Ch1: A New Beginning
Mahnoor tugged at the strap of her shoulder bag, its weight bouncing rhythmically against her hip as she hurried along the cobbled paths of the university campus. She felt a rush of anticipation, mingled with a dash of nervous energy, as she searched for the lecture hall. The tall buildings of the London university towered above her, casting shadows over the bustling students.
Her phone vibrated in her hand as she glanced down at the screen, checking the time. Five minutes until the start of her first lecture. "Where is this hall?" she muttered, her brows furrowed in frustration.
Without warning, she collided hard into someone.
"Ah!" she yelped, almost losing her balance.
"Whoa," came a calm, deep voice. "You alright?"
Mahnoor steadied herself and looked up at the person she'd just crashed into. He was tall, or at least compared to her 5'1 stature, anyone seemed tall. His light grey eyes met hers, standing out against his pale complexion and messy dark blonde hair. She noticed small tattoos peeking out from the sleeve of his shirt on one arm.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Mahnoor said quickly, brushing off the impact. "Sorry about that. Wasn't looking where I was going."
He gave her a small, polite smile. "No worries. First day?"
Mahnoor nodded, slightly flustered. "Yeah. You too?"
"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking equally uncertain about where to go. "I'm Daemond, by the way."
"Mahnoor." She flashed a quick smile, her fingers unconsciously touching the small diamond pin that gleamed on her nose.
They stood there for a second, both glancing around as other students streamed past them, clearly knowing exactly where they were heading.
"Are you looking for lecture hall 5A?" Daemond asked.
"Yes! Computer and Technology Law?"
"Same." Daemond's smile grew a bit as he checked his phone. "I think we're both lost."
Mahnoor chuckled, rolling her eyes at herself. "Fantastic start. Let's find it together."
After a bit of searching, they finally located the hall. A sprawling room filled with neatly arranged rows of desks and a projector ready at the front. They managed to slip in just before the lecture began, taking seats beside each other.
Mahnoor settled into her chair, brushing back her long brown hair as the professor launched into the introductory lesson. Halfway through, Mahnoor couldn't resist the opportunity. She wasn't exactly paying attention to what the lecturer was saying, but her mind had already started whirring with ideas.
She leaned a little closer to Daemond, her hand gently brushing her pen along the notebook. "Hey," she whispered, in a soft, questioning tone. "Did I miss what he said about that last case study? I think I zoned out for a second."
Daemond blinked, slightly surprised by the sudden closeness, but he quickly leaned in too, his grey eyes focused on her. "Oh, yeah, he was just saying that the case highlighted issues of privacy law in the tech industry. I can go over it with you after class if you want."
Mahnoor smiled sweetly, her eyes lighting up. "Thanks. I didn't want to fall behind on day one." She leaned back in her seat, satisfied with the little progress she'd made in getting his attention.
As the lecture ended, the students began to shuffle out. Mahnoor packed up her things, glancing at the clock. A thirty-minute break until the next lecture.
Daemond stood, slinging his backpack over his shoulder, and turned to her. "You want to grab a coffee? We've got some time before the next class."
Mahnoor hesitated for a moment, a quick calculation running through her mind. Getting to know him could be useful. He seemed smart, reserved, and polite. Someone who wouldn't ask too many questions but might be helpful later on.
"Sure," she replied with a smile. "I could use a caffeine boost."
They made their way to the small café on campus, settling into a quiet corner with their steaming cups of coffee. Mahnoor stirred hers absentmindedly, glancing at Daemond as he took a sip of his own.
"So," she began, her tone casual, "what did you think of the lecture? Pretty standard introduction, but I think it'll get interesting once we dig deeper."
Daemond nodded, his gaze focused on the table for a moment before he spoke. "Yeah. Privacy law is tricky, but it's probably one of the most relevant topics right now. Especially with all the new technology coming out."
Mahnoor nodded in agreement. "Exactly. That's why I chose this LLM. I want to specialize in tech law. There's so much potential in that field. What about you?"
"Same," he replied, though there was a slight hesitation in his voice. "I'm interested in how international regulations will evolve with tech advancements. It's something I've always wanted to study more deeply."
Mahnoor tilted her head slightly, studying him. There was something about his quiet, reserved nature that piqued her interest. He wasn't flashy or overly confident like some of the other students she'd met earlier. There was something...different.
"You seem to know your stuff," she said, her voice teasing yet genuine. "I might have to ask you for more help in the future."
Daemond chuckled softly. "Anytime. Though I'm sure you'll manage just fine."
They continued to chat, their conversation moving from lecture topics to their experiences in London so far. As they spoke, Mahnoor couldn't help but note the ease with which Daemond answered her questions, his polite but distant demeanor keeping him somewhat guarded. He was nice, but there was clearly more beneath the surface.
And as the break came to an end, Mahnoor knew one thing for sure — Daemond was someone worth keeping close.