Azaan kept thinking about the professor he had seen earlier at the bus stand. Even after reaching college, that unfamiliar feeling inside his chest refused to disappear.

His heart still felt strangely restless.

Because he had missed the college bus, Azaan arrived late to campus. The huge college building stood proudly before him, filled with unfamiliar faces and loud conversations. Students were already rushing toward their classrooms while he tried to figure out where to go.

"First day itself late… perfect," he sighed nervously.

Holding his bag tightly, he quickly ran through the corridor searching for his classroom. Luckily, the class teacher had not arrived yet.

Relieved, Azaan slowly entered the classroom.

The room was surprisingly quiet compared to the noisy hallway outside.

Most of the students were already seated. Some looked at him curiously while others continued talking among themselves.

Trying not to attract attention, Azaan moved toward the back of the classroom.

And then—

He suddenly stopped.

Standing near the last row was the same man from the bus stand.

Viki.

The Mechanical Department professor stood silently beside the windows, checking a few papers in his hands. His calm expression remained unreadable, yet his presence alone made the entire classroom feel quieter.

For a moment, Azaan completely forgot to breathe.

His mind went blank as memories of their earlier eye contact flashed through his head again.

Without realizing it, he continued staring.

Viki slowly lifted his eyes and looked directly at him.

Azaan immediately looked away, feeling embarrassed.

Why was his heart beating so fast just by seeing this man again?

As Azaan quietly walked past him, their shoulders brushed slightly against each other.

That small touch sent a strange warmth through his body.

"You're late," Viki said softly.

His voice was calm, neither angry nor strict.

Azaan nervously scratched the back of his neck before replying, "I'm sorry, sir… I'm new to the city. I didn't know the bus timings, so I missed my bus."

For a few seconds, Viki stayed silent.

Then he gave a small nod.

"Okay. Introduce yourself to the class."

Azaan swallowed nervously before turning toward everyone.

"H-Hi… I'm Azaan. I'm from london, and I joined the Computer Science department this year."

A few students smiled at him casually, but Azaan could still feel one pair of eyes on him.

Viki's.

And somehow…

That alone was enough to make his heart skip another beat.

Then Viki interrupted him and asked, "Why did you come to Singapore?"
Azaan stayed quiet for a moment. Viki then pointed toward an empty seat and said in a cold tone, "Go and sit there."

Azaan silently walked to his seat. Deep inside, he started wondering whether the students already disliked him because of the awkward first impression he had made.

A few minutes later, Viki spoke again. "I am Viki. Your class teacher is absent for personal reasons, so for now, I will be your temporary class teacher."

After the introduction session ended, the class slowly became lively. Azaan began talking with a few classmates and soon became friends with a cheerful boy named Sam

During the break time, Sam leaned closer and whispered, "Be careful around Viki. Many students say he is strict and mysterious. Nobody really knows much about him."

Azaan listened quietly, feeling curious. Later, he noticed Viki sitting alone in the canteen, eating silently without talking to anyone.
Wanting to understand him better, Azaan walked toward him and politely said, "Hi, sir."

But Viki did not respond. He simply stood up and walked away without saying a word.

Azaan stood there, stunned by his behavior. Sam quickly came near him and asked, "Why did you even try talking to him?"
Azaan gave no answer. Sam sighed and warned him softly, "Just stay careful… and don't get too close to Viki."

Azaan looked toward the direction where Viki had disappeared. At that moment, he felt there was something strange and hidden behind Viki's cold personality.