As Rossie stepped into the lecture hall, the familiar smell of old wood and chalk dust filled her senses, wrapping around her like a comforting blanket.
She sat down at the back , her fingers absently tracing the moonflower tucked in her satchel while her heart wandered about.
The faint glow it emitted was a secret only she could perceive.
"Hey, did you catch that last reading?" a voice whispered from beside her. It was becky, the most talkative girl in the class.
"Not really," Rossie replied, her eyes darting towards Michael, two rows ahead, scribbling furiously in his notebook.
"I was kind of… distracted." she said
"Distracted? By what?
Huh ! He's not even looking at you," becky teased, elbowing her gently.
"Not him," Rossie muttered, a sense of dread creeping up her spine. "It's the gardener"
Becky's eyes widened, glancing around. "Where?" what're you talking about , I can't see anyone.
She leaned subtly, trying not to draw attention. "In the dark coat and hat.
No one else seems to notice him."
Only rossie could notice and see him where he was standing.
Rossie's breath hitched as the gardener's gloved hands clenched a book, their presence filling the room with an unsettling energy. The air seemed electric, alive with the scent of jasmine and earth.
Seems only rossie could feel the fragrance of his presence.
What sort of creature is this , she said to herself.
"Just breathe. It's probably just a trick of the light or something," backy said reassuringly.
"Sure," Rossie scoffed softly, knowing it's actually not.
Still feeling the presence of the gardener's gaze.
It was a pull that felt too intimate, as if they could see right into her soul.
Meanwhile, Michael laughed with Angela, that carefree sound looping in her mind, igniting a mix of warmth and anguish.
"Rossie, are you alright? You look pale," becky said, feeling concerned and looking directly at her face.
"Yeah…well... just trying to focus." But as the professor launched into his lecture on literature, Rossie felt relaxed a bit.
Suddenly, the professor called on Michael to read from the literature book everyone was holding
.••• "Go on, Michael! You can do it!" Becky said, trying to cut through the tension.
As Michael stood, Rossie felt a surge of emotions: admiration intertwined.
The gardener glided silently behind him, almost merging with the shadows, their hand hovering just above Michael's shoulder, sending a shiver down Rossie's spine. She felt so uncomfortable.
", please don't…" she whispered under her breath as she looks towards the gardener.
"What was that?" becky asked, leaning closer.
"Nothing. Just... You can't understand ," Rossie urged.
The classroom dimmed as he read, his voice steady.
Rossie clenched her pencil until it snapped in her grip. "I can't let this happen," she thought, frustration swirling within her.
Gardeners smile curved slightly, teasing yet foreboding.
"What's the truth you're hiding, Rossie?"
She gasped, gripping the desk harder, her pulse quickening.
Was this real? "Am I really hearing them?"
Just then, a gust of wind howled, rattling the windows as if responding to her panic.
The door creaked open violently, and students turned, a few gasping.
"Did you see that?" someone whispered. "What was that?"
"That… was weird," becky whispered to rossie as her eyes darting toward the door, but the figure had vanished.
"Look at the chalkboard!" rossie exclaimed, pointing.
Everyone was confused , but no one could see anything on it.
A writing on the board made her shimmer : "The garden's watching."
"This can't be happening," she muttered, her cheeks flushing.
Are you okay , the professor asked.
Yes- yes I am. She replied sluggishly
"Hey forget whatever you"re thinking or going up in your head," becky whispered a bit aggressive , her voice rising. "What about Michael? He's looking at you!"
Save yourself from this embarrassment and relax. Okay.
While Angela laughed at rossie , Michael was actually wondering what was going on.
Rossie turned just in time to catch Michael's gaze. His smile faded into something softer, searching.
But the moment was shattered when Angela leaned in, whispering something that made him laugh again, a laugh that echoed painfully in Rossie's ears.
"I can't take this anymore!" she exclaimed, surprising even herself. "I have to say something!"
"Wait, you're not serious!" Jasmine exclaimed, but the words spilled forth.
"Can I read next?" Rossie blurted out, her voice louder than she'd intended.
No , the school bell rang ,
Oh my time is up , see you in the next class.
As the bell rang signaling the end of the lecture, Rossie felt a rush of relief mixed with apprehension.
She knew she had to confront whatever the gardener represented and the unease that thrummed beneath her skin.
The classroom buzzed with chatter as students rose to leave. Becky shot Rossie a concerned glance, clearly eager to unpack the chaos that had unfolded.
"Seriously, what was that about?" she asked, tapping Rossie's arm. "You looked like you were about to explode."
Rossie took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.
"It's just... everything felt wrong. The gardener… he was too close."
The memory of the gloved hand hovering over Michael sent another shiver down her spine.
"Maybe you imagined it?" Becky offered, though her tone betrayed her.
"No, I felt him. He was real, and he was watching me!" Rossie insisted, her voice rising. Each word felt heavier, the weight of her secret hanging in the air.
Becky frowned, glancing at Michael, who was now laughing with Angela again.
"You really want to bring this up with him? After what just happened?"
Rossie bit her lip.
She couldn't shake the feeling that whatever the gardener intended, it was entwined with her feelings for Michael. "I don't know… I just feel like I have to warn him somehow."
Warning someone that only exists in your mind common. Becky said aggressively.
It's real , and...( Becky cuts in)
Oh Real , when everyone couldn't see what you claim to see at the board.
Common baby , you gotcha get rid of whatever is happening on your head, enough of today's embarrassment.
As they moved into the hallway