“Aren’t you glad I got admitted into the same college as you?” Momo looked at Aaliyah with wide eyes, and Aaliyah nodded warily.
“Of course, I am happy. However, I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me anything about it. What else are you guys hiding from me? Are you pregnant? Probably married?” Aaliyah scoffed as they walked inside the university hand in hand, and Momo smiled mischievously.
“You’ll see,” Momo grinned, and Aaliyah suspected the girl even more.
“What department are you in? You were confused between fashion designing and bachelor of arts in finance, no?” Aaliyah took the flier about co-curricular activities from one of the seniors at the entrance.
“Fashion designing. I had to be near people I like, and when I heard you got admitted, I immediately decided I wanted to go to this university too. It only offered fashion designing at my score, but I was content,” Momo smiled, and Aaliyah rolled her eyes.
“You are surely playing big games with your career just for comfort,” Aaliyah sighed.
It wasn’t like she wasn’t happy with her friend being in the same university as her. She just didn’t want Momo to regret it later.
“Are you living in the dorms, or have you already decided on a place?” Momo asked as they took the registration forms, and Aaliyah hummed.
“I have a few places in mind. My sister has a friend here, and she is supposed to show me the apartments in the evening once I am done here,” They turned around the corner before sitting on the grounds.
“Since today’s the first day, I am sure it won’t matter much if I leave soon. However, I want to see the whole campus. I have worked hard to get into this biotechnology course, and now I can’t wait to visit all the labs,” Aaliyah looked ahead dreamily.
“We all are proud of you for that. I can’t wait to see one of your inventions,” Momo blinked at Aaliyah innocently, and Aaliyah chuckled.
“It’s not the same thing, but thanks for the motivation. I will ensure to bring you some healthy microbes,” Aaliyah grinned at Momo’s scrunched-up nose.
“Also, now that you are learning fashion designing, I hope you can make me something comfortable to wear rather than dolling me up like Katherine,” Aaliyah sighed, and Momo showed her thumb in agreement.
“Are you done with your form?” Momo asked, and Aaliyah nodded before they stood to go to their respective departments.
“Hey! Wait for me!” Aaliyah heard another voice, and she widened her eyes before looking at Momo, who grinned.
“No way,” Aaliyah murmured before she turned around and saw Henry and David walking to them with wide smiles.
“How did you guys get in?” Aaliyah asked before she could control her mouth.
“Well, there is this thing called sports quota, and don’t you think you are being a little rude here?” David grinned before he hugged Aaliyah, followed by Henry, who hugged her for a few seconds longer.
Aaliyah didn’t mind it because his hugs felt calming. After Henry confessed to her and she told him the truth, Henry respectfully stopped approaching her. Though he still hasn’t gotten over her completely, Aaliyah was happy for him when he told her he finally felt some sparks with a girl he met at one of the diners.
“So? What else are you guys hiding? Is Ashton here too? No wonder none of you told me which University you got into even after I asked so many times,” Aaliyah sighed, and they grinned.
“Unfortunately, Ashton didn’t get into this university. However, he isn’t too far. He is in the Hummingbird University a few blocks away,” Henry smiled before he handed Aaliyah the chocolate shake he had brought especially for her.
Aaliyah was about to thank him when a ping sound from her phone caught her attention.
“Can you hold this?” Aaliyah handed the shake and form to Henry before scavenging her purse for her phone.
“Geez, how many things do you have in there?” David peeked into her purse and earned a smack on his head from Momo.
“How many times have I told you not to peek into a woman’s purse without permission?” Momo’s words made them laugh, and David just scowled.
Aaliyah looked at the message notification from Dominic and smiled before opening it.
[The sun is beautiful, and I envy it, but is it wrong I would trade it for your smile anytime?]
A blush crept into Aaliyah’s face when she read the text before she cleared her throat and typed a quick message.
Dominic was in another country dealing with some office work. Since he was done stalking and making her ‘his girlfriend’, Dominic was back in his office. Until Aaliyah was invited to their office party, she never knew that he was the running CEO of none other than the biggest law firm in the country.
It was funny how he was the one breaking the most laws and running a law firm at the same time.
His brother had taken over the other company that dealt with trades in place of Dominic.
“How is your work going? I am filling out my registration. I will call you once I am finished here. Wait for my call,” Aaliyah hit the send button before stuffing her phone in her pocket.
“Was it your obsessive boyfriend who can’t keep his mind off you?” Momo wriggled her brows mischievously, and Aaliyah rolled her eyes before walking ahead.
“Hey, we are in the same building,” David and Henry nudged her shoulder, and Momo looked at the trio with sad eyes.
“This is unfair. Why is no one in my building?” She complained.
“Well, isn’t it enough that we are in the same University by luck, babe? I will get you as soon as we are done, okay?” David kissed Momo’s forehead, and Aaliyah smiled at the duo.
She missed Dominic even more seeing them like this. If he had been here, he would’ve done something like this to her, no? Heck, he would’ve come inside the university to drop her to her class and catch everyone’s attention. Aaliyah smiled at her trail of thoughts.
It would be better if he didn’t come because seeing how they have been these days, studying with him around would be a hell lot harder.
Once inside the building, Aaliyah walked straight to her department and placed the form on the table, inside a tray-like thing, where everyone was putting them one by one.
Seeing everyone’s gaze on her as they talked in hushed whispers, Aaliyah looked around when she noticed a boy walking toward her.
“Hi, I am Ryan,” The boy said, and Aaliyah nodded, not liking the kind of attention they were receiving.
However, Ryan looked like the kind of guy used to this attention. He was what you would call a typical American with blonde hair and blue eyes with a jawline as sharp as a knife. His muscular body and veined hands were other features to add to his handsomeness.
