The engineering lecture hall was larger than Leila expected—rows of seats stretching upwards in steep inclines, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, whiteboards spanning the entire front wall. The scent of marker ink and polished wood filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of sweat and anxiety from nervous students.

She hesitated at the doorway, clutching the strap of her bag. It was already half full—a sea of male students, scattered in loose groups. Some sat hunched over their desks, scrolling through their phones, while others leaned back in their chairs, talking loudly.

She took a careful step inside, the weight of their glances pressing onto her skin. Some barely spared her a look. Others did a double-take, their eyes flicking between her and the few other girls already seated.

There weren't many of them. Four, including herself.

Leila exhaled slowly. She had expected this.

Engineering wasn't exactly known for having a lot of women. But knowing something in theory was different from experiencing it firsthand.

Ignoring the stares, she scanned the room for a seat. The middle seemed safe—not too eager like the front, not too detached like the back.

Before she could move, a voice interrupted.

"Oi, we have girls in this class?"

Leila stilled.

The comment came from a group of guys lounging near the back, their expressions more amused than anything. One of them nudged his friend, grinning like he had just discovered an endangered species.

She didn't react, pretending not to hear as she walked past. If she acknowledged it, it would only encourage them.

Another guy whispered something under his breath, and his friend laughed. She didn't catch what was said, but she didn't need to.

She kept walking.

As she reached an open seat, a familiar voice called out.

"Leila!"

She turned to see Tessa, waving her over with a relieved smile.

"Thank God you're here. I thought I'd be alone," Tessa said, shuffling her things to make space.

Leila slid into the chair beside her, feeling a little lighter. "Guess we're in this together."

The moment of relief was short-lived as the professor walked in, carrying a briefcase and a presence that immediately commanded silence.

He set his things down, adjusted his glasses, and swept his gaze across the room.

"Welcome to Civil Engineering 101," he said, his voice even and authoritative. "Before we begin, let me make one thing clear—this will not be an easy course. If you're expecting a relaxed college experience, I suggest you reconsider your career path now."

A low murmur rippled through the room. Someone in the back chuckled under their breath, but the professor ignored it.

Leila straightened in her seat, her fingers tightening around her pen.

"This field demands precision, patience, and problem-solving," the professor continued. "And it starts now. Introduce yourselves—name, where you're from, and why you chose engineering."

The introductions started at the front row, moving down the line.

Leila listened, noting how some students spoke with confidence, some with indifference, and a few with uncertainty—just like her.

Tessa went first when it reached their row.

"Hi, I'm Tessa Cruz. From Manila. I'm taking engineering because my dad's an architect, and my mom's a civil engineer, so, you know... no pressure."

A few chuckles. The tension in the room eased slightly.

Leila went next. She cleared her throat.

"Leila Ramirez. From the province." She hesitated. She didn't have a passionate reason like others. No childhood dream, no deep-rooted ambition. Just survival. "I took engineering because... it's practical. There are a lot of opportunities."

A few heads nodded in understanding.

Some of the guys introduced themselves with jokes.

"I took engineering because my dad said so," one laughed.

"Same," another added, grinning. "If I fail, it's his fault."

The professor raised an unimpressed brow. "Then let's hope your fathers can do your homework as well."

Laughter spread through the room.

Leila smiled to herself, relaxing just a little.

The moment introductions ended, the professor wasted no time diving into the lesson.

"Now that we know each other," he said, adjusting his glasses, "let's get to the real reason you're all here. Civil Engineering. Some of you might already have a clear understanding of what that means. Some of you are here because your parents told you to be."

A few students chuckled, but the professor didn't smile.

"Regardless of why you're here, what matters is whether you'll stay. Civil Engineering is not just about numbers and blueprints. It's about building the foundations of society itself. Every road you walk on, every bridge you cross, every building you enter—an engineer was behind it. And one mistake could cost lives."

The room fell into silence. Even the guys at the back straightened slightly in their seats.

Leila leaned forward, pen poised over her notebook.

"The first thing you need to understand," the professor continued, walking toward the board, "is that civil engineering is divided into several disciplines. Structural, transportation, geotechnical, environmental, water resources, and construction engineering. Each plays a crucial role in how cities, towns, and even rural areas function."

With swift, practiced movements, he sketched a diagram on the whiteboard—a rough layout of a cityscape.

"Let's break this down. Structural engineering focuses on the integrity of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructures. If a building collapses, it's on the structural engineer."

He drew a simple bridge, marking stress points.

"Transportation engineering ensures safe and efficient movement of people and goods. Roads, highways, traffic systems—every stoplight, every intersection, all calculated."

Leila scribbled notes quickly, trying to keep up.

"Geotechnical engineering—the study of soil and foundations. You can design the most beautiful bridge in the world, but if the soil beneath it can't hold the weight, it's worthless."

The professor underlined the word 'foundation' twice, then turned to face the class.

"Everything in engineering starts from the ground up. A weak foundation means failure. That applies to structures, and it applies to this course. If you don't understand the basics, nothing else will hold up."

Leila nodded to herself, absorbing every word.

"Now," the professor said, looking at the class, "before we go further, let's see where your logic stands. Here's a question—"

He tapped the whiteboard, pointing to the drawing of a bridge.

