Louise followed the custodian toward the Faculty Lounge, his mind still reeling from the Chancellor's words. The heavy oak door groaned as it opened, revealing a modern, sun-drenched room filled with the scent of roasted coffee and old paper.
A woman was already there, leaning against a desk and flipping through a thick file. She looked up, her sharp eyes taking him in with immediate curiosity.
"Hi. I'm Luna Re, Professor for the Psychology department," she said, offering a casual but observant smile.
Louise scanned the room, trying to steady his breathing. "Hello. I'm Louise Stone. Zoology department."
"Nice to meet you, Louise," Luna said, though her smile turned a bit pitying. She leaned back, crossing her arms. "You know, you're the third professor I've seen for that department just this year. You look quite young... I'm not sure you'll be able to handle that specific group of students."
Louise pulled out a chair and sat down, his movements stiff but deliberate. He thought of Ethan's hopeless eyes and Albert's reckless protection. He thought of his father's shadow looming over them all.
"Maybe your assumption is wrong, Professor Luna," Louise said, his voice regaining its cold, professional edge. "I didn't come here just to survive. I came here to teach. I know exactly how to make them listen."
Luna stood up, letting out a soft, skeptical laugh. "Haa... you know, every professor who walked through that door said the exact same thing. They all start with that fire in their eyes, but the Rogue Fraternity usually puts it out within a week."
She walked over and offered her hand for a brief shake. "Anyway, all the best. I have a class to get to. Welcome to our University—I hope you stay longer than the last one."
As the door clicked shut behind her, the silence of the lounge felt heavy. Louise stared at his reflection in the dark screen of his tablet.
No, he thought, his jaw tightening. I am not going to be afraid. I am not going to let them break me.
The realization that his students were being destroyed by his father's business didn't make him want to quit. It made him want to fight. If his father, Roman Stone, was the one taking away their futures, then he—Louise—would be the one to give them back.
I will fix this, he vowed to the empty room. I will give them a future that my father tried to steal.
In the university canteen, the air was thick with the smell of fried food and the loud chatter of students during their break. Albert sat with his head in his hands, staring blankly at his cold drink.
Oh my god, he groaned internally. I wasn't just flirting; I was practically shouting it from the rooftops. I thought he was a freshman! What must he think of me now? Does he think I'm some kind of creep? A delinquent?
"Hello? Earth to Albert?"
One of his friends waved a hand in front of his face, snapping him out of his trance. "H-ha! What? What happened?" Albert stammered, sitting up straight.
"That's what we're asking you," Dany said, leaning across the table with a knowing smirk. "You've been staring at that ice cube for ten minutes. I'm guessing this is about Professor Louise Stone?"
Albert dropped his head back onto the table with a thud. "Dany, please... I'm already spiraling. Everything that happened this morning was a disaster."
"That's why I'm asking, bro," Dany said, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "The way you acted in class... it was obvious you had no idea he was a professor. You really have a crush on him, don't you? And then Ethan showed up and turned the room into a war zone. If I were Professor Stone, I'd be writing my resignation letter right now."
Albert bolted upright, his eyes wide with panic. "Exactly! That's what I'm afraid of! He's going to leave because of us. Give me ideas—how do I stop him from resigning?"
"Well," another friend suggested, "if he's upset, the first step is a sincere apology. Maybe if we show him we're actually good students, he'll take pity on us."
"Yes! I'll go and apologize," Albert said, standing up so fast his chair scraped loudly against the floor. "I'll explain everything. You guys stay here—I need to handle this myself."
"Wait, wait!" Dany called out, catching Albert by the arm. "Are you really going empty-handed? You look like you're going to a fight, not an apology."
Albert blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Take him something. It's the middle of a stressful day; get him something to refresh him. It'll soften him up," Dany advised.
Albert gripped Dany's shoulders, a spark of hope in his eyes. "Dany, you're a genius. I'll go buy—"
"Stop, I'll go," Dany interrupted, heading toward the counter. "I know exactly what to get."
A minute later, Dany returned holding a tall, chilled cup. "Take this. It's the signature Strawberry Mocha. It's the most popular drink on campus— everyone loves it."
"Thank you, Dany! You're a lifesaver!" Albert snatched the drink and took off toward the faculty wing at a dead run.
Dany watched him go, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he sat back down.
"Hey, why are you smiling like that?" one of the other guys asked suspiciously. "You definitely did something, didn't you?"
Dany chuckled, leaning back comfortably. "I didn't do anything bad. He's got a crush, right? I'm just helping him get closer to the Professor. Trust me, it's all part of the plan."
The group erupted into cheers and laughter, watching their star student chase after the one man who seemed completely out of his reach.