THREE

Kayla tried to be as fast as possible to get ready for her class. How she slept through her alarm, she has no idea. When she finally finished getting ready, she grabbed her bag which thankfully she had organised last night and left the room, locking the door behind her.

She ran down the stairs and once outside,began to sprint, she probably had like five more minutes before the class starts. Not like she will get there on time, but she does not want to be too late.

She ran faster, hitting and bumping into different people, apologies flew out of her lips without even stopping. She finally arrived in front of the big door, breathing heavily, she grabbed the handle and went in. The people in the hallway were less, meaning she was so late. Everyone is inside already.

Not looking ahead, she bumped into something hard, the force pushing her few steps backwards but a muscular arm wrapped around her to steady her.

She looked up to see who she had bumped into and her eyes widened as the recognised him. It was one of the new professors, particularly the one she made eye contact with in the very same hallway the previous day.

She moved away when she noticed he was still holding her. "I-I am s-sorry, I d-didn't s-see you." She apologised, her voice low but full of fear and shame.

Elliot's eyes softened as they took in her delicate form. But he also felt angry and he heard her scared voice and saw her body slightly trembling from fear. He knew such a reaction has to do with something or someone.

Lightly shaking his head to get rid of the thoughts. he looked down at the angel in-front of him and softened his voice as much as he could.

"It's okay, are you hurt?" He asked her

"N-no, but I-i really need t-to get to c-class. Excuse me." She quickly said and rushed away before he could say anything else.

Kayla ran as fast as she could until she reached the lecture hall door. Panting, she raised her shaky hand and knocked on the door and slowly went inside.

Victor stopped talking when the door opened and mismatched eyed beauty came in view. He was worried when he did not see her earlier but now he could feel himself being calm.

In order to keep up appearance, he turned to her. "Miss Jones, why are you just coming in?" he asked. Quiet laughter could be heard from some of the students sitted. He turned to face them, glaring, no words needed and they became quiet.

"I slept in." Kayla said in a quiet voice. "Make sure this doesn't happen again, miss Jones. Take your seat." Victor said.

Kayla took the stairs up to a corner seat and sat down. Taking out her notebook, pen and laptop, she concentrated on the lecture.

The class ended after two hours and thirty minutes. Kayla sat still,waiting for the students to leave. She hardly understood the lecture and she was too shy and nervous to raise her hand to ask questions in the class. After the hall was empty, she grabbed her bag and walked towards the desk where Victor was busy packing his own stuffs.

"Um, excuse me, professor." Kayla said. Victor turned around to face her.

"Yes, Miss Jones?" Victor said, his eyes softening when he saw her standing before him. Her nervousness was evident—she kept shifting her weight from one foot to the other, clutching her notebook like it was her lifeline.

"I... I didn’t really understand the lecture," Kayla admitted in a quiet voice, avoiding his gaze. "I was wondering if... if you could maybe explain some of it to me? If you're not too busy, that is."

Victor tilted his head, studying her for a moment. Her timid demeanor reminded him of a flower trying to bloom in harsh weather. He gave her a small, encouraging smile.

"Of course, Miss Jones. I'm glad you came to ask for help. Let’s go over the points you found difficult," he said, gesturing for her to take a seat at the front.

Kayla hesitated for a moment before settling into the chair, her hands still gripping her notebook. Victor sat down across from her, his presence commanding but not overwhelming.

"Let’s start from the beginning. What part did you find most challenging?" he asked, his tone patient.

Kayla opened her notebook and nervously pointed to a few lines she had scribbled down. "I... I didn’t fully understand this part. It seemed... a little fast for me."

Victor nodded. "I see. Let me break it down for you in simpler terms," he said. Picking up a marker, he walked to the board and began explaining the concept slowly, pausing to check if she was following.

To Kayla's surprise, Victor's explanation was much easier to grasp. She found herself nodding along, occasionally murmuring, "Oh, that makes sense now."

"You’re a quick learner," Victor remarked, glancing back at her with a slight smile. "You just need to give yourself a bit more confidence."

Kayla felt her cheeks heat up at the compliment, and she looked down to hide her blush. "Thank you, professor. I’ll try."

Victor leaned against the desk, watching her as she jotted down notes. There was something intriguing about her—a quiet determination beneath the shyness.