"A 50-meter bridge is built over a river. After ten years, cracks start forming in the support columns. As a civil engineer, what would you investigate first?"

The room went silent. Some students frowned, deep in thought. Others stared blankly.

Leila bit her lip. Foundation. It always starts with the foundation, right?

A guy at the back raised a hand. "Check the materials used?"

"Good. But materials degrade over time. What else?"

Tessa hesitantly spoke up. "Soil conditions?"

The professor nodded approvingly. "Correct. The strength of the soil dictates how long a structure lasts. If the soil shifts, weakens, or erodes, the entire bridge is compromised. And that, students, is why civil engineering is more than just math. It's about understanding the world beneath your feet."

Leila felt a small rush of satisfaction. This was real. This was something she could learn, something she could master.

The professor capped his marker and turned back to them.

"Lesson for today—always start from the foundation. That applies to engineering and to your studies. If you don't take this seriously now, don't be surprised if you collapse later."

The class chuckled nervously, but Leila only tightened her grip on her pen.

She had no intention of collapsing.

Axel had been on campus for less than an hour before he decided he had seen enough.

The sun was too bright, the hallways too crowded, and the energy of students hurrying to class was giving him a headache. His schedule said he had a morning lecture, but honestly? He couldn't care less.

The Engineering Hall was just a few buildings away, but instead of heading there, Axel veered off the path, hands deep in his pockets, shoulders relaxed as if he had all the time in the world.

His sunglasses hid the dark circles under his eyes, a side effect of drinking more than he should have the night before. His collar was slightly undone, and he had left his blazer in the car because, frankly, the humid morning air didn't suit his mood.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He glanced at the screen—a text from Javi.

Javi: You in class?
Diego: Why did I even bother asking?
Javi: Let me guess, you're already planning your escape?

Axel smirked, not bothering to reply. They knew him too well.

He took a detour toward one of the secluded courtyards on campus, an open-air lounge shaded by tall trees and lined with sleek metal benches. It was one of those places where students who didn't actually want to study came to pretend they were doing something productive.

And that was exactly what he was looking for.

There were a few people already there—upperclassmen sipping iced coffee, a couple of artsy-looking students sketching in notebooks, and a handful of others who were clearly avoiding class just like him.

Axel dropped onto a bench, stretched out his legs, and let out a slow breath.

This was better.

The distant chatter of students, the occasional sound of birds in the trees, the hum of the campus coming alive—it was all far more tolerable than being stuck inside a stuffy lecture hall listening to some professor drone on about equations and load distribution.

He pulled out his phone again, scrolling mindlessly. Another message popped up—this time from his mother.

Cecilia: Your father asked if you made it to class.

Axel exhaled sharply through his nose, typing out a reply.

Axel: Tell him I'm learning a lot.

A moment later, another text came in.

Cecilia: I hope you're not being reckless, Axel.
Axel: Define reckless.

He didn't wait for her response. Instead, he tilted his head back, staring at the sky through the gaps in the tree branches.

Skipping class wasn't new for him. He had coasted through high school, passed with decent grades because he was smart enough to get by without trying. University wasn't going to be any different.

He could sit through the lectures, do the bare minimum, and walk away with a degree his father could proudly frame on his office wall. But the idea of four years of this—four years of pretending to care—was exhausting.

His phone buzzed again. This time, it was Diego.

Diego: Library rooftop. You in?

Axel smirked, pushing himself up from the bench.

Axel: On my way.

Skipping one class wouldn't kill him.

Hell, skipping a few wouldn't either.

The library rooftop wasn't exactly open to students, but that had never stopped Axel before.

It wasn't some breathtaking, hidden paradise—just a flat stretch of concrete, a few abandoned chairs left by students who had managed to sneak up there before, and a panoramic view of the campus below. From up here, you could see the entire university—the courtyards filled with students, the long glass-paneled hallways connecting the buildings, and the faint outline of the city skyline in the distance.

Axel pushed open the rusted metal door leading to the rooftop, stepping into the late-morning sun. The warmth was bearable up here, softened by a lazy breeze that rustled through the trees below.

Diego and Javi were already there, lounging on an old couch someone had dragged up years ago. A few half-empty soda bottles and snack wrappers were scattered around, proof that they weren't the first ones to claim this spot as their personal hideout.

Javi leaned back, arms behind his head. "Took you long enough."

Axel smirked, adjusting his sunglasses. "I like to make an entrance."

Diego was sitting on the ledge, legs dangling over the side, a cigarette balanced between his fingers. He took a slow drag before exhaling a thin trail of smoke into the air.

Javi grinned, tossing a gum wrapper onto the rooftop floor like he owned the place. "Skipping class on the first day. Iconic."

Diego exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, until my old man finds out. He's been breathing down my neck about taking over the company since I was sixteen. If he knew I wasn't in class right now—" He cut himself off and shook his head. "Never mind. Forget it."

Axel smirked. "You say that, but you're still up here with us."

Diego rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, if I have to pretend to be a future CEO, I'm at least gonna enjoy my last few years of freedom first."

Javi clapped him on the back. "That's the spirit. Now, someone hand me another drink."