The canteen was quieter than I expected.
Maybe it was because it was still the first day of resumption.
Crestford University had just one massive canteen, probably an intentional design to reduce classism. If everyone ate in the same space, everyone had to see everyone.
"The main bullying happens here," Sophia said, interrupting my thoughts. "Don't worry you'll see."
We walked straight to the counter and ordered omelets with mashed potatoes. Tray in hand, we passed a few individuals we assumed were couples, judging by their matching outfits. Sophia and I exchanged amused glances and chuckled quietly as we walked by.
As we ate, Sophia filled the silence with stories about the school, her work, random gossip, and life in general. She had a natural sense of humor, an effortless lightness about her. She carried joy so easily.
That was when it clicked.
"Wait," I said slowly, staring at her. "Are you Sophia the brand ambassador for GlowSkin Cosmetics? One of the biggest cosmetic brands in the world?"
She froze for half a second.
I knew she looked familiar, but I hadn't expected that. Sophia was a global force an international model raised by a single mother who had once won Miss World during her prime.
She smiled softly.
"And you," she said, "are Emily Kingsley, the only child of Mr. Kingsley, global business tycoon, and Mrs. Cassie Raymond, one of the best gynecologists in the United States."
Oh.
So she knew me too.
"I wanted to bond with you personally, Emily," she said gently. "That's why I didn't bring up our backgrounds earlier."
She looked almost nervous, as if she was afraid she'd done something wrong.
But I understood. More than that, I appreciated it.
"It's fine, Sophia," I said sincerely. "I'm grateful for that too."
And I meant it.
Finding a genuine friend had been one of my biggest fears about coming here. I thought it would be hard. But somehow, I already had one.
By the time we finished eating, we ordered cocktails. In the background, Cinnamon Girl by Lana Del Rey played softly. We vibed to it instantly, A sign that we'd probably share similar playlists.
As I lifted my hand to signal a waiter, my eyes met his.
Ocean-blue.
The most striking pair I had ever seen.
There was something familiar in his stare, something intense, unreadable. I wasn't one to swoon over men, but I couldn't deny it.
I was caught.
"He's here," Sophia said suddenly, adjusting her chair like she was ready to leave immediately.
My curiosity sparked.
"Who's that?" I asked casually.
"You don't want to know, Emily," she replied. For the first time since I'd met her, her smile was gone.
She had already signaled the waiter and was settling the bill.
"You can tell me."
She hesitated.
"That's Raymond Crestford," she said quietly. "Son of Mr. Crestford."
"Vice Chancellor of Crestford University," we said in unison.
My breath caught.
I had done my research before applying here at my dad's recommendation. There was no public record of the Crestfords having a son.
"But… there's no mention of him anywhere," I said.
"That's because he's extremely private," Sophia replied. "Cold. Detached. He avoids everyone including his family. It's best you stay away from him, Emily. Let's go."
She was already standing.
I followed behind her, trying to avoid those piercing eyes but fate had other plans.
I collided with a waiter carrying a tray of drink.
Glass shattered.
The sound was loud enough to overpower the music.
From the look of things, the drink belonged to him.
"I'm so sorry," I said quickly to the waiter. "I'll pay for the damages."
Sophia rushed over, helping me clean the liquid that had splashed onto my clothes.
I turned around to apologize to him.
But he walked past me without a word and headed straight out.
"First day," Sophia whispered, "and you've already pissed off the devil. You've got some luck, girl."
I was irritated. His behavior was rude, unnecessarily so. But I stayed quiet. Maybe I was partly at fault.
From the canteen we went straight to a nearby market where we got groceries to stuck up our kitchen with. When we returned to our room, we freshened up and wore our nightwear after which i called my parents.
The conversation lasted about thirty minutes. My mum asked repeatedly if I had met anyone who tried to trouble me or offend me in any way. I didn't mention the canteen incident, I could handle that.
She also warned me, once again, to stay away from school authorities.
I noticed she had been uneasy since my admission here. Edgy. Almost fearful.
I didn't know why.
My dad, on the other hand, kept it simple. He told me to call if I needed anything, reminded me to stay focused, and joked about me being a "good girl as always."
After we said our goodbyes, I felt lighter.
But sleep refused to come.
I tossed and turned for nearly two hours. Even wrapping myself in the comfort blanket my dad brought from Paris didn't help. My thoughts raced, overlapping, circling back again and again to the canteen.
To him.
By the time I checked my phone, it was past 11:20 p.m. Sophia was already fast asleep.
I quietly stepped outside to clear my head.
The garden behind the boys' dorm was peaceful, almost sacred. I sat on one of the benches, inhaled deeply, and closed my eyes for a moment.
"Why are you here?"
My heart skipped a beat.