"Oo man, where the heck is Jake?" I muttered under my breath, adjusting the strap of my designer bag.
Just then, a sleek black Mercedes-Benz AMG pulled up right in front of the towering university building, its engine humming like a beast. The sun reflected off the polished surface, momentarily blinding me. I shaded my eyes with my hand, squinting curiously until I saw him step out.
Jake.
His messy black hair tousled effortlessly like he had walked out of a GQ spread. He wore fitted blue jeans and a crisp white Polo T-shirt, the kind that hugged just enough muscle to make every girl on the campus sidewalk pause and stare. Some even giggled behind their phones, blushing like teenagers.
I rolled my eyes but before I could process anything else, Jake walked straight toward me with a look of bold defiance. Without a word, he yanked me closer, leaving zero space between us. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
And then, just like that…
He kissed me. Right in front of everyone.
His lips crashed into mine, and for a brief second, our tongues met in a heated flash. My body betrayed me; my toes curled involuntarily. But instinct kicked in and my palm flew across his face before I even realized I'd moved.
SMACK.
The sound echoed down the stone corridors. His cheek turned red instantly, and he just stared at me with a slight frown like I had done something wrong. Embarrassment flooded me.
Fury. Shame. Heat.
I spun around and ran, heels clacking against the marble floor as I dashed into the nearest restroom.
"What was that for?!" I shouted at the mirror, my voice trembling. "Who the hell does he think he is? Kissing me in public like I'm some trophy!"
I splashed cold water on my face, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside. I'd been humiliated on my first day at Oxford. Fantastic. Shit I had to get to class. I took a deep breath, fixed my makeup, and walked back into the bustling hallways, head held high.
Thankfully, Dad had pre-registered me, so I didn't need to visit the Dean's office. I found my locker, pulled out the required textbooks, and made my way to my lecture hall.
Standing at the door, I inhaled deeply before stepping in. The lecturer turned and smiled. "Ah, you must be our newest student. Please introduce yourself to the class."
I nodded. "Hi, I'm—"
"Miss Kisser!" a voice yelled from the back.
Laughter erupted like wildfire across the lecture hall. I snapped my head to the source and saw a blonde guy smirking, high-fiving the guy next to him.
My hands balled into fists. I wanted to launch a book at his head. URGH. But then like divine intervention the Dean herself walked in through the back door.
"What's going on here?" she demanded, her tone sharp. The class fell silent.
"Do you all know who this young lady is?" she continued, walking down the aisle with intimidating grace. "This is Aurora Brooks, the sole heir to the Brooks Global Empire one of the largest conglomerates in the world. Her family helped build half of the technologies used in this school." The room went dead quiet.
My lips curved slightly. "Thank you, Ma'am."
The blonde guy stood and bowed awkwardly. "Apologies, Miss Brooks."
"Yeah, we're sorry," others mumbled.
"It's fine," I said coolly, walking past them like a queen in heels. "Where should I sit?"
"Next to… Angel Balowe," the lecturer replied. "Angel, raise your hand."
A pretty Black American girl raised her hand and smiled politely. I walked over and sat beside her. As I settled in, she leaned toward me and whispered, "Hey. Sorry about what happened. That blonde jerk is my boyfriend… unfortunately."
I blinked. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah… don't worry, I'll deal with him later."
I chuckled slightly, thankful for the unexpected kindness. "Actually, Angel… I was wondering… could we maybe hang out sometime? I'm new here and…"
"Of course! I'd love that," she said warmly.
Before I could thank her properly, the lecturer asked, "Who can explain why milk spoils even when refrigerated?"
I raised my hand. "Can I try? "Yes, go ahead, Miss Brooks." I stood. "Milk contains natural enzymes, and when it's left unrefrigerated, they speed up spoilage. But even when it's refrigerated, it can go bad depending on how long it's been stored. The lactic acid bacteria in milk reacts with the proteins, causing it to curdle and smell sour. That's why milk has an expiration date."
There was a moment of silence. Then, a few impressed "wows" floated around the room.
The lecturer smiled. "Brilliant. Well explained."
I sat back down, feeling the tiniest bit of confidence bloom inside me. Maybe… just maybe… this place wasn't going to break me after all.