He was good-looking, but even after that, he was nowhere near his tattooed man, whose one gaze was enough to sweep her off her feet.
“I am Aaliyah. How can I help you?” Aaliyah’s answer was curt and short, and Ryan smiled.
“It’s nothing much. I am your senior. We are giving flyers for the freshers’ party. Would you mind giving it to your year students?” Ryan asked, and Aaliyah smiled.
She was about to take flyers from him when her phone pinged again.
“Excuse me,” Aaliyah smiled awkwardly.
“No problem. Take your time,” Ryan nodded.
[Like the first drop of rain, you entered my life to bring happiness, and now I can’t seem to be able to live without you. I am ready to stand in the rain my whole life that comes with your smile and love. Will you wait for me on the other side, my love?] Aaliyah read the message, her ears turning red with shyness as her heart skipped a beat at the heartfelt message.
What was Dominic’s deal today? Why was he acting like this?
Now that she was looking at the message, she didn’t know why, but it felt like something was weird. It was as if he was trying to hint at something to her today, but she wasn’t able to understand it.
“I will do it,” Aaliyah nodded, and Ryan looked at the girl, who looked least affected by his presence.
He was used to girls blushing and going haywire around him. Very few girls have been so indifferent to him so far. Ryan shook his head before he followed Aaliyah and entered the class along with her.
Aaliyah turned to him briefly but didn’t say anything and moved to the seat closer to the window before placing her bag. She started giving flyers to everyone in the class before she sat in her seat.
“Guys, let me introduce myself to you. I am Ryan Colton, your senior. I invite you all to the fresher’s party on behalf of the university. I welcome you all to this university. Study hard, but remember to enjoy your life,” Ryan said, his gaze flickering to Aaliyah, who was looking outside at the trees with a smile.
Her hair blew softly in the wind, and she looked like a picture right out of a painting.
“If you have any questions or need any kind of suggestions or even share anything, you guys can find me in the students’ council room 3. That would be all,” Ryan was about to exit the hall when the head of the department walked inside the room and addressed all the students.
“Ryan, please sit for a moment,” The HOD said, not wanting anyone to interrupt his words.
“You guys are really a bunch of lucky students, aren’t you? For the first time, we have a four-time Olympiad winner and Honor degree holder in English who is ready to take the first-year students,” The HOD said, and Aaliyah’s mind went to how her first meeting with Dominic was.
She became his assistant, and it wouldn’t be wrong to say it was quite eventful.
As Aaliyah saw a man coming inside wearing big spectacles, she sighed before looking at her phone.
[Don’t blame me, my love. I controlled myself. I swear, but it was hard.] Aaliyah received another message from Dominic, and Aaliyah sighed.
She was sure Dominic was preparing to live with her while handling his business from here so that he could spend more time with her. Aaliyah was warned about this by Benjamin, who had informed her that he was looking into some apartments a couple of days ago.
Aaliyah sighed before she smiled and replied.
[To live with you is like heaven on Earth. So don’t apologize for any sin you do for me because in the end, we both are sinners in love.] Aaliyah typed back with a smile.
[I am a sinner for you.] Dominic quickly replied, and Aaliyah shook her head before stuffing her phone in her bag. She didn’t want to get caught chatting with the HOD on her first day.
As Aaliyah looked back at the podium, she saw her phone ringing again with an incoming message from Momo.
[You won’t believe who I saw entering your department just now. It’s Mr. -]
“The pleasure is all mine. Thanks for the introduction,” Aaliyah heard the familiar voice, and her eyes widened before she looked up.
Dominic’s gaze directly met Aaliyah, and she looked at him, beyond shocked.
What the hell was going on here? What was Dominic doing here? Now that Aaliyah looked back at all the messages, everything made sense to her now.
“Seriously?” Aaliyah mouthed to Dominic, and the latter just smirked before looking away.
Once the lecture was over and the students started walking out, Dominic asked Aaliyah to stop, and she turned around with a sharp glare.
Dominic walked to the entrance before he closed the door.
“What do you think you are doing, Dom -mmmmm?” Aaliyah couldn’t finish her sentence as Dominic crashed his lips on her, grabbing her hips, pressing her to himself, and making her moan.
“I told you. I am a sinner for you. Did you think I was joking when I said I was your number one stalker? I meant every word I said,” Dominic placed his forehead on hers.
“I love you, my to-be wife,” Aaliyah widened her eyes as his words registered in her mind.
“Did my dad agree already?”
“It was hard, but he eventually gave in. We are getting married in a month. Do you object? Just the certificates for now because I want to live with you legally. I have arranged for our apartment in the most secure society. I have got everything covered,” Dominic pulled her closer, and Aaliyah smiled.
“And for some reason, you couldn’t wait to tell me all this once I was done for the day? You are seriously taking this student-teacher relationship to another level,” Aaliyah sighed.
“Don’t worry. This is a filling-up position for one month only. Your original professor got hurt, and I heard they were looking for professors to fill in shortly. A friend of my father’s is the dean, and he asked my father for a favor. When I heard it was your university, I wondered why I didn’t go myself. I just wanted to surprise you. Once we are married, I will be a good house husband. I swear,” Dominic said with such sincerity that it made Aaliyah chuckle.
“Stupid. How many times will you make me fall in love with you?” Aaliyah hugged him tighter.
“I love you, Aaliyah Gold,”
“I love you too, Dominic Volkov,” Aaliyah sighed.
“So our story started with stalking, and you are going to stalk me for the rest of my life. Hmm?” Aaliyah asked softly.
“Always. If you allow me, I would stalk you even after life,” Domonic’s words made Aaliyah grin, and she slapped his chest playfully, making him chuckle.
The End: the beginning of a new journey filled with happiness.