Just as Maria had expected, Max was already on campus. He wasn't spending time in class or the library like a nerd looking for knowledge.
The handsome man was sitting relaxed in a café chair, his hands perched on the edge of the chair. Max pushed his sunglasses up, revealing his bright blue eyes.
Everyone knew that Max's appearance always stole the show, which made his friends a little jealous. Yet, the man looked cool and didn't care about the attention from the girls around him. He was a guy who could be friendly and cool at the same time. Max was quite picky with girls. He had never been in a serious relationship, despite the many girls vying for his attention.
Thud!!
Leah slapped her forehead. Why was she so careless this morning?
She had dropped the contents of the box she was carrying. The box was about 1.5 meters long and quite heavy for her to lift. Leah immediately crouched down, placing the box on the floor before picking up the fruit that had rolled everywhere. Luckily, they weren't ripe yet. If they had been ripe, she would've had to deal with a lot of broken fruit.
The thought of having to compensate for the fruit made her take a deep breath and sigh heavily. How could she afford to replace it when the money she made here barely covered her own expenses?
Someone wearing clean, expensive shoes squatted down beside her.
The man extended his hand, helping her pick up the scattered fruit.
Leah noticed the expensive shoes and the muscles flexing at the base of the man's arm, but she didn't have time to look up and see his face.
Max helped Leah pick up the fruit without being asked.
"Mm, thank you. You don't have to bother," Leah said, refusing his help. She quickly continued her task. She didn't need anyone's assistance.
Leah was used to doing everything on her own. Picking up fruit like this was easy for her, and she quickly finished the job.
She lifted the box back up with surprising speed and strength.
Max stood still behind her, surprised by the strength and ability of this mini-market employee. He couldn't believe it—how could a girl lift such a heavy box?
"What's wrong? Is that girl ignoring you? Wow, amazing!" Leon's voice broke Max out of his thoughts.
'Yeah, I guess so,' Max thought. The girl had even refused his help. Max just shrugged.
"Girls like that should stay away from men like us. Our lives are on different levels. She's not our type," Leon said loudly.
"You're so arrogant, Leon. But yeah, you're right," Max replied.
Leon and Max returned to the café and sat down, enjoying their warm coffee as girls' eyes lingered on them.
It was a popular area on campus, full of cafés with glass walls where students could relax and take a break from studying. In between the cafés was the mini-market where Leah worked.
Max glanced over at the mini-market, where Leah was still busy working.
Leon squinted in surprise at Max's gaze.
"Pick a girl, any girl!" Leon said, gesturing around. "The blonde, the one with black hair and exotic skin, the blue-eyed girl with dimples, or…"
He stopped when Max raised his palm, signaling Leon to be quiet.
"Have you already made up your mind? Wow," Leon laughed. He couldn't believe how quickly Max chose a girl. Max was becoming more grown-up than he thought.
Max looked away, his eyes shifting to the parking lot beside the café.
He saw Leah again—this time arguing with a curly-haired man.
Max tried to listen, but the distance made it difficult to hear. He could see their serious expressions and the tension in the air. It seemed like Leah was in some serious trouble.
Max stood up from his chair.
"Hey, where are you going? The attractive girls are over there!" Leon pointed toward the group of girls who had been eyeing their table.
Max ignored him and headed in the other direction. Leon was confused. Why leave when there was so much attention to be had?
'Max, I don't get you,' Leon muttered to himself.
As Max approached, he didn't immediately intervene in the argument. He wanted to hear what they were saying first.
He leaned against the wall, watching the exchange between Leah and the curly-haired man.
"I told you, Alex, don't take me to your party!" Leah said firmly, wiping her long, knotted hair from her face.
"I'm not coming!" Leah repeated.
"Come on, Leah, you have to come with me!" Alex insisted.
"No, I have a lot of work to do!"
"Leah, you have to go with me!" Alex said, his tone now more forceful as he grabbed Leah's wrist.
Max couldn't help but chuckle at the man's pushiness. From his place behind the wall, Max straightened his back and folded his arms across his chest. He was ready to intervene.
"Let me go!" Leah shouted, trying to pull away.
"No!" Alex gritted his teeth, refusing to release her.
"Take your hands off me!" Leah's voice was full of fury.
"No, not until you say yes!" Alex insisted.
"Let me go!" Leah struggled again.
"No!" Alex's persistence only irritated her more.
"Tell me you're coming to the club with me!" Alex demanded.
"I told you, I'm not coming!"
"Come on!" Alex's annoyance was growing.
"Alex, you pissed me off!" Leah snapped.
Alex mimicked her words sarcastically, making fun of her.
"Come on, Leah, just once."
Leah was exhausted. She yanked her hand away from Alex's grip, knocking him off balance. The man fell to the ground in the parking lot.
Leah chuckled, teasing him.
"Leah, don't make me get rude with you!" Alex growled as he stood up, brushing off his pants.
Max had seen enough. He stepped forward, interrupting the tense situation.
"Come on, Leah, I asked nicely, but you—"
Before Alex could get any closer, Max stepped between them, blocking Alex's path and forcing both Leah and Alex to step back.
'Who is he?' Alex frowned.
"This girl's not going with you," Max said coldly, locking eyes with Alex.
His gaze was sharp, filled with jealousy and anger. His bright blue eyes seemed to glow in the morning sunlight.
Alex looked Leah over, then back at Max. He raised an eyebrow, questioning who this stranger was.
Leah shook her head. She had no idea who this guy was, but now he was standing between her and Alex, protecting her.
"Who are you?" Alex asked sarcastically, glaring at Max.
"She's not going to a nightclub with someone like you!" Max said confidently, keeping his eyes on Alex.
"Hah!" Alex scoffed, taken aback.
He looked at Leah, and the girl just shook her head, further confirming her refusal.
Alex's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Because she's going out with a man like me, just like me!" Max said, tugging on Leah's wrist.
Leah froze. She looked at Max's grip on her wrist, feeling the warmth of his hand like the morning sun. The sensation sent a strange flutter through her chest.
Max kept her positioned behind him, like a father protecting his daughter from a bully.
Boom… Boom… Boom…
Leah's heart pounded in her chest, surprised by the sensation.
"Hah! You are—" Alex started to laugh sarcastically.
But Leah wasn't paying attention anymore. Her thoughts were swirling, and all she could feel was Max's warm touch. What was going on? Wasn't he the same man from earlier?
"I am her boyfriend!!" Max declared confidently, pushing Leah closer to the wall.
---