Nyssa looked back immediately, and an amused gasp escaped her.

"Ansel!" she called, surprised.

Ansel smirked and walked up to her, sliding into the empty chair at their table.

"Hey, sexy trainee. You finally got my name right" he said, winking.

Nyssa chuckled, her eyes fixed on him.

Zafira stared, mouth open.

"He's... who?" she asked, still in awe.

Nyssa glanced at her and shrugged.

"My gym coach" she said, picking up her sandwich again.

Zafira nodded, then sneaked another look at Ansel.

"Hi" she said nervously.

"Hi" Ansel replied, turning to her.

She smiled, showing her perfect teeth. His eyes narrowed, not returning the smile.

Her grin faltered, and she went back to her food. Embarrassingly pressing her foot against the floor.

"So... you're a student here. Didn't expect that," Nyssa said, sipping her Coke.

"Didn't expect you here eithet. I was surprised seein' you headin' to the cafeteria earlier, but I couldn't follow right away 'cause I had stuff to take care of," Ansel said.

"You look... hot today. Nice cleavage too" he added, licking his lips, his gaze lingering on her.

Zafira choked on her drink and coughed into her Coke.

Nyssa bit her lip but didn't respond, keeping her eyes on her plate.

"Still eating?" he asked.

"As you can see," she muttered, taking another bite.

He glanced around, noticing the side glances from other students. Faylinn's eyes met his briefly across the cafeteria. She quickly looked away to peck her boyfriend's lips.

He stiffened for a second but kept his expression neutral. He stood and leaned toward Nyssa, whispering something in her ear.

She nodded. He ruffled her hair and she smiled faintly, rolling her eyes.

"Aight, bye girl" he said to Zafira, leaving their table.

"Bye!" Zafira said, grinning and waving all goofy.

After he left the cafeteria, Zafira let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

"He likes you" she said, eyes wide.

"He's just being friendly" Nyssa rolled her eyes.

Zafira smirked, not buying it.

"Sure... we'll see" she murmured.

_______________

Across the cafeteria, Sun's gaze lingered on Nyssa. Zara cleared her throat, snapping Sun out of her stare.

"What?" Sun asked quietly.

"Don't tell me you're thinking of apologizing" Zara said, raising a brow.

Sun bit her lip, silent.

Nyomi returned with two trays-one holding three sweet lemonades, the other three burgers. She placed them on the table and sat down.

"Is that a yes?" Zara pressed at Sun.

Sun sighed, looking down at her drink.

"I just hate fighting. Makes me feel... off. And maybe..."

"Maybe?" Zara raised a brow, waiting.

Sun paused, taking a slow sip of lemonade.

"You wouldn't understand," she mumbled.

"So you're leaving me hanging?" Zara asked, straight-faced.

"Fine" Sun admitted.

"I was trying to say... maybe I was too harsh slapping her"

Zara stared at her for a moment, making Sun shift uncomfortably.

"What?" she asked, pouting.

"I think something's off in your head, Sunniva" Zara said, her tone serious.

Sun blinked rapidly, glancing at Nyomi, whose eyes were quietly observing both of them.

"Do you think she's right?" Sun whispered.

Nyomi ignored the question and instead asked,

"Tavian doesn't have a girlfriend, right?"

Sun's eyes narrowed. 

"Out of the blue" she muttered, exchanging a glance with Zara.

Nyomi chuckled, looking down at her burger. "Maybe"

Sun stared at her weirdly.

Just then, Nyomi's phone rang. She grabbed it from the table, eyes catching the caller ID. 

Professor, she thought.

"Guys, eat my food. I'll order another when I'm back" Nyomi said, standing quickly.

"To where?" Zara and Sun asked at the same time.

"Later"

Before they could ask again, Nyomi dashed out, her steps quick.

"She likes Tavian" Sun frowned, eyes following her.

"I don't remember her ever mentioning it" Zara muttered, picking at her burger.

"Tavian doesn't have a girlfriend, right?" Sun mimicked Nyomi's earlier tone, teeth clenched.

