana's heart sank. She was trapped, with Sid as the head of the student community and her judge for the test.

Kiana quickly took her seat, trying to shake off the awkwardness. She pulled out her notes and pens, organizing them with a nervous precision. As she glanced around the room, she noticed several familiar faces, all eager to secure a spot on the Cambridge broadcast team.

Sid's voice cut through the murmurs, his eyes scanning the room. "Today's test will consist of two parts. The first will assess your knowledge of Cambridge's history and culture. The second..." He paused, surveying the room with a hint of mischief. "The second part will be a debate. You'll be paired with someone from our community, and that time the main judges will provide the topic on the spot."

Kiana tried to focus on the test, her eyes scanning the questions on the sheet. But her gaze kept drifting towards Sid, who stood at the front, monitoring the room.

His intense eyes seemed to bore into her soul, making her heart skip a beat. She felt like he was watching her every move, every twitch.

Kiana's pencil trembled in her hand as she attempted to answer the questions. She knew the material inside out, but Sid's presence made her doubt herself.

Glancing up, she caught Sid's gaze. For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked, and Kiana's breath caught. The memory of their past flooded her mind.

She quickly looked away, her cheeks warming. Why did he have this effect on her?

The room seemed to shrink, the air thickening with tension. Kiana's concentration shattered, her mind racing with thoughts of Sid.

"Get a grip, Kiana," she whispered to herself.

But as she delved back into the test, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Sid's eyes were still on her.

Suddenly, the lights flickered, and the projector whirred to life. Sid's voice cut through the distractions.

"Time's up for the first part. Now, let's move on to the debate."

Kiana's heart sank. The debate meant partnering with someone, and she dreaded the possibility of being paired with Sid.

Sid and the community members collected the test papers, their faces intent on the task. Kiana watched, her anxiety growing.

The wait seemed interminable, but finally, Sid took the microphone.

"And now, the results," he announced, his voice commanding attention.

"The top five students who will proceed to the next round are."

Kiana's heart pounded in anticipation.

"In fifth place, Rachel Shenoy."

Applause erupted, and Rachel beamed.

"In fourth place, Axel Miller."

Axel grinned, pumping his fist.

"In third place, Clara Fernandez."

Clara squealed, hugging Kiana.

"In second place, Kiana Singh Noir."

Kiana's heart skipped a beat as her name was called. She smiled, relief washing over her.

"And in the first place, Emily Martinez."

The room erupted in applause as Sid's eyes met Kiana's, a flicker of emotion passing between them.

Kiana's thoughts swirled. She had made it to the next round, but Sid's presence loomed large.

The principal cleared his throat, a warm smile spreading across his face. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The pairs for the next round of the Cambridge broadcast competition are:

Rachel Shenoy with Liam Volvox.

Axel Miller with Mimi Lee.

Clara Fernandez with Lily Smith.

Kiana Singh Noir with Crisanto Flores.

Emily Martinez with Siddharth Raghavendra Modak."

The room erupted into applause as students congratulated each other.

Kiana's eyes widened as the principal announced the pairs. Her heart racing, she held her breath until she heard:

"Kiana Singh Noir with Crisanto Flores."

Relief washed over her. Not Sid.

She scanned the room, searching for Crisanto. A tall, dark-haired boy with a warm smile caught her eye. He nodded, and Kiana returned the gesture.

Meanwhile, Sid's expression remained unreadable, his eyes locked onto Kiana for a fleeting moment before shifting to his partner, Emily Martinez.

Clara beamed, waving at Lily Smith. The room filled with murmurs and congratulations.

The principal continued, "Your next challenge will be a group debate. Topics will be assigned shortly. Good luck, and make our school proud!"

Kiana felt a mix of emotions. She looked at Sid sneakily only to be frowned upon.

Sid's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through Kiana like a dagger. His eyelids drooped slightly, casting a shadow over his irises, intensifying the intensity of his stare.

His eyebrows furrowed, the vertical line between them deepening into a crease. His jaw clenched, the muscles in his face tensing.

His lips pressed into a thin line, a subtle curl of disdain playing on the edges. The corners of his mouth twitched, as if suppressing a snarl.

His eyes seemed to bore into Kiana's very soul, radiating:

Disapproval

Frustration

Possessiveness

The air around him vibrated with tension, as if the very atmosphere had thickened under the weight of his glare.

Kiana felt, A shiver ran down her spine, Her heart skipped a beat, A flutter in her chest.

Sid's glare spoke volumes:

"You're mine."

"You can't escape me."

"I won't let you go."

But Kiana refused to back down, shrugging off the unease, and turning away from the suffocating intensity of Sid's gaze.

Kiana's mind whirled, attempting to decipher Sid's intense gaze. "Why would he look at me like that? It's not like he loves me or anything," she thought, shaking her head.

"We're just competitors, for crying out loud! He's always been distant, sometimes even cold. What's driving this... intensity?"

She recalled their past encounters, searching for clues. Their interactions had been brief, polite, and professional. No hints of affection or attraction.

"Is it because I'm a threat to his winning streak?" Kiana wondered. "Does he see me as a rival?"

Sid's gaze still lingered in her mind, making her skin prickle. Kiana quickly looked away from Sid's intense stare, her heart racing. "What's with him?" she murmured to herself, shaking off the unease.

"I won't let him psyche me out," Kiana resolved. "I'll show him what I'm capable of.”

Taking a deep breath, she turned to Crisanto, who was watching her with a warm smile.

"Hey, partner! Congrats on making it to the next round. I've seen your work. You're amazing" Crisanto said, extending his hand.

Kiana shook it firmly. "Hi! Crisanto.” Her cheeks flushed. "Thanks! I've heard great things about you too."

As they chatted, Sid's gaze still lingered on Kiana, his expression unreadable.

Clara approached, Lily in tow. "Hey, guys! Let's discuss strategy. We have two days to prep."

Kiana welcomed the distraction. "Absolutely! Let's get started."

The group began brainstorming, their excitement building.

Sid and Emily remained on the periphery, their conversation hushed.