Chapter 9:A Spark of Curiosity

Chapter 9: A Spark of Curiosity

Sophie was going to turn 18 in a few days. She was quite excited for her upcoming ceremony. The exams were knocking at the door, so she busied herself completely in studies. Moreover, she wanted to stay in Hamburg, Germany, so she had to study hard to achieve her goal. She didn't want to go to a foreign land, leaving Alexander behind here.

In the canteen of the school, Sophie and Emily were discussing their project. As the bell rang, all the students got ready to go to their respective classes. Sophie and Emily were engrossed in talking while walking to their class. Sophie wasn't paying attention to where she was going, and before she knew it, she had collided with someone.

"Sorry!" she exclaimed, looking up to see a handsome boy with piercing blue eyes staring back at her emotionlessly. His eyes were like nothing Sophie had ever seen before. They were a deep shade of blue that seemed to bore into her soul. His hair was dark and messy, and his features were chiseled and strong. He was tall and lean, with broad shoulders that seemed to stretch on forever. Sophie felt a shiver run down her spine as their eyes met.

The surrounding students gasped at their encounter, and one of the boy's friends stepped forward, ready to defend him. But the boy, whose name was Leon, held up a hand, stopping his friend in his tracks. "I want to deal with her alone," he said, his voice firm but calm.

Sophie felt a surge of fear mixed with excitement as Leon's eyes bore into hers. She couldn't read his expression, but she sensed an intensity behind his gaze. Emily, sensing her friend's discomfort, stepped forward, ready to intervene. But Sophie held up a hand, stopping her. "It's okay, Emily. I can handle this."

Leon's eyes never left Sophie's face. "You should be more careful where you're going," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. Sophie felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she apologized again, and Leon nodded curtly before turning and walking away.

The surrounding students dispersed, whispering among themselves. Emily turned to Sophie, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay? That was quite a collision!"

Sophie nodded, still feeling the impact of Leon's gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shaken up."

After the class ended, it was time to go home. Both friends were walking through the corridor as they were passing the main gate when they encountered Leon again. Leon, on seeing them, made his way towards them. "I guess you didn't forget about our previous encounter?" he asked, a small, enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

But his face remained impassive, giving away nothing. She felt a sense of frustration, wondering what was behind his enigmatic gaze.

Leon smiled, a small, enigmatic smile. "I mean, you're not afraid to stand up for yourself. And you're not intimidated by me."

Sophie felt a surge of confidence, meeting Leon's gaze head-on. "I'm not afraid of anyone," she said, her voice firm.

Leon chuckled, a low, husky sound. "I like that. Maybe we can get to know each other better, Sophie."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving both friends feeling both intrigued and unsettled.

Sophie turned to Emily, her curiosity piqued. "Who is this Leon guy?" she asked, still trying to process the encounter.

Emily's eyes widened, and she leaned in, a conspiratorial look on her face. "Leon von Hauptmann," she whispered. "He's the only heir to the Hauptmann Corporation, one of the biggest companies in Germany."

Sophie's eyes widened. "That's impressive," she said, her mind racing with the implications.

Emily nodded. "Yeah, and he's the prince of our school, Gymnasium Hamburgische. Everyone knows him, and everyone wants to be his friend."

Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Playboy, huh?" she said, her mind conjuring up images of a charming, entitled rich kid.

Emily nodded. "Yeah, that's what they say. But there's something about him that's different, Sophie. Something that makes him stand out from the rest."