Chapter 1: The Assignment

Adrian Sinclair believed in structure. In routine. In the comfort of knowing exactly how his day would unfold, down to the smallest detail. His planner was always filled, his schedule meticulously crafted, and he prided himself on never—never—letting anything derail him.

That’s why, as he sat in the dimly lit university library, fingers skimming over neatly handwritten notes, he found solace in the silence. The rhythmic scratch of his pen, the soft rustle of book pages, the faint hum of the overhead lights—this was his sanctuary.

He was just a normal college student—well, a straight A college student— that was very meticulous in the way he plans his days and if things don't go according to plan, he stresses. As he scribbled on, he hummed silently in excitement. He was getting to the end of the essay he was working on and then he could have a nice and relaxing time by reading one of the novels he had on his list.

Then his phone buzzed.

Adrian frowned at the screen. A message from Professor Caldwell?

"Adrian, could you stop by my office? It’s important."

His stomach twisted with unease.

Professor Caldwell was his statistics professor, a respected academic with a reputation for being fair but firm. Adrian had never received a request like this before. Was there an issue with one of his assignments? No, impossible. He had aced every test, turned in every paper ahead of schedule.

Sighing, he packed up his books and made his way across campus.

The university halls were a contrast to the library’s peace—laughter, conversations, the occasional echo of sneakers against polished floors. Students milled about, some heading to class, others lounging in groups. Adrian barely acknowledged them, his focus set on reaching Caldwell’s office.

When he arrived, he knocked once before stepping inside.

“Ah, Adrian. Good timing.”

Professor Caldwell sat behind his desk, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose as he sifted through papers. The office smelled of old books and fresh coffee, a comforting mix that usually put Adrian at ease. Not today.

His eyes flicked to the other occupant of the room.

Liam Hunter.

Adrian’s stomach dropped.

Liam lounged in a chair opposite Caldwell’s desk, his posture the definition of casual. He wore his usual attire—gray sweatpants, a fitted black t-shirt that accentuated his toned build, and a confident smirk that made Adrian’s irritation flare instantly.

This was not a coincidence.

Adrian inhaled sharply, then turned to Caldwell. “You wanted to see me, Professor?”

Caldwell folded his hands on the desk. “Yes. I need you to tutor Liam.”

Adrian blinked. What?

“Excuse me?” he said, his voice tight.

Liam chuckled, leaning back as if this was all a joke to him. “Surprised, genius?”

Adrian ignored him, directing his attention to Caldwell. “Why me?”

“You’re the top student in this course. Liam is struggling, and if he fails, he’ll be ineligible for the team. I need someone I trust to get him back on track.”

Adrian clenched his jaw. Of course.

Oakridge University prided itself on its athletic program, and Liam Hunter was their prized athlete. He was the school’s golden boy, a star basketball player with a natural talent that had earned him national recognition. His face was plastered all over campus, on posters advertising upcoming games, in social media clips showcasing his best plays. To simply put, he was a celebrity.

And Adrian couldn’t care less.

Liam might have been a legend on the court, but academically? He was a disaster waiting to happen.

Adrian hesitated. “Professor, I—”

“I’m not doing this for the team,” Caldwell interrupted, his tone softer now. “Liam needs help, and I believe you can provide it.”

Adrian exhaled, his fingers twitching at his sides. He wanted to refuse. He should refuse.

But he didn’t like failing at anything.

If he could get through this semester with his grades intact and his patience unscathed, he could handle Liam Hunter.

Finally, he nodded. “Fine.”

Liam let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Man, this is gonna be fun.”

Adrian highly doubted that.

"Then you two should get started," Professor Caldwell said, giving Liam a stern look as if telling him to behave himself.

"Yes, Professor," Adrian said halfheartedly.

---

Liam Hunter: A Different World

Unlike Adrian, Liam Hunter had never lived by a schedule.

His life had been a whirlwind of early morning drills, late-night practices, and adrenaline-fueled games since he was old enough to dribble a basketball. His father had been a pro player, his mother a former track star—sports were in his blood.

Expectations came with that.

By the time he was in high school, recruiters were already watching him. His father pushed him, coaches drilled him, fans worshiped him. He had been raised to believe basketball was everything.

And for a long time, it had been.

But the older he got, the more the pressure built. The more he wondered what it would be like to be just Liam, not the star athlete everyone expected him to be.

Not that he had time to figure that out.

He wasn’t stupid—he knew why Professor Caldwell had called this little meeting. His grades were slipping. Badly. He had been coasting, relying on minimum effort and a smile to get by and it has been bothering his mum a lot. She called earlier that morning severely concerned about his position on the team.

Being a football star wasn't an excuse to keep failing his classes. Infact, he needs to pass his classes to maintain that position in the spotlight.

But statistics? Statistics was hell.

So now, he had to deal with Adrian Sinclair.

Liam knew exactly who Adrian was—Oakridge’s smartest, most uptight, most impossible-to-impress student. The guy was practically a legend for his cold, no-nonsense attitude. And now he was Liam’s tutor?

Liam smirked to himself.

This was going to be interesting.

---

Later That Evening

Back in his dorm, Adrian sat at his desk, trying to concentrate.

His room was a stark contrast to what he imagined Liam’s must be—tidy, organized, everything in its proper place. Bookshelves lined one wall, color-coded and alphabetized. A whiteboard hung above his desk, filled with equations and reminders.

But despite the usual comfort of his space, his mind kept drifting.

He already knew exactly how this was going to go. Liam wouldn’t take studying seriously, he’d waste Adrian’s time, and Adrian would be the one frustrated at the end of every session.

So why had he agreed?

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Because you can’t stand walking away from a challenge," his inner voice had whispered.

His eyes flicked to the clock. Their first session was tomorrow.

Adrian closed his notebook with a determined snap.

Fine. If Liam Hunter wanted a tutor, he was going to get one.

But he wasn’t going to like it.