Red Lights & Heartbreak

The gates of Saint Valencia University towered over Ophelia Marquez like something from another world. Luxury cars lined the entrance. Students stepped out wearing expensive watches, designer bags, and uniforms that somehow looked tailored perfectly for them. Laughter echoed across the campus while cameras flashed from students taking photos for social media. Meanwhile, Ophelia tightened her grip on the strap of her worn bag. She suddenly regretted coming here. "Relax," she whispered to herself. "You worked hard for this scholarship." Even if she didn't belong. She walked carefully through the crowded campus, trying to ignore the stares. Everything about the school screamed wealth - from the marble fountains to the enormous glass buildings reflecting the morning sunlight. Her old sneakers felt embarrassingly loud against the polished pavement. A group of girls passed by her, their perfume expensive enough to make Ophelia dizzy. "Who's she?" one whispered. "Probably another scholar student." Ophelia lowered her eyes and kept walking. She checked the schedule in her hand while searching for the main building. But in her nervousness, she failed to notice the black sports car parked near the student lot. Or the tall figure leaning against it. The moment she turned the corner- Crash. Her books fell to the ground. A sharp silence spread across the parking area. Ophelia froze. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry-" The apology died in her throat when she looked up. The boy standing in front of her had cold dark eyes, messy black hair, and bruised knuckles resting casually in his pockets. His expensive black uniform jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, giving him a dangerous kind of confidence. Behind him sat a sleek black sports car worth more than everything Ophelia's family owned combined. Whispers immediately erupted nearby. "That's Liam Castillo..." "She bumped into Liam?" "She's dead." Ophelia's heartbeat pounded violently. So this was Liam Castillo. The boy everyone feared. Rumors about him were everywhere online even before school started. Rich heir. Street racer. Always fighting. Never smiles. Never cares. Nobody dared disrespect him. But Ophelia had just slammed directly into his chest. "I-I didn't see where I was going," she said softly while kneeling to pick up her books. Nobody moved. Nobody even breathed. One wrong move and Liam Castillo was known for making people regret it. But Liam said nothing. He simply stared at her. His expression unreadable. Cold. The silence stretched long enough to make Ophelia uncomfortable. Then slowly, Liam crouched down. Before Ophelia could react, he picked up one of her fallen notebooks. Their fingers almost touched when he handed it back. His gaze flickered briefly toward the cheap cover before returning to her face. "You're new," he said flatly. Not a question. Ophelia swallowed hard. "Y-Yes." Another silence. Then Liam stood up again and walked past her without another word. The students nearby stared in disbelief. "That's it?" "He didn't get mad?" "What just happened?" Ophelia remained frozen on the pavement while Liam climbed into his car. The engine roared to life. For one brief second, Liam glanced at her through the tinted window. Then he drove away. Fast. The sound of the engine disappeared down the campus road, leaving behind stunned whispers and racing hearts. Ophelia exhaled shakily. She didn't understand why her chest suddenly felt tight. Maybe it was fear. Or maybe it was the way Liam looked at her - like he was trying to figure something out. A girl suddenly approached her from nearby. "You're lucky," the girl said. Ophelia blinked. "What?" The student crossed her arms. "People who annoy Liam Castillo usually end up crying." Ophelia looked toward the road where the black sports car had disappeared. For some reason... She couldn't stop thinking about him.