Zara's eyes narrowed

"She's basically saying she likes Tavian. That's the original meaning of her question" Sun said.

"So... does that bother you?"

Sun crossed her arms, face hard.

"Very. He's one of my crushes, of course it bothers me"

Zara shook her head in disbelief.

Later, Nyomi stopped outside the professor's office and raised her hand to knock the door.

A few seconds later...

"Who?" a deep voice finally called from inside.

"Nyomi, sir," she replied in a loud voice.

"Open" the deep voice ordered again.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open, stepping in and making sure to close the door behind.

The office was spacious, neat, and modern. By the glass window sat a desk, and behind it, a man lounged in his chair, his shirt slightly unbuttoned.

Their eyes met, and Nyomi froze for a second.

No exaggeration-this man had Tavian-level attractiveness. Hot. Perfectly real, not unrealistically flawless.

"Done?" he asked, rolling his eyes lazily.

Nyomi coughed, trying to hide her expression.

"Two students' assignments are missing, class president" he said, eyes sharp.

She pressed her lips together. Expected that, she thought.

"One of two students had a cardiac arrest last night-she's in the hospital" Nyomi said truthfully.

"The second?" the professor asked, grabbing his phone.

"Umm... actually...Tavian..." she hesitated. 

"He's absent today" she finally said.

"Absent?" He raised a brow, glacing up from his phone.

"Yes, sir. He's very sick" she added, shifting nervously.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Fine. I'll give him two more days to submit. Dismissed"

"Thank you, sir," Nyomi said, turning to leave quickly.

___

Nyssa sat at the pool's edge with Ansel, an ice cream in hand. She licked it slowly, savoring every lick.

What he whispered earlier replayed in her mind: "Meet me at the school pool at 2PM"

"Love it that much?" he asked, watching her like a movie.

She looked up at him.

"Why ain't you with yours?" she asked.

He smirked, eyes never leaving her. 

"Man, ice cream ain't really my thing. Kinda childish, you feel me?"

She raised an eyebrow. 

"Childish? It's delicious" She took another big lick.

"You're cute like her" he said casually, and it hit her like a surprise.

"Who?"

"My fourth love" he shrugged.

"Wait... fourth love?? So you got first, second, third...?" she gasped.

He chuckled and tilted his head back. 

"Ayo, new friend... what you into? Hobbies and all that" he said, smoothly switching the topic.

She caught the shift but didn't push. 

"I like staying home. I'm a total introvert. I read books a lot...digital or physical books"

"Bookworm, huh?" he teased, shaking his head.

She laughed.

"Man, if you ain't cute, I would've stopped talkin' to you after findin' out what you are. I hate bookworms"

Nyssa blinked at him. "Why?"

"They boring. Always yappin' 'bout books and stuff" 

She poked him in the arm lightly. He grinned.

"Jerk" she muttered, laughing harder.

"You gonna swim?" he asked, nodding toward the pool.

"Not here. I like my privacy" she said, looking away, kicking her feet gently.

"Aw, come on. I'll try my best to sneak into your private zone every time"

"Not gonna happen. Hey... have you searched my name on IG yet?" she turned to him.

His eyes went wide.

"Wait... you wouldn't get mad if I said I ain't?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but her phone buzzed with an alarm. She grabbed it, glancing at the time.

"Oh shoot! I got my last class. See you at the gym tomorrow!" she said, springing up and jogging off.

He stood and watched her run, hands sliding in his pockets.

"Why she gotta be cute even when she's running?" he muttered to himself, grinning faintly.

Then the grin vanished as fast as it came.

Rainnie trembled in the bathtub, struggling beneath Fred as he thrust his length hard into her.

"Ahh!" she gasped, biting her lip hard and crying out after.

Her legs shook uncontrollably.

"I... I can't breathe, Fred! Enough!" she cried, eyes squeezed shut.

He didn't stop, his movements relentless and wild, every motion forcing her further toward the edge of her limits.

Her chest heaved, breath coming in short, desperate gasps as he went faster.

"I'm pregnant, Fred! Please, slow down!" she screamed.