Chapter 5 Unwanted Encounters

"I can't wait to be f*ck*ng done with this school," Aria said loudly as she strode down the student hall, her bag slung carelessly over one shoulder. A few heads turned, but she didn't care. "Same," Lili replied with a tired groan, adjusting her glasses. "Final year is a mess. Projects, presentations, deadlines, I barely have time for myself anymore." Aria scoffed. "Time for yourself? I barely have time to breathe. Every lecturer suddenly thinks their course is the most important thing in the world." They weaved through clusters of students, the hallway buzzing with chatter and footsteps.

The walls were plastered with final-year notices, internship opportunities, and graduation countdown posters, constant reminders that the end was near. Lili glanced sideways at her. "So... what happened when you returned the dress?" Aria rolled her eyes dramatically. "Ah. Madam Penelope." Lili winced. "Oh no." "You know how she is," Aria continued. "I managed to calm her down eventually, but instead of the fifty percent discount she promised, she gave me just thirty." "That's still something," Lili said. "True," Aria admitted. "Especially since the drink practically murdered the dress. But I swear, I'm not exaggerating, she almost screamed the building down when she saw the stain. I thought she was going to faint." Lili laughed. "That woman treats her clothes like they're her children." "I paid extra just to escape alive," Aria muttered. "So yeah, thirty percent was a miracle." They laughed and kept walking. Then Lili's smile turned mischievous. "So," she said slowly, "tell me about him." Aria frowned. "Him who?" Lili stopped abruptly and stepped right in front of her, blocking her path. She folded her arms and started nodding, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Don't play dumb. The guy at the party." Aria groaned. "Lili, seriously..." "Nope." Lili shook her head. "You were staring at him like you'd just seen a ghost. Or a god. One of the two." "That's not true," Aria protested. "Really?" Lili raised a brow. "Because from where I stood, you forgot how to blink." Aria scoffed and tried to step around her. "He was just some guy who bumped into me and ruined my dress. That's it." "And?" Lili pressed. "And I had to pay extra for the damage," Aria snapped. "If I ever see him again, he's refunding my money. End of story." Lili smirked. "From his appearance, he looked rich." "He better be," Aria replied flatly. "Because I didn't suffer Madam Penelope's wrath for nothing." Lili laughed and finally moved aside. "Alright, alright. I'll let it go. For now." They continued walking until they reached their lecture hall. Students were already filing in, the room buzzing with low conversations and the scraping of chairs. They took their usual seats, settling near the middle. "After this lecture, we're grabbing lunch," Lili said, pulling out her notebook. "I'm starving." Aria nodded absentmindedly, already pulling out her phone. "As long as it's not the cafeteria food again." Before Lili could reply, the low hum in the room suddenly died down. The door opened. A middle-aged man, one of the department staff walked in and cleared his throat. "Good morning," he said, his voice carrying easily across the room. "Before we begin today's lecture, I'd like to introduce someone." The room stirred with curiosity. "This semester, you'll be having a visiting lecturer taking you for this course," the man continued. "He comes highly recommended, with years of experience in both academics and the business world." Aria barely listened. Visiting lecturers were common in final year. Then the man stepped aside. "And without further ado," he said, "please welcome Mr. Kael Ravyn" The moment he walked in, the room fell into complete silence. Aria froze. Her breath caught painfully in her throat. No. No way. He was dressed differently this time, sharp, composed, every inch the image of authority. A tailored dark shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to show strong forearms. His presence alone seemed to shift the air in the room. But there was no mistaking those eyes. Ocean-deep. Intense. Familiar. Her heart slammed violently against her ribs. It's him. Beside her, Lili s*ck*d in a sharp breath. Slowly, she turned to Aria. Aria turned too. Their eyes met. Wide. Disbelieving. This was the man from the party. The same man who had stared at her like the world had narrowed to just the two of them. The same man who had collided with a waitress and soaked her borrowed dress. The same man she had scolded without hesitation. Now he stood at the front of the class. As her lecturer. Kael's gaze swept across the room calmly, professionally, until it stopped. On her. For just a fraction of a second, something flickered in his eyes. Recognition. Surprise. Something darker. Aria's stomach dropped. He recovered almost immediately, schooling his expression into one of cool indifference. But it was too late. She had seen it. Lili leaned closer and whispered urgently, "Aria... tell me I'm hallucinating." Aria swallowed hard. "If you are, then we both are." Kael turned to the staff member, exchanging a few quiet words before stepping fully forward. "Good morning," he said, his voice deep, smooth, dangerously calm. "I'll be taking you for this course for the remainder of the semester." Aria felt heat crawl up her spine. You've got to be kidding me. Kael picked up a marker and wrote his name neatly on the board. MR. KAEL RAVYN. The letters looked far too permanent. He turned back to face the class. "I expect professionalism," he continued. "Attendance, participation, and discipline will not be optional." His eyes flicked, just briefly back to Aria. "And distractions," he added calmly, "will not be tolerated." Aria's jaw clenched. Lili covered her mouth, barely holding in her laughter. "Well," she whispered, "looks like you found the guy who owes you money." Aria didn't laugh. Her instincts were screaming. Because beneath the shock, beneath the annoyance, beneath the ridiculousness of the situation... Something was stirring. Unfamiliar. Unsettling. And for reasons she couldn't explain, being in the same room as Kael Ravyn suddenly felt like standing at the edge of something dangerous, something that was only just beginning.