Chapter Two ~~ Bad timing, worse company
1147 Words
The first day of lectures was buzzing with energy. Students filled the campus walkways, clutching tote bags, course outlines, and overpriced lattes. Janessa adjusted the strap of her backpack as she double-checked her schedule on her phone.
"Intro to Political Systems Room 104, 9 AM..." she muttered, brushing her braids over her shoulder.
"Let’s get this over with."
As she walked into the lecture hall, she scoped out a seat near the front. She liked being early. Organized. Focused.
Until...
"Seat taken?" came that annoyingly familiar voice.
She didn’t even need to look up.
"Don’t you have other lives to ruin?"
Enzo Steel, with that same smug grin, slid into the chair beside her before she could respond further.
“Wow. Starting the day with venom. You always this sweet in the morning?”
Janessa shot him a side glance.
“And you always this clingy?”
Before he could reply, the professor walked in and class began. To her annoyance, Enzo kept throwing occasional smirks her way whenever something in class reminded him of their earlier clash.
📘 Later that Day – 11 AM, History of Spain Class
Janessa entered the lecture room, happy to find a seat by the window. She had almost forgotten Enzo even existed.
Until he slid into the row behind her.
"Stalker," she muttered under her breath.
He leaned forward.
"Not my fault we both chose useful courses. Maybe it’s fate."
She turned around.
“If fate looks like you, I want a refund.”
🕐 1 PM – Media Ethics & Society
By the third class of the day, Janessa’s optimism had fully evaporated. She walked into the room early, hoping to secure a new seat maybe a corner far away.
Too late.
Enzo was already there. Leaning back in his chair. Seat beside him empty. Waiting.
“Janessa,” he greeted with mock politeness. “Shall we?”
She clenched her jaw, walked to the far side of the room, and sat between two strangers. For once, Enzo didn’t chase her. But she could feel his stare burning into the back of her neck like he was still grinning in her direction.
During lunch break, Janessa called Riley, venting while eating jollof rice at a campus food court.
“Riley, he’s in three of my classes. Three.”
“Girl. You sure it’s not destiny?”
“If it is, it’s the kind that writes tragic novels.”
Riley laughed.
“You’ll survive. Maybe you’ll even grow to like him.”
Janessa stabbed her pasta harder than necessary.
“Not in this lifetime.”
But deep down, somewhere below the annoyance, the witty comebacks, and eye rolls a small, undeniable curiosity had started to form.
And Enzo?
He wasn’t annoyed by her resistance.
He was intrigued by it.
Setting: Media Ethics & Society Class – Thursday, 10:45 AM
The classroom buzzed with restless energy as Professor Michelle clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.
"Alright, everyone! Time for your semester project. It’ll be a three-person team assignment. Each group will create a media case study on a real-world ethical issue. I’ve already assigned the groups randomly, so listen up!"
Janessa sat up straighter, silently praying not to be paired with someone useless or worse, Enzo.
The professor read out names quickly.
"Group Five: Enzo Steel, Janessa Estrada, and Winter"
Janessa’s head snapped up.
"No. Nope. This has to be a mistake."
Enzo, from across the room, smirked.
"Don’t look so excited, Janessa. You’re blushing."
She glared at him.
"If I had a choice, I’d rather be in a group with a malfunctioning printer."
Just then, Winter approached them tall, light-skinned, with perfectly laid edges and a piercing nose ring. She had a confident walk and the kind of fake-nice smile Janessa could spot from a mile away.
"Hi boys and girl," Winter said, batting her lashes as she slid into the seat beside Enzo.
"This group just got interesting."
Enzo chuckled.
"Looks like we’ve got the dream team."
Janessa rolled her eyes so hard they nearly got stuck.
"More like a nightmare."
📚 Later that Day – Library Lounge
They agreed to meet in the media section of the library to brainstorm.
Winter came in wearing a cropped sweater and lip gloss that sparkled way too much for a study session.
She leaned toward Enzo as she spoke.
"So I was thinking we should do our project on influencer culture and how it blurs ethics. It’s edgy and trending."
"Not bad," Enzo nodded, clearly entertained.
Janessa scoffed.
"It’s also the most overused topic in the past three semesters. Everyone’s done it. What about something deeper? Like the ethics of political disinformation in youth-targeted campaigns?"
Winter sighed loudly.
"So boring. And depressing."
Enzo looked between them, smiling like he was watching an episode of his favorite show.
"I say we vote. I’m leaning toward... influencer culture."
Janessa crossed her arms.
"Of course you are."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Enzo asked, raising a brow.
"It means you’d rather coast through this than actually put effort into something challenging."
Winter blinked.
"She’s... intense."
Janessa leaned in, meeting Enzo’s gaze head-on.
"You picked the wrong girl to try and outshine in a group project, Steel."
He didn’t flinch he actually looked impressed.
"Didn’t realize it was a competition, Estrada."
Winter looked from one to the other, sensing the thick current between them.
"So... should I just leave and let you two sort out this chemistry?" she said, half-joking, half-serious.
Janessa stood, gathering her notes.
"Let me know when you both decide to take this seriously. I’ve got better things to do than babysit egos."
She walked off without another word.
Enzo watched her leave, then turned to Winter with a shrug.
"She’s... complicated."
Winter smiled sweetly, laying her hand briefly on his arm.
"Good thing I’m not."
But Enzo barely reacted.
Because whether he liked it or not, Janessa had his full attention.
- Writer
