That Guy Who Sits in Front of You in Lecture Is Absolutely Totally 100% in Love With You

By Claire Hua | Photo By Lizzy Morearty

Have you ever wondered if someone in your lecture has a crush on you or if you’re being totally delusional? If you answered yes, then keep reading! Based on very thorough and extensive research (meaning 1 a.m. conversations and super accurate Instagram Reels), I’ve come up with a foolproof diagnostic tool to help you determine whether your lecture crush is into you. Here’s the model scenario:

It’s another normal day in your 101 lecture. Except it’s not normal at all, because he’s in this class. The guy who is literally, definitely, undoubtedly, obsessed with you.

He walks into the room right as you glance up, and your eyes meet for what feels like an eternity. But this is not a normal glance, no. It’s the look of true love. It’s no coincidence you made eye contact. He probably has your schedule memorized. He knew the exact microsecond you would look up and timed his entrance properly. He sits in his unassigned assigned seat which happens to be right in front of you. It was fate from day one.
After a few minutes into the lecture, you’re already bored. You’re twirling your pencil, but it slips out of your grip, rolling right to his feet. He definitely used telekinesis to make that pencil roll to him—there’s no other explanation. He glances down, picks it up, and hands it to you with an awkward smile. Your fingers graze for a split second. Butterflies. 
You “accidentally” drop your pencil a few more times. He doesn’t even smile when picking it up for the sixth time, and by the seventh drop, he doesn’t even look at you—just reaches down and places it on your desk. Now he seems slightly annoyed. Ohhh okay, he’s playing hard to get, you realize. Classic move. You’ve seen this in literally every rom-com. Guys these days never take initiative. Whatever, two can play this game.
The lecture ends, and he packs up quickly, leaving without saying a word. Typical, given you’ve never really spoken to each other before. But considering the events of the day—the eye contact and the pencil incident(s)—this is major progress in the relationship.

The next day, you head into class and sit in your usual seat. Your friend starts talking to you, but you aren’t listening because you’re scanning the room for your future husband. He walks in and… sits on the complete opposite end of the lecture hall. Interesting strategy. Then, it hits you. He moved because the tension between you two was too intense. He needed space to process his feelings. Or maybe…. Oh. The real reason settles in. You finally catch the hint. You look apologetically to your friend and sigh, “he moved over there because he doesn’t want you third-wheeling us.” Before your friend can stop you, you’re already grabbing your bag and sliding into the seat directly next to him. 

He glances at you and quickly looks away once he recognizes you. He’s so shy, it’s honestly adorable. A lot of people are intimidated by their crushes.

You smile to yourself and turn your attention to the front of the room, feeling his eyes on you. You look at him. He’s looking at his phone. Probably texting his friends about you. As the lecture continues, you see him yawn. He clearly stayed up all night thinking about you. When the class ends, he packs up at record speed and leaves through the side door. Probably hoping you’ll follow. You don’t, though. You’re not that obvious.
I’m no expert and this story is, of course, NOT from personal experience, but if everything here sounds familiar then I’m convinced that the guy who sits in front of you in lecture is absolutely totally 100% in love with you.