Aurélia Thompson stepped onto the campus of Oakwood University, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. The sprawling grounds were abuzz with students, all eager to start the new semester. Aurélia, however, was dreading it.
As she navigated through the crowds, her long, curly brown hair bounced with each step. Her bright green eyes scanned the area, searching for a familiar face. That's when she saw him- Isaiah Blackwood, the notorious badboy of Oakwood University.
Isaiah was leaning against a tree, his piercing blue eyes fixed intently on Aurélia. His chiseled features and strong jawline made him look like a model straight out of a magazine. Aurélia felt a flutter in her chest as their eyes met, and for a moment, time stood still.
But their encounter was short-lived, as Isaiah's gaze was soon diverted to a group of girls fawning over him. Aurélia rolled her eyes and continued on her way, wondering why she had even bothered.
Little did she know, their collision course was only just a beginning.
As Aurélia walked away, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Isaiah's eyes were still on her. Meanwhile, a crowd of girls had gathered around him, clamoring for pictures and autographs. Isaiah's family was well-known, and every girl on campus seemed to want him as her boyfriend. Yet, his attention remained fixed on Aurélia.
Aurélia's passion lay in cooking, and she headed to the cooking department with enthusiasm. Cooking wasn't just a hobby; it was her dream to become a professional chef and work in a restaurant. As she entered the department, she spotted her best friend, Lila, who was hard to miss with her bold and electric makeup. Lila's quirky style often led people to misjudged her, but beneath her tough exterior lay a kind and caring heart.
"Hey, Rory! Anything new today?" Lila asked, falling into step beside Aurélia. Aurélia smiled, appreciative of Lila's straightforward and no-nonsense attitude.The two friends walked together, chatting about their plans for the semester.
"Nothing new, Lila, but I think we have an unknown presence in our University," Aurélia whispered, scanning their surroundings.
Lila shot her playful glance. "Aurélia, you know I hate whispering. Just spit it out."
Aurélia smiled and leaned in closer. "I don't want anyone to overhear us."
Their professor, noticing their hushed conversation, chose not to interrupt. Instead, he continued with his lesson.
Lila nodded discreetly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Aurélia's eyes darted toward the professor, who was now watching them. "Look, Lila, the professor is staring at us. I'll fill you in later," Aurélia whispered.
The two friends straightened up, adopting serious expressions as they focused on the professor's lecture.
The professor, teaching a lesson on nutrition, food, and drinks, sought out Aurélia, the cooking department's top student, to provide answers to his questions. With confidence, Aurélia expertly explained each concept, impressing her classmates.
Unnoticed by Aurélia, a handsome young boy who seemed to be 19 years of age, in the department couldn't help but focus on her lips as she spoke. His gaze was captivating, but Aurélia remained obvious, focused on sharing her knowledge.
As she concluded her explanations, the class erupted into applause. Aurélia's face lit up with a bright smile, revealing her perfect, pearly white teeth.
As the lecture concluded, Aurélia and Lila gathered their belongings, chatting and laughing together. "You did well, Rory! You're such a smiley," Lila teased. "Can't you keep a grumpy face for once?"
Aurélia playfully joked back, and Lila grinned. "I'll be right back, Rory. I'm going to the restroom. Wait for me, please."
As Lila walked out of the lecture room, a low, smooth voice called out Aurélia's name. She turned to see who had spoken, and her eyes met those of the boy who had been gazing at her during the lecture.
"Yes?" Aurélia replied, her curiosity piqued.
"Hey, Aurélia. Nice to meet you," the boy said, flashing a charming grin. "My name is Asher Blackwood." He extended his hand, and Aurélia shook it.
"I'm Aurélia Thompson. You can call me Rory- it's my nickname," she replied, feeling a spark of connection.
"You did well in class today," Asher said his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Thanks," Aurélia replied. "So, you're the brother of Isaiah Blackwood—the popular bad boy on campus?" She winced. "Sorry, that was too much."
Asher chuckled. "He's always been that way. I'm not used to his ways either."
Lila returned, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hey, Asher!" she said, waving at him with a bright smile.
Asher waved back, grinning. "I'll catch up with you guys later."
As Asher walked away, Aurélia and Lila exited the lecture room. Lila's eyes locked onto Aurélia's, her expression inquiring.
"What were you two talking about?" Lila asked, her tone playful.
Aurélia chuckled. "You're such a fun of gossip," she teased, trying to sound light-hearted.
Lila's eyes widened, her grin mischievous. "Hey, someone's got to keep things interesting around here!"
Aurélia and Lila shared a hearty laugh. "So what was Asher telling you?" Lila asked her curiosity piqued.
Aurélia smirked. "You already know him, don't you? You're always good at digging up the latest scoop."
Lila grinned. "Well, I do know he's Isaiah's younger brother. But Asher seems kind, unlike his brother." Aurélia nodded in agreement. "I know, right? Isaiah is such a show-off."
Lila's expression turned serious. "I've heard rumors that Isaiah's going to take over the family business since he's studying economics. And apparently, he's the favored child, while Asher is just... well,a handsome but overlooked guy." Lila's face clouded with sympathy.
Aurélia's heart went out to Asher. "I feel sorry for him," she said, her voice filled with compassion.
Aurélia and Lila headed to the cafeteria, looking forward to a refreshing drink. As they entered, Aurélia's gaze swept the room, her eyes locking onto Isaiah, who was surrounded by a group of admirers, including a girl who seemed to be his girlfriend. Isaiah's laughter echoed through the room, but his eyes told a different story. His girlfriend, oblivious to his distraction, snapped photos with him, trying to capture his attention.
Aurélia's eyes met Isaiah's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Aurélia rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed and nudged Lila. "Let's grab a seat."
Lila spotted Asher sitting alone, lost in his music. She called out to him, but he didn't respond, too engrossed in his playlist. Aurélia and Lila walked over him, and Aurélia playfully waved her hand in front of his face. Asher removed his earphones, apologizing for not hearing them.
Lila smiled warmly. "No worries, Asher. Mind if we join you?" Asher gestured to the empty seats, and Lila sat down beside him.
Aurélia hesitated, her eyes darting toward Isaiah's table. She leaned in close to Lila, whispering, "Are you sure you want to eat here?" Lila reassured her with a gentle smile and Aurélia reluctantly took a seat beside Asher.
As they settled in, Aurélia's discomfort grew, her eyes drifting toward Isaiah's table, where he seemed to be watching her every move.