Prologue
College day finally came.
The Lexious High School was having a college day where university representatives came to their school to represent their campus to the seniors and stole their hearts. There were many benefits the seniors could have from the college day event. Not only they could have one-on-one consultation directly from the representative, but they could also have an insight into how college life would be at their chosen universities.
“Do you have something in mind?” Jailin asked her friend Lisa who happened to be her closest friend in school and outside.
“You know my mom. It was already chosen when I started high school. There’s no option for me, apparently.” Lisa shrugged her shoulders carelessly. She actually didn’t mind where she went to school as long as she got to choose her own major. Her parents could control her to some extent she allowed them to. That way she had a good relationship with her parents.
“How envious. You don’t have to worry about choosing the right college for you and your grade,” Jailin said, tightening her hold around her arm as they walked side by side and arms locked.
“But keeping my grade to their standard is a pain in the ass. I have no other way to get in but my grades,” she replied and Jailin laughed out of her best friend’s misery.
“Let’s go to Stafort stand first,” Jailin said excitedly. She was also considering getting into Stafort, so they could be on the same campus even though they were not going into the same major, that was for sure.
Jailin had set a major in mind which was business. She realized it would be everyone’s choice. Because, realistically, it got most people to land a job. And Jailin had no time to play and ditch anymore.
“From all the stands here, Stafort looks crowded,” Jailin stated as she saw a big crowd surrounding the Stafort stand. So, she decided to ask her schoolmate who happened to leave the site. “What gets them so crowded?”
“The lecturer is every girl’s dream, Jailin. They are drooling over him,” answered one of her schoolmates.
Jailin turned to Lisa immediately with sparkly eyes. Lisa knew what would come out of her mouth.
“Let’s go, check him out. We can’t miss out on him too,” she said and proceeded to drag Lisa along with her. “We’re going to see your future lecturer, Lisa. Show some excitement.” Jailin smiled cheekily.
At first, Lisa was not interested in going window-shopping with Jailin. But, seeing how Jailin got excited over a lecturer that she had no idea about, sent her the same vibration Jailin was having.
“Should we?” Lisa asked with raised eyebrows.
“That’s my girl!” Jailin exclaimed happily. Then, they walked up to the crowd and got to the back of the crowd. Jailin jumped to get a glimpse of the lecturer who made her schoolmates go crazy over him. The admiration they had was crazy to Lisa. She had never seen people go crazy over another human being.
“How does he look?” Lisa asked Jailin who had stopped jumping just to get a glimpse of him.
“He’s a definition of Greek God, Lis. I swear,” Jailin said agape, her eyes wide open. She looked like she just saw God, literally.
“That handsome?” Lisa asked again like she didn’t believe her the first time. Jailin nodded her head continuously. “Come here.” Jailin brought her tipped toe with her and got a glimpse of him. She wrapped her arm around her and brought her face closer.
“That’s going to be your future lecturer, Lisa. You’re going to see him every day,” Jailin whispered and after that, she let go of her to keep admiring him like others. When Jailin focused on looking at the lecturer, Lisa on the other hand did the same but not intensely like them.
The lecturer was talking and engaging with the seniors. When he moved and faced her way, their eyes met for a few seconds. His clear blue eyes met her hazel ones, Lisa got startled and quickly looked away and tried to do something, so he would not assume she was drooling over him like others. She was not, but why did she feel awkward when they made eye contact?
Lisa disappeared out of his sight but he kept looking at where she was standing. For a minute, he froze and felt like drowned in her.
“Sir,” at that call, he finally turned away.
“Yes?” he answered.
“Do you have a significant other?” The question was thrown at him like that, not like most people who would just ask if he had a girlfriend.
“Let that be only I know for now. If you apply to our university, you’ll find out,” he replied slyly. Well, he needed to get them hooked, that was the reason he got sent here to the high school college day. He would rather teach a class twice than be here in front of teenage girls.
The girls sighed in disappointment. That was not the answer they wanted to hear. But Ace was not going to give in to every little request they asked.
“Is anyone interested in going to Stafort?” Ace raised his hand to ask them to do so to answer his question. Everyone raised their hands except for Lisa who was for sure going to the college than others.
Lisa who had faced the other way startled when her hand was being pulled. She glared at her best friend but she paid no mind to her and kept her hand held high in the air.
“Yo, you guys are just trying to get his attention. But here, we have the future Stafort student,” Jailin announced loudly, getting everyone’s attention. Lisa quickly tried to retreat her hand but Jailin didn’t budge. So, she smacked her arm with her free hand and it didn’t succeed as well. She wanted no attention, especially from the lecturer and any of their representatives who came to the school. Lisa was too late, the lecturer of Stafort University had drawn his attention to her.
“What’s your name?” Ace now fully turned and focused on Lisa. There was no avoiding him anymore and the predators’ eyes around her.
“Her name is Lisa Claire Handerson. Will you remember her name and take care of her for me if I don’t make it to Stafort like her?” Lisa’s eyes widened at what she said.
“Are you crazy?!” Lisa almost cursed at her in front of everyone. She couldn’t be calm anymore, she was embarrassed for the rest of her life and all because of the only and only, Jailin. Her once chance of being an unknown to that lecturer was gone.
“Welcome aboard, Lisa,” his baritone yet deep voice echoed through her ears and sent chills down her spine.
