Aria’s POV.
It was 4 PM when my last class ended, and I was finally free to go home. The day had been long-filled with introductions, confusing schedules, and the overwhelming buzz of a new environment. I was still trying to adjust to it all, and the constant energy on campus was exhausting. As I packed my bag, a shadow fell across my desk, and I looked up to see Daniel standing there, his usual calm, collected presence making him stand out even in the bustling classroom.
“Hey,” he said, his voice low but warm. “Need a ride back to your apartment?”
I blinked, caught off guard by the offer. “Oh, um…” I hesitated, glancing around at the few students who were still in the room. A couple of girls near the door were giggling softly, their eyes darting to Daniel before whispering to each other. I didn’t need to hear what they were saying to know they were talking about him. Everyone seemed to notice him-how could they not? He wasn’t just a lecturer; he had this quiet confidence, this magnetic presence that drew attention wherever he went.
And that was the problem.
“Daniel, I don’t think-” I started, but he cut me off with a knowing look.
“Aria, I’m not letting you take the bus when I’m right here,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “It’s late, you’re tired, and I don’t mind. Come on.”
I glanced again at the girls by the door, who were now openly watching us. My stomach twisted with unease. I could already imagine what they’d say-the rumors, the questions. Why was Daniel, the handsome, unattainable lecturer, offering to drive me home?
“I don’t want people to get the wrong idea,” I said quietly, lowering my voice so only he could hear.
He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smile. “The wrong idea? About what?”
“You know what,” I muttered, feeling my cheeks heat up.
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. “Let them think whatever they want, Aria. I don’t care.”
It was such a simple statement, but the weight behind it made my breath hitch. He really didn’t care-not about the whispers, the stares, or the constant attention he got from the students on campus. And there was a lot of attention.
I’d seen it firsthand-the girls who lingered after his lectures, their voices dropping to flirtatious tones as they asked him questions that had nothing to do with class. The ones who “accidentally” bumped into him in the hallways or tried to corner him in private. He always brushed them off politely, barely giving them a second glance. But it still made me hyper-aware of how many eyes were on him-and, by extension, on me whenever he was around.
“Aria,” he said softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. “It’s just a ride. Let me do this for you.”
I hesitated for a moment longer, then sighed, nodding reluctantly. “Fine.”
The girls by the door exchanged another round of whispers as we walked out of the classroom together, but Daniel didn’t even glance their way. His focus was entirely on me, and while part of me was grateful for it, another part couldn’t help but feel self-conscious.
—
The drive to my apartment was quiet. I stared out the window, watching the streets of London blur past, my mind racing with everything that had happened today. It wasn’t just the stress of starting over; it was the way Daniel’s presence seemed to complicate everything.
“You’re quiet,” he said, glancing at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road.
“Just thinking,” I replied, my voice softer than I intended.
“About today?”
“About… everything,” I admitted. “It’s a lot to take in. New classes, new people, new life. I’m still trying to figure out where I fit in all of this.”
“You’ll find your place,” he said with quiet confidence. “You just need time. And you don’t have to figure it all out alone, you know.”
I turned to look at him, my brows furrowing slightly. “I know that, but…” I trailed off, unsure how to explain the strange mix of gratitude and discomfort I felt around him.
“But what?” he prompted, his tone gentle but curious.
“You’re… Daniel, you’re a lecturer,” I said finally, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “People notice you. Everyone notices you. And when you’re around me, they notice me too.”
He frowned slightly, his hands gripping the wheel a little tighter. “Is that such a bad thing?”
“It’s not about whether it’s good or bad,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s just… a lot of pressure. People already talk about you enough as it is. The girls-I mean, they’re constantly trying to talk to you, and-”
“And I ignore them,” he interjected, his voice firm but not unkind.
I blinked, startled by his bluntness.
“I ignore them because I’m not interested,” he continued, his tone unwavering. “I don’t care about their attention, Aria. The only person I care about is you.”
His words left me momentarily speechless, my heart skipping a beat. I turned my gaze back to the window, trying to gather my thoughts. He made it sound so simple, so straightforward, but it wasn’t. Not for me.
When we reached my apartment, he pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine, but neither of us moved to get out of the car right away. The silence between us was heavy, charged with emotions I couldn’t quite name.
“Thank you for the ride,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said, his eyes softening as they met mine. “I’ll always be here for you, Aria. You know that, right?”
I nodded, though the weight of his words made my chest tighten. “Yeah. I know.”
As I opened the door and stepped out of the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Daniel’s presence in my life was becoming more complicated by the day. He was kind, supportive, and always there when I needed him, but the way he looked at me-the intensity in his eyes, the quiet protectiveness in his voice-made me wonder just how far he was willing to go to keep me close.
And I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the answer.