CHAPTER-2
752 Words
Eight Minutes Late
The first lecture of the semester lasted exactly fifty minutes.
Not because the students were enjoying it.
But because no one dared interrupt Dr. Nicholas Sterling.
The room remained silent except for the soft scratching of pens and the occasional tap of chalk against the board.
Every equation was written with perfect precision.
Every explanation was clear.
Every word carried the same calm authority.
No unnecessary jokes.
No personal stories.
No attempts to make the class "fun."
"This course," Dr. Sterling said as he underlined the final equation, "will require consistency. Intelligence without discipline has very little value."
Several students exchanged nervous glances.
Ryan leaned toward Ethan and whispered so quietly it was almost impossible to hear.
"I already miss the old professor."
Ethan didn't even look up.
"The old professor retired."
"I know."
"I still miss him."
A smile threatened to spread across the front row.
Before anyone could react—
Knock.
The sound echoed through the lecture hall.
Every head turned toward the door.
Dr. Sterling didn't.
He finished writing the final word on the board before calmly placing the chalk down.
Only then did he speak.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A young woman stepped inside.
She wore black cargo trousers, an oversized leather jacket, and white sneakers that looked as though they'd seen more adventures than lectures. A pair of sunglasses rested casually on her head, and headphones hung around her neck. In one hand she carried an iced coffee. On the other, her backpack.
She wasn't rushing.
She wasn't flustered.
If anything...
She looked mildly annoyed that the lecture had already begun.
The classroom stared.
Ryan blinked.
"Oh..."
Ethan followed his gaze.
"... This should be interesting."
The girl glanced around the room before looking directly at Dr. Sterling.
For a long second, neither of them spoke.
Finally, she smiled—a confident, almost teasing smile.
"Morning."
Several students looked down at their desks, trying very hard not to laugh.
Dr. Sterling's expression remained unchanged.
"You are late."
She looked at the wall clock.
"Looks like it."
"You are nine minutes late."
"I got lost."
A boy in the back whispered, "On the first day?"
His friend whispered back, "She's brave... or she's crazy."
The girl took a sip of her coffee.
"The campus is huge."
"There are maps."
"I don't like maps."
A few students pressed their lips together to stop themselves from laughing.
Dr. Sterling simply nodded once.
"The door is behind you."
She tilted her head.
"You're asking me to leave?"
"I am."
"I've already made it here."
"My lecture began at eight."
"So I noticed."
Silence settled over the room.
No one had ever spoken to a professor like this.
Dr. Sterling stepped away from the podium.
His voice never rose.
"My classroom has one rule above all others."
She folded her arms.
"Punctuality?"
"No."
His grey eyes met hers.
"Respect."
The smile on her face faded just slightly.
"When thirty-eight people arrive on time," he continued calmly, "the thirty-ninth does not get to interrupt them."
For the first time, she didn't have an immediate reply.
The room was so quiet that the ticking of the wall clock seemed unusually loud.
After a moment, she sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
She adjusted the strap of her backpack.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
She turned toward the door.
Halfway there, she stopped.
Without looking back, she said,
"You know..."
The class held its breath.
"...you're even stricter than the rumours."
A few students nearly laughed.
Dr. Sterling's answer was immediate.
"I hope tomorrow's rumours include the starting time of my lecture."
This time...
A few quiet chuckles escaped around the room.
The girl smiled to herself.
"Clever."
She walked out, gently pulling the door shut behind her.
The lecture hall remained silent for another few seconds.
Ryan slowly raised his hand.
"Professor?"
"Yes?"
"... Should we... be scared?"
A faint pause.
Dr. Sterling picked up the chalk again.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Whether you've completed the reading for Wednesday."
A collective groan filled the room.
For the first time that morning...
The corner of Ethan's mouth twitched into a smile.
Outside the lecture hall, the mysterious girl leaned against the corridor wall and took another sip of her coffee.
"Dr. Nicholas Sterling," she murmured with a small grin.
"Interesting."
She pushed herself away from the wall and disappeared into the crowd of students.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But the first battle had already been fought.
And it certainly wouldn't be the last.
- Writer
