The atmosphere in Kingston University was intense, with exam season in full swing. Students were buried in books, study materials, and practice papers, leaving no room for distractions. The library stayed packed, murmurs of group discussions and pages flipping filling the air. Classrooms buzzed with nervous energy as professors drilled their students relentlessly, leaving no mistake unnoticed.
“Focus, Amelia. You call this an answer?” Professor Williams snapped at one student, her stern tone making the entire room sit straighter.
Meanwhile, Adrian prowled through his lecture hall, his sharp eyes catching even the smallest slip-ups. “This isn’t acceptable, Mr. Carter. If you can’t get this formula right now, what will you do in the exams?”
Students whispered amongst themselves about how the professors had turned into taskmasters. Even the normally lenient ones weren’t sparing anyone.
Elena, seated in the corner of the library, chewed on her pen, completely engrossed in her notes. Her face was tense with concentration, her mind racing to prepare for the exams. But the moment was interrupted when a figure approached her table.
“Elena,” the secretary, spoke in a polite but firm tone. “A handsome young man is waiting for you at the main gate.”
The room fell silent for a moment as those nearby turned to glance at Elena, curiosity flickering in their eyes. But the reaction that followed from Elena was what truly caught attention. Her face flushed a deep shade of red, and her eyes widened in surprise.
“A… a handsome young man?” she stammered, her voice breaking slightly.
Harvey nodded with a knowing smile. “Yes, Miss Elena. He specifically asked for you.”
Gabriel and Andrew, seated not far away, exchanged a puzzled look. Gabriel’s brows knitted together in confusion, while Andrew leaned forward, intrigued by her reaction.
“Elena?” Gabriel called out, his voice sharp with curiosity. “Who’s that? Someone we know?”
Elena didn’t respond immediately. She clumsily gathered her books, her fingers fumbling as though she’d forgotten how to use them. Her movements were rushed, almost frantic.
“Elena, what’s going on?” Andrew pressed, his tone half-joking but tinged with genuine curiosity.
But before either of them could get an answer, Elena shot up from her chair, her expression flustered. “I… I have to go,” she mumbled, barely sparing them a glance as she stormed off toward the main gate.
Gabriel stared after her, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. “Did she just run off?” he asked incredulously.
Andrew leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “Looks like it,” he muttered, his tone more serious now. “And she’s acting… strange. I’ve never seen her blush like that.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he watched Elena disappear through the library doors. Something about her reaction didn’t sit well with him.
“What’s going on with her?” Gabriel muttered under his breath, his mind already racing to piece together the sudden change in her behavior.
Neither of them could shake the feeling that whoever was waiting for Elena was someone important to her and the thought left an unsettling tension between them.
“Who could it be?” Gabriel muttered, watching her practically fly out the door.
Andrew frowned, his curiosity turning into something heavier. “She looked… too excited,” he said, standing up abruptly.
“Let’s find out,” Gabriel said, already following her trail.
They moved quickly, their earlier banter forgotten. Something about the urgency in Elena’s movements made their stomachs churn with unease.
Outside the main gate, Adrian stood with his secretary, Harvey, reviewing a set of documents. He was speaking in his usual calm, controlled manner when he saw her. Elena came running down the pathway, her face lit with a happiness he hadn’t seen before. His words faltered midsentence as he watched her.
“Elena…” he murmured under his breath, his tone unreadable.
Harvey glanced up from his notes. “Sir?”
Adrian didn’t respond. His sharp gaze was fixed on her, his chest tightening at the sight of her unrestrained joy.
At the gate stood a young man, tall and confident, with sharp features and an easy charm that seemed to command attention. The moment Elena reached him, she threw her arms around him, and he caught her with practiced ease, spinning her around in a circle as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Adrian’s grip on his file tightened until the edges crumpled slightly.
Andrew and Gabriel arrived just in time to see the young man set Elena down gently, keeping his hands firmly on her shoulders. He leaned in and kissed her forehead, his actions tender and possessive all at once.
Gabriel’s stomach churned with jealousy, a bitter taste rising in his throat. “Who the hell is that?” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
Andrew crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. “No idea. But look at her. She’s… glowing.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. He wanted to look away, to dismiss the scene as meaningless, but he couldn’t.
Adrian’s gaze darkened as he watched from a distance. His usual composed demeanor cracked, his lips pressing into a thin line as his emotions warred within him.
“Elena, I’ve missed you!” the young man exclaimed, his voice warm and full of affection.
“I’ve missed you too, Aiden,” Elena replied, her voice softer than usual, tinged with something vulnerable.
Her words hung in the air, sharp and piercing to the three men watching.
Adrian, who had been silent until now, turned to Harvey. “Do you know who that is?”
Harvey shook his head. “No, sir. But he seems… close to Miss Elena.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. He didn’t like the way this Aiden held her or the way she looked at him.
Andrew, meanwhile, couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped forward, his tone sharp as he called out, “Elena! Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
Elena froze for a moment, startled by the sudden interruption. She turned slowly, her face flushed with a mix of emotions-surprise, guilt, and hesitation.
“Oh, um…” she began, fumbling for words. “This is Aiden. He’s…”
“Her closest friend,” Aiden interjected smoothly, offering a charming smile. He extended a hand toward Andrew, but the gesture wasn’t returned.
Andrew crossed his arms, his stance challenging. “Closest friend, huh?”
Gabriel, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. His voice was cold, almost mocking. “Funny. She never mentioned you before.”
Elena looked between the two of them, her hands wringing nervously. “Guys, it’s not like that. Aiden’s just-”
“Just what?” Gabriel cut in, his tone sharp.
“Someone special,” Aiden said with a smirk, pulling Elena into a side hug.
The casual possessiveness of the gesture sent a wave of anger through all three men. Adrian, who had been standing silently, finally turned on his heel and walked away, his long strides stiff with tension.
“Adrian,” Harvey called after him, but Adrian didn’t stop.
Back at the gate, Elena stepped out of Aiden’s embrace, her cheeks burning. “Aiden, stop,” she said, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “You’re making things awkward.”
“Awkward? Come on, Ellie, you know I’ve missed you,” Aiden teased, completely ignoring the glares from Andrew and Gabriel.
Andrew scoffed. “Ellie?” he repeated, his tone dripping with disdain.
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “Didn’t realize you were so popular, Elena,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Elena sighed, rubbing her temples. “Can we not do this right now? Aiden, let’s just go inside.”
Aiden shrugged, unfazed by the tension. “Lead the way,” he said cheerfully, but not before throwing a smug glance at Andrew and Gabriel.
The three walked back toward the campus, but Andrew and Gabriel exchanged a silent look, their jealousy simmering beneath the surface. Neither of them liked this Aiden guy, and neither of them planned to let this go unnoticed.
From a distance, Adrian watched as they disappeared into the campus. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions he couldn’t name.