Invitation

Freshmen law students' eyes were on the three handsome hunks who walked into the class. Among them was Kai.

"Good morning, Professor." The seniors acknowledged Mr. Arayan Devan before they redirected their attention to the newcomers.

"Welcome to the Quantam Future, freshmen," Kai started, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of authority. Unlike his usual demeanour, he seemed composed and sincere. "I'm Kai Rothschild, your senior. We have a tradition in Quantam Future, where each department hosts a welcome party for the newcomers." Kai's keen eyes swept across the room, looking for particular someone—Liora. "Think of this as your personal invitation. Soon, each of you will receive the invitation letter from the administration."

Confusion crept into Kai's expression. Liora was nowhere in sight—or so he thought. 'Where is she?' he pondered. 'The information indicated she'd be here. Mr Sohn never makes mistakes concerning these matters.'

Receiving an invitation to the party from upperclassmen, who wouldn't be thrilled? It was surprising and exhilarating at once. The freshmen's expressions brightened with excitement.

Liora, seated in the third row, shrank in her chair. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she lowered her head, her hair serving as a barrier. She steered clear of making eye contact, silently wishing for Kai to leave.

"Could he recognise me like this?" she murmured to herself, her voice barely a whisper. The mere thought made her stomach twist. 'Why does it have to be him as my senior? Fantastic start, Liora. Just fantastic.'

Another thought crossed her mind, one that offered a more positive perspective: maybe it was better than Nova being her senior. That thought lightened her heart. Liora had no desire to encounter him at any point. She didn't want to experience the pain of being overlooked by him. Deep down, it stirred a certain sadness in her, though she couldn't place her finger on the reason. She also wanted to avoid feeling that way here. It would be better if he remained unaware of her presence, just as she intended to act as if he didn't exist.

Liora needed to have more faith in the makeup skills her mother had taught her. No one would recognise her unless she revealed her identity herself.

Kai wrapped up his announcement, though his tone carried a touch of annoyance. "We'll see all of you this weekend," he concluded, his sharp gaze sweeping the room one last time. "Attendance is mandatory for all individuals. Those who are not present today or who arrive late, take it as your responsibility to inform them."

Kai's thoughts swirled with unanswered queries while leaving. 'If she's present, why didn't I notice her? And if she isn't, where on earth could she be? Liora was supposed to be here today in the class. Was the information he had received false? But how was that possible? Mr. Sohn's information was always accurate.'

Liora exhaled quietly as soon as the door clicked shut behind the seniors. "Yes!" she whispered under her breath, relief washing over her like a cool breeze. Her disguise had worked—for now.

The fresher's classes were called off for the day. Liora was prepared to leave when she was suddenly interrupted.

"Hello, I'm Sia. It's a pleasure to meet you, Li," said a girl who was seated next to Liora.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you as well," Liora replied with a gentle smile, shaking her hand.

"Hey, I'm Yo. It's great to meet both of you," said another girl who was seated on the other side of Liora.

"Would you like to explore campus with me?" Sia proposed enthusiastically.

The three individuals expressed their agreement warmly, exiting the classroom together and initiating the process of familiarisation with one another.

Liora had never had a female friend before, and she was eager to seize this unique chance to connect with new people in a new city. Maybe her bold look was helping her make friends. She concluded.

Sia had a fair olive tone and was the same height as Liora. Her hair, though currently blonde, likely inherited the lush and dark hues of the South Indian monsoon, flowing in soft waves. She has large, expressive brown eyes framed by dense lashes, a radiant, genuine smile and a defined nose.

Yo, had soft and pale skin. The result of the meticulous skincare routine often noted on the Asian continent. She had finely shaped features, a small pointed nose, and a V-shaped face. Her hair, currently blonde, was straight, silky, and neck-length in its natural state. She had a slender figure and stood at 5.6 feet tall.

Just as Rachel gave Liora a tour, Liora did likewise for Sia while Yo explored the university. Although she enjoyed the lively discussion with her new companions, Liora's gaze kept scanning for Sven.

Liora was eager to locate Sven. She had to find out his timetable from dawn to dusk. The university seemed like the perfect starting point. It wouldn't be simple, but Liora was resolute. After all, she had journeyed a great distance just for him.

Rachel had mentioned that Sven was at the university every day from morning until afternoon, often accompanied by a group of female students. It appeared that he enjoyed engaging in conversations with them.

However, Rachel lacked information regarding his activities outside of university hours. This meant that Liora needed to shadow him after classes to learn more about his schedule.

When she considered the topic for after class, another thought quickly came to her mind—Alice. Today, her thoughts were skipping around like a bunny hopping from one spot to another.

Liora needed to carve out some time to meet with Alice during the weekend. Daran was unable to get in touch with Ms. Decosta by phone or even through the landline.

She recalled Alice's face and how courageous she was. Despite her fear, she managed to keep a smile on her face. 'She is so adorable,' Liora thought to herself as she praised Alice.

Liora shook her head and bringing back her focus on what Yo was discussing. After enjoying a calming walk around the university, the three new friends chose to visit the university café.

The cafe and cafeteria shared a building but stood out from the other structures on the campus. The cafe featured both indoor and outdoor seating areas.

As they walked into the café, Liora's gaze was immediately drawn to Sven. He was in the corner, chatting with a group of new students who lived in the same residential apartment as her.

