Alphacrest College

The gates of Alphacrest College were sleek and tall, an elegant arch of polished steel and matte black stone. At its base, the college's name stood bold in silver letters. The campus itself sprawled across several acres—trees dotted the walkways, offering shade along the wide paved paths, and tall glass buildings stood like modern-day temples of knowledge.

It was a vibrant place, humming with activity. Students walked in groups or alone, their outfits reflecting everything from style to rebellion. There was laughter in the air, the low hum of distant conversations, and the occasional sound of music from a portable speaker. Everything about Alphacrest screamed energy, ambition, and chaos in equal measure.

Janet led Graham through the main building and up a short flight of stairs. They arrived at the Admissions Office, tucked in a corner behind frosted glass doors. Inside, the room smelled of paper and subtle perfume. It was modern and neat—white walls, metallic furniture, and the low hum of computers running nonstop.

Behind one of the desks sat a woman who made Graham blink twice.

She looked like she belonged on a magazine cover instead of behind an office desk.

Tall and striking, probably in her late twenties, with mocha-toned skin and a body that curved in all the right places. Her tailored blouse hugged her figure without being inappropriate, and her long blonde hair was braided neatly down her back. Her eyes—sharp and knowing—locked onto Graham as they walked in.

"Mrs. Lawson," Janet greeted with a polite smile. "This is the student I called you about. Graham."

Mrs. Lawson stood and extended her hand to Graham. Her smile was warm but confident. "So this is the young man? Welcome to Alphacrest College, Mr. Graham. Please, have a seat."

Her voice was smooth—deep, but with a sultry edge to it.

Graham nodded, offering a handshake before sitting at the desk. "Thank you."

She glanced through a few files, then motioned toward a nearby terminal. "Your aptitude test is ready. It'll take about thirty minutes max, but if you're sharp, you might not need that long."

Graham nodded again and moved to the terminal. Janet gave him an encouraging nod, then sat quietly beside Mrs. Lawson.

The test was... easy. Or maybe Graham just wasn't in the mood to stress. His fingers flew across the keyboard, selecting answers with calm precision. He barely blinked. In less than twenty minutes, he hit submit.

The computer beeped. A green bar filled the screen. "Result: Passed. Score: 92%."

Mrs. Lawson raised a brow and walked over to check. Her expression shifted from mild interest to pleasant surprise.

"Well now," she said, crossing her arms under her bust. "Color me impressed. You weren't kidding, Janet. He's sharp."

Janet smiled proudly. "Told you."

Mrs. Lawson returned to her desk and began typing quickly. "Let's get you enrolled right away. With that score, you're cleared to start classes immediately. You'll be joining the Department of History... interesting choice."

Graham just gave a quiet nod. "Yeah. I've always liked the subject."

Mrs. Lawson glanced up with a knowing smile. "Then you'll enjoy our curriculum. Challenging but rewarding."

Janet reached for her phone. "Let me call Sophia to come get him. I have a few errands to run."

Minutes later, Sophia walked into the office, arms folded and face clearly annoyed.

When Janet explained that Graham had passed and would be starting classes immediately—and that he'd be in the same department as her—Sophia's expression dropped another notch.

"You're kidding," she said sharply. "He's taking History?"

Janet nodded. "Same level as you. Isn't that great?"

Sophia rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "So now I have to babysit him?"

"I can hear you, you know," Graham said, standing with his backpack in hand.

She didn't even look at him.

Janet gave them both a firm smile, hugging Graham before she left. "I'm proud of you. Both of you. Take care of each other, okay?"

Sophia scoffed under her breath. "Sure."

And just like that, they were alone again—Sophia already walking ahead, not waiting for him to catch up.

Graham adjusted the strap of his bag as he stepped in line with Sophia. Neither of them said a word. The silence wasn't tense—it was just there, like a wall neither of them cared to break down.

He didn't bother asking questions, and Sophia didn't seem thrilled at the idea of talking to him either. But as they walked through the campus courtyard, eyes started to turn.

A small group of girls lounging near a fountain went quiet as they noticed him pass. Whispers followed in his wake. Heads turned. Some smiled, others just stared outright.

His tall frame, strong shoulders, and the effortless way he walked with his hands in his pockets—it drew attention. His jet-black hair, tousled but neat, framed a sharp face with deep-set eyes and a jawline that could've come out of a magazine spread. He wasn't trying to stand out, but he did.

Sophia noticed it, too.

She glanced sideways at him, eyebrows slightly raised, then scoffed under her breath. "Handsome face or not, still a pervert," she muttered with a smirk.

Graham smirked faintly but said nothing, eyes focused ahead.

They reached one of the main academic buildings—sleek architecture and glass windows that reflected the buzz of student life. Just inside, near the stairwell, a few girls were waiting—clearly Sophia's friends. The moment they laid eyes on Graham, the temperature in the room shifted.

"Wow," one of them gasped. "Sophia, you just had to go find another prince, huh?"

Another nudged Sophia playfully. "Can you leave some men for the rest of us? Please?"

Sophia rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Y'all should shut the hell up," she said bluntly. "He's new. And I'm babysitting him. That's it."

"Babysitting?" one of the girls repeated, raising a brow.

"Yes. Babysitting," Sophia said again, then turned and glanced at Graham with a look that was equal parts annoyance and curiosity. "So don't get any ideas."

Graham didn't respond. He just moved toward an empty seat, dropped his bag, and pulled out his phone. Headphones went in, and the world shut out.

Sophia watched him for a moment. If she noticed the way her friends were still watching him, whispering and giggling behind their hands, she didn't show it. But there was a subtle tension in her expression as she finally turned back toward them.

Graham leaned back in his seat, music dulling the noise around him, unaware—or maybe just uninterested—in the ripple he had already caused on his very first day.