Chapter 5

Campus Grounds – Morning

Lucia was running late. Again.

Balancing a coffee cup in one hand and her overstuffed notebook in the other, she weaved through the crowd of students on the university's main walkway. Her brain was already fried from a sleepless night, and the last thing she needed was another disaster.

But, of course, life had other plans.

Out of nowhere, a tall figure deliberately stepped into her path.

"Hey, careful—"

Too late.

Lucia collided headfirst into a firm chest, her coffee tilting dangerously—until a hand shot out and caught it just before it could spill.

She scowled as she looked up, only for her irritation to skyrocket.

Adrian Sinclair.

"Good reflexes," he remarked, examining the cup before handing it back. "You're welcome."

Lucia snatched it from his hand. "Are you seriously blocking my way right now?"

He grinned. "Would you believe me if I said it was fate?"

"No, I'd believe you're an annoyance," she muttered, stepping to the side.

But Adrian matched her step.

Lucia stopped. "What do you want?"

"I figured I'd start my money-free lifestyle with some real-world education," he said. "So, I'm going to sit in on one of your classes."

Lucia blinked. "You what?"

Adrian gestured to the notebook in her arms. "You're a media management student, right? I figured if I'm going to prove I can survive like an average person, I should probably understand how you people think."

Lucia folded her arms. "You people?"

Adrian smirked. "Normal students. You know—those who have to study and work jobs instead of being handed the world on a silver platter."

She narrowed her eyes. "You do realize you can't just walk into a class, right?"

Adrian pulled a folded slip of paper from his pocket and waved it between his fingers.

"Guest approval. Signed by your professor."

Lucia gawked. "You persuaded a professor to let you sit in on a lecture?"

Adrian grinned. "When you say it like that, it sounds manipulative."

Lucia groaned. "This is going to be a nightmare."

"On the contrary," Adrian said as he fell into step beside her. "I think it's going to be very educational."

Lucia pinched the bridge of her nose and kept walking.

.........

Mia vs. The Creeper

Mia strolled toward the campus café, earbuds in, coffee in hand, when she noticed something weird.

A guy—tall, brown-haired, expensive-looking—was lingering near the main quad, half-hidden behind a tree like some kind of amateur detective.

She stopped, narrowed her eyes, and yanked out her earbuds.

Creepy. Very creepy.

Without hesitation, she walked straight up to him. "Alright, creeper, what the hell are you doing?"

The guy flinched slightly but then turned, flashing a dazzling grin. "Ah. Busted."

Mia folded her arms. "So, you admit you're being a weirdo?"

He chuckled. "Weirdo is a little harsh. I prefer... observant bystander."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "You were hiding behind a tree."

The guy sighed dramatically. "Fine. If you must know, I'm here to keep an eye on someone."

Mia scoffed. "That's not helping your case."

He grinned. "It's not as creepy as it sounds."

Mia gave him a once-over. He was dressed too well for an average student—polished shoes, designer watch, an obviously tailored jacket. He didn't belong here.

"So, let me get this straight," she said. "You're lurking around campus, spying on someone, and you expect me to not be suspicious?"

"Depends," he mused. "Are you always this confrontational, or am I just lucky?"

Mia smirked. "Oh, trust me, you're the lucky one."

The guy chuckled. "Noted." Then, he extended a hand. "Ethan Westwood."

Mia eyed his hand but didn't shake it. "Mia."

Ethan smirked. "Mia... no last name?"

"Just Mia," she replied.

He let his hand drop. "Well, just Mia, if I promise I'm not some criminal mastermind, do I earn the right to keep standing here?"

Mia rolled her eyes. "Only if you tell me who you're watching."

Ethan just smiled. "Now, where's the fun in that?"

Mia huffed. She definitely didn't trust this guy, but... she had to admit, he was interesting.

And that could be dangerous.

.........

Lucia walked briskly toward the small campus shop just off the main quad, with Adrian trailing behind her.

"Where are we going?" he asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"To fix your very obvious problem," she said without looking back.

Adrian smirked. "And what problem is that?"

She shot him a knowing look. "You might be pretending to be a regular student, but your face is way too recognizable. If you walk into that lecture hall as Adrian Sinclair, heir to one of the biggest media empires, you'll be swarmed in seconds."

Adrian sighed dramatically. "I suppose fame does come with its burdens."

Lucia rolled her eyes. "You mean attention-seeking tendencies?"

He chuckled but didn't argue.

Stepping inside the shop, Lucia went straight to a rack of accessories, scanning the items until she found what she was looking for—a simple black face cap. She grabbed it, tossed it at Adrian, and headed to the counter.

Adrian caught it effortlessly. "You're buying this? For me?"

Lucia pulled out a few bills and paid the cashier. "Consider it an investment in avoiding chaos."

As they stepped outside, Lucia turned to him and motioned for him to lower his head.

He frowned. "What?"

She huffed impatiently. "Just bend down. You're too tall."

Adrian hesitated but eventually leaned down slightly.

Lucia reached up, brushing his hair back slightly as she adjusted the cap on his head.

Her fingers barely grazed his forehead, but the unexpected gentleness of the gesture sent a strange warmth through Adrian's chest. It wasn't the usual heat of attraction or fleeting interest—it was something else. Something unfamiliar.

For a second, his body tensed.

And then—

A sharp flash of memory.

A grand dining hall, long and silent. Cold, expensive chandeliers hanging overhead. A father seated at the head of the table, distant, unreadable. A mother too preoccupied with social engagements to look up. An empty childhood filled with tutors, expectations, and a loneliness that money couldn't fix.

Adrian's breath caught in his throat.

"Hey," Lucia's voice broke through, pulling him back to the present. "You good?"

He blinked, realizing he had stiffened slightly.

Lucia was looking at him with mild concern, her hands still adjusting the cap on his head.

Adrian forced a smirk, shoving the unwanted memories aside. "Didn't know putting on a cap required this much concentration."

Lucia rolled her eyes and stepped back. "There. Now you're slightly less recognizable."

Adrian swallowed the strange feeling lingering in his chest and forced his usual confidence back in place.

"Lead the way, Professor," he teased.

Lucia shook her head and started walking toward class.

Adrian followed, his usual smirk intact—but deep inside, something had shifted.

And he wasn't sure he liked it.