She observed Sven laughing and smiling while engaging with the new students. This sight filled her with rage. Every part of her being screamed with loathing for him. Her thoughts grew dark; perhaps Daran should have delivered a couple more punches, she thought bitterly so that he wouldn't wear such a smug expression now.

Her mouth turned bitter at the sight of Sven. She averted her gaze somewhere else to find peace, and that's when she noticed a guy in a white Givenchy T-shirt, long blond hair, blue eyes, and a smile that could make her swoon. She caught her breath. Her grip on her tote bag tightened, and it felt like she might suddenly stumble if she didn't find something to support her. Everything else faded into the background, including Sia and Yo.

"Caspian!" she whispered his name. He was seated in the cafe, somewhat distant from her, accompanied by a female and a male friend.

All the frustrations she had been experiencing earlier were now overshadowed by her embarrassment. She tried to conceal her flush by looking at her feet, but her attempts were futile. Sia and Yo noticed her reddening cheeks right away.

"Who is causing you to blush so much?" Yo inquired as both Sia and Yo glanced around, looking for the person who had captured Liora's attention.

"N..no one, really," Liora replied awkwardly.

"Oh, come on, it's all over your face. Spill it. Who has your interest?" Sia urged.

Liora fidgeted with her fingers over her tote bag, drawing circles, and smiled despite her blush. "There is someone, but you both need to promise not to share this with anyone, alright?" It seemed Liora was thrilled to disclose her romantic story to her new friends.

"Let's start by getting a table. I'm all about love stories." Sia spotted an empty table with three chairs.

"Hey, let's head over and get something to drink." After making themselves comfortable, Sia asked, "What would you like to have?" Sia posed the question to Liora and Yo.

"I would like a Pistachio Latte, please," Liora replied, handing cash to Sia for her portion of the payment.

"I'll have an Americano," Yo said as she passed the cash to Sia.

Sia returned moments later, balancing their drinks with practised ease. "Here you go." She set the cups down before leaning in, her curiosity piqued by Liora's earlier glance.

Liora's voice dropped to a whisper. "He's sitting four tables down on my left. White T-shirt, long blond hair. He's with one girl and a guy."

Sia and Yo exchanged a look before stealing a glance in the direction Liora had indicated.

"Oh my god!" Yo exclaimed, leaning closer. "He's gorgeous. Who is he? Do you know him?"

Liora smiled shyly. "That's Caspian. My Caspian."

"Hold on, you're in a relationship with him?" Sia asked, a blend of surprise and admiration in her voice. Liora nodded, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her latte cup.

"So, why are you here instead of with him?" Yo, asked, clearly puzzled.

"I challenged him," she confessed, her gaze flicking to Caspian. "He has to find me in the crowd. A little test to see if he knows me well enough." Liora paused for a moment, "and it's also a way to punish him."

Yo and Sia furrowed their brows as they took a sip of their coffee.

"Punishment? Doesn't he know what you look like?" Sia asked eagerly to know more. This love story was getting more interesting.

Liora paused briefly before fabricating a story with ease. She was unable to disclose any further details, whether about her identity, appearance, or the true purpose of coming to Valtham.

"We've been in a long-distance relationship for almost five years," she began, her words careful and measured. "He hasn't seen me much in person." The half-truth felt like a pebble lodged in her throat, but she pressed on. "And I'm upset because he broke a promise, so this is his punishment."

Her gaze drifted to Caspian, admiration softening her features. Being so close to him after all these years was overwhelming, her heart yearning to reach out and close the distance. But she had to protect herself. If Caspian truly loved her, he would find her first, even in the middle of a bustling crowd.

Sia placed a hand over Liora's, her eyes brimming with warmth. "We're with you, Liora. If you need help making him squirm a little more, just say the word. Got it?"

Liora chuckled, the tension easing a fraction. "Got it! I'm just trying to make it fun, and I hope I am doing right?"

Sia and Yo lit up like fireworks, their energy contagious.

"You are absolutely right! And you've got a certified love guru right here," Yo teased, winking dramatically.

Sia elbowed Yo. "Don't hog the spotlight. We're in this together."

They inched nearer, clearly eager for additional information, their inquisitiveness as unyielding as a rushing tide.

"Tell us more about him!" Yo pressed, grinning. "What's he like? What makes him your Caspian?"

Liora's cheeks flushed as she stole another glance at him. "He's my angel, my hero," she said softly. "He has this strange way of calming me down, even when I'm at my worst. It's... comforting. He's different, you know?"

Her voice grew quieter as warmth spread through her chest. Just saying his name made her blush harder, but she didn't mind.

Sia clutched her chest theatrically. "Oh, this is so sweet! You two are going to have such a unique love story."

Liora smiled, her heart lighter than it had been in days. "Thanks, girls. Really."

But as much as she wanted to savour the moment, her gaze flickered toward Sven. He was slipping out of the cafeteria, casually chatting with a female student. A knot twisted in her stomach. She wanted to stay and watch Caspian—her Caspian—but the pull of duty and revenge was stronger.

Her eyes darted back and forth between the two men. One held her heart; the other held the answers she desperately needed. Clenching her fists, she steeled herself. She would have to follow Sven.

"Girls," she said, her tone apologetic but firm, "I just remembered something I need to take care of. Do you mind if I head out?"

"Of course not!" Yo, said, waving her off.