As Kayla finished her notes, she looked up and gave him a small smile. "I think I understand it now. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain."

Victor returned her smile. "Anytime, Miss Jones. And don’t hesitate to ask questions during class next time. I’m here to help, not to intimidate. And if you don't want to ask in class, don't hesitate to come to my office."

Kayla nodded, gathering her things. "Thank you, sir." she said softly before heading to the door.

Victor watched her leave, his eyes lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Something about her stirred a strange protectiveness in him. His brother was right, she might be the one for them.

Neveah walked out of the building, she only had one more class left and she would go to work. Finding her way across campus to her next class. She made it in time and even found the best spot to sit. This is her favourite class, literature.

After sitting down, the class noise went down and Kayla heard shoes clicking against the floor. She looked up to see the third one of the triplets. Will she really be seeing them all the time, as far as she knows, two of them are her professors.

"Good morning. My name is Alistair King. I will be your professor for this year. You may only call me Professor King, and if I call on you, the reply is Sir, nothing else. Now in this class, I want contribution, utmost respect for me and eachother. This class is going to be difficult and if you feel like you can't handle it, walk out now. I will not be dealing with complaints at the end of any test or exams. Assignments will be given at the end of the week, individually or in groups, and every mark counts."

At the end of his speech, the students in the class reduced by a quarter.

"Now we may start. I will be marking the attendance first." Alistair picked up the paper and took out a pen from his breast pocket.

One by one, he called their name. Until he got to the name of the girl he and his brother has their eyes on. "Kayla Jones."

"Present, sir." Her quiet voice said. He looked at her taking in her face so well. After the attendance, he faced the board.

Alistair began writing on the board, his elegant script capturing the attention of the remaining students. "Now, let’s begin with a brief analysis of classic literature and its relevance in modern storytelling," he announced, his deep, authoritative voice filling the room.

Kayla opened her notebook, ready to jot down notes. Unlike the previous class, she found herself slightly more comfortable here, probably because of her love for literature. She leaned forward, immersing herself in his lecture.

As Alistair spoke, he occasionally glanced at Kayla, noting the way her pen moved swiftly across her notebook. There was a quiet intensity about her, a hunger to learn that intrigued him.

"Miss Jones," Alistair suddenly called, snapping Kayla out of her concentration. Her head shot up, her wide eyes meeting his piercing gaze.

"Y-yes, sir?" she stammered, her heart racing.

"What are your thoughts on the impact of symbolism in storytelling? For example, the use of the green light in The Great Gatsby."

Kayla hesitated, her nerves creeping up again. But she forced herself to speak. "Um, I think the green light represents hope and unattainable dreams. It’s a constant reminder of what Gatsby is striving for but also what he can never truly have."

Alistair’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Very good, Miss Jones. That’s an insightful observation." His praise made Kayla’s cheeks flush, and she quickly looked down at her notebook to hide her embarrassment.

The rest of the class passed smoothly, with Alistair pushing his students to think critically and contribute their perspectives. Kayla found herself answering a few more questions, her confidence growing slightly with each response, even though her palms were sweating so much from nerves.

When the lecture ended, Alistair dismissed the class, asking them to read more on the topic taught as there will be more discussion during their next class.

Kayla packed her things quickly, intending to slip out unnoticed. The students were not as much so she did not have to worry about the crowds squeezing her. But as she neared the door, Alistair’s voice stopped her.

"Miss Jones, a moment, please."

She froze, clutching her bag tightly. Slowly, she turned around, her nerves returning full force. "Yes, sir?"

Alistair walked toward her, his expression unreadable. "I noticed your responses during the lecture. You have a good understanding of the material, but you lack confidence in expressing yourself. Is there a reason for that?"

Kayla swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. "I... I guess I just get nervous speaking in front of others," she admitted quietly.

Alistair nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "Understandable. But you have potential, Miss Jones. Don’t let fear hold you back. If you ever need help, my office is open."

"Thank you, sir," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

He stepped aside, gesturing toward the door. "Have a good day, Miss Jones."

Kayla nodded and hurried out, her mind racing. She had only been at the university for a short time, but it seemed like the King brothers were going to be a part of her journey in this university.