chapter 13: first day
Leo stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting his outfit one last time. It was his first day at college, and everything felt surreal. His mind drifted between the excitement of the new experience and the feeling of responsibility that had slowly crept up on him. He had a reputation to uphold, now that his name and investments were beginning to make waves, but he couldn't shake the sense that this was all just a stepping stone in something bigger.
"Ready?" came a voice from behind him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Emma standing in the doorway, looking at him with an unreadable expression.
"Yeah," he nodded, flashing her a smile, though inside he wasn't quite sure what he was getting into. "You?"
She nodded, but Leo couldn't help but notice the faint nerves in her eyes. She was dressed casually, but her outfit still looked sharp. Leo knew she had been anxious about this day, though she was doing her best to hide it.
"Good luck," he said, giving her a light pat on the shoulder.
Just as he was about to reach for his phone to check the time, Rebecca entered the room, her ever-confident smile wide. "Don't worry, Leo. I'm sure you'll handle the attention just fine. You've been getting it for a while now." She winked at him playfully. "But Emma," she added, turning her gaze toward Emma, "You're in for quite the treat."
Emma blinked, clearly confused, but Rebecca didn't elaborate. Instead, she grabbed Emma's arm and tugged her toward the door. "Come on. Let's go. Leo, I'll leave the two of you to your 'first day' stuff."
Leo watched as the two women left, his mind still buzzing with the uncertainty of the day ahead. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, then grabbed his bag. When he walked out, Ethan was lounging on the couch, looking more relaxed than anyone else in the house.
"Alright, Leo," Ethan said, glancing up. "You ready to make some waves today?"
"Yeah, I guess," Leo muttered, a little distracted.
"You'll do fine," Ethan chuckled, his voice lighthearted. "Rebecca's got Emma all set up. They'll make sure you're ready for whatever comes next. And you're still not getting it, are you?"
Leo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Ethan grinned. "Rebecca's been planning all this. She's gonna make sure Emma's... well, let's just say, I'll be surprised if you don't see a different side of her today."
Leo blinked, but before he could respond, the sound of footsteps outside signaled the return of Emma and Rebecca. The two of them entered, and Leo could hardly believe his eyes. Emma had changed.
Her hair was done up neatly, and the light makeup she wore only accentuated her features. She looked... stunning. Leo blinked several times, as though he'd seen a different person walk through the door. She was no longer the shy girl he knew—this version of Emma carried herself with confidence, though her nervousness still hung in the air.
"Well, Leo?" Rebecca's voice was teasing, a smirk tugging at her lips. "What do you think?"
Leo opened his mouth but found he had no words for a moment. Emma's transformation was nothing short of striking. "You look... great," he finally said, though his voice sounded almost awestruck.
Rebecca laughed lightly. "Took you long enough. Now, let's get going, or we'll be late."
At the college, the first thing that hit Leo was the spectacle. The entryway was crowded with students and staff, but there was something unusual about today. It felt different, more charged than usual. As Leo walked through, he was met with surprised glances, murmurs, and even a few whispers.
"Must be the money," Ethan muttered under his breath, walking next to him with a knowing smile.
Leo raised an eyebrow, glancing at his friend. "What do you mean?"
Ethan gave a half-shrug. "Your name is everywhere. That investment of yours? It's all anyone can talk about. You've practically bought a spot on the board with that 100 million, Leo."
Leo didn't know how to respond to that, and the thought of it made him feel strangely uneasy.
"Alright, let's just get to class," he said, trying to shake the uneasy feeling off. But before they could even take a step forward, they were approached by a few staff members, their expressions full of excitement and surprise.
"Mr. Leo! It's an honor to finally meet you," one of them said, extending a hand. "We've heard so much about your generous investment. It's already changing the future of this place."
Leo felt his throat tighten. He wasn't used to this kind of attention. Not like this.
"Uh, thank you," he said, shaking the man's hand, trying to keep his voice steady.
"I trust the day will be good for you. We've made sure to arrange a few things in honor of your investment." The man gestured to a group of students in the distance who were watching intently.
Before Leo could respond, Ethan nudged him playfully. "See? What did I tell you?"
After a few more minutes of being politely hounded by various college staff, they finally made their way to the lecture hall. Rebecca immediately went off in a different direction, heading toward her own class, while Leo and Emma headed toward their first class together.
Emma, usually shy and reserved, now seemed almost unrecognizable. She didn't walk with the same uncertain steps she once did. Instead, she walked with purpose, her eyes forward, as though she had a mission. Leo couldn't help but glance over at her, impressed by her sudden confidence.
"How are you feeling?" Leo asked, his voice quiet.
Emma pinched the hem of his shirt, drawing his attention. Her lips curled into a small smile. "I think I look good, right?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
"You look beautiful," Leo said without hesitation, surprised by how easily the words came. "I mean, you really do."
Emma smiled at him, her cheeks tinged pink. "Thanks, Leo."
When they entered the classroom, Leo felt a familiar tension in the air. It wasn't the usual first-day jitters. It was something else. The class was already filling up with students, but before Leo could settle in, a voice from behind interrupted him.
"Ah, Mr. Leo, how nice to finally meet you."
Leo turned around to find a young woman standing behind him, her expression warm but professional. "My name is Victoria. I wanted to personally thank you for your contribution to the college. It's truly making a difference."
Emma, who had been unusually quiet the entire time, stepped closer to Leo. Her eyes narrowed slightly at Victoria, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she looked away, still too shy to speak.
Victoria smiled and then turned to Leo. "If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out."
Leo simply nodded. "Thank you," he replied, still unsure of what to make of her.
The class began shortly after, and despite the attention Leo had gotten earlier, it felt like just another day of lessons. Emma, though still a little shy, seemed more at ease as the lecture went on.