Bound by Fate

Chapter 2

Vincent

Her face is devoid of any makeup, yet her emerald eyes glisten with moisture, her ebony locks cascading like liquid silk, and her complexion rivals that of polished jade—simply breathtaking. Her slender neck, as pure as freshly fallen snow, draws my gaze, along with the elegant curve of her collarbones. My own eyes seem to shine even brighter as I observe her stunned expression.

"It’s contaminated now, please don’t consume it," I gently advise, reaching for the bowl of porridge she holds.

But just as my fingers are about to make contact, she jerks her wrist away, catching me off guard.

I paused for a moment, then spoke softly, "I’ll arrange for someone to prepare another meal for you. Stay here and don’t consume this."

My gaze burns with determination as I fully commit to ensuring her well-being. My companion approaches with a smile, bearing a lunch of meat and vegetables, eager to assist.

Unexpectedly, she raises the bowl to her lips and swiftly drains its contents in one gulp, without warning.

Glug, glug, glug, glug.

The onlookers, including myself, are dumbfounded as she effortlessly finishes the entire bowl of porridge.

She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and locks eyes with me before defiantly setting the metal bowl down with a resounding clang.

"Wasting food is never acceptable," she declares firmly.

Gathering her backpack, she strides past me with purpose.

I, along with the others, watch in astonishment as she exits the cafeteria, leaving us in silent admiration.

"What in the world? Seriously, dude?" the boy with the tray looks utterly perplexed. "What's happening here?"

I, too, find myself rooted to the spot, stunned in silence.

After what feels like an eternity, I covered my eyes, chuckling, "Oh my God!"

Even as I settle back into my seat, waves of laughter still shake me.

"Man, she's smoking hot, right?" someone comments.

"Did she catch us?" another voice asks nervously.

"How the hell did she do that? Does she have eyes in the back of her head?" the person next to him is utterly incredulous.

Yes, we deliberately tossed a piece of paper into the porridge pot while she was serving, not by accident, but as a ploy to get me to try and make a move on her.

I covered my eyes, still caught in the "Oh my God" moment.

With some effort, I managed to compose myself and say with a grin, "I thought I could snag her number, and now I don't even know her name."

Suddenly, Josh, who had been tasked with preparing another meal for her, pipes up, "I know who she is."

All eyes turned to him.

"It just clicked. I thought she looked familiar earlier, and it hit me when I saw her heading for the free porridge," Josh explains. "She's that girl who made headlines this year, the one who brought her sick mom to school, remember?"

"The one with the rough time?" someone recalls.

"Exactly," Josh confirms with excitement. "I remembered seeing her photo on the news. I told you guys she's stunning. But you were all too busy gaming to listen to me. But look at her now, even more gorgeous in person! I have an eye for beauty, don't I? Even though her photo only showed half her face, I could tell she was a knockout!"

I playfully kick him and teased, "Look up the article and prove it."

Josh quickly searches on his phone, locates the article, and hands it to me. Everyone gathers around as I read aloud:

"In the golden rays of September, as students returned to campus after the long summer break, Victoria Art University welcomed a special student... Genevieve Brown. She was adopted by the Brown couple when she was three. She grew up in a blessed family. But after the death of her father a couple of years ago, leaving the family without means, the young Brown and her mom relied on each other... Brown vowed never to leave her sick mom's side, promising to take her wherever she went... The school leaders prioritized this matter, with University President Dr. Greene instructing that no student should drop out due to family difficulties. The school management swiftly mobilized... blah, blah, blah."

As the official-sounding article drones on with praises of success, the boys lost interest and start murmuring. I playfully shove one of them away and swat his head.

Rubbing my chin in thought, I mull over the name Genevieve Brown.

***

That day, I sat in my car parked outside the common dining building shared by Sovereign University and Victoria Art University. This place offers a variety of international cuisines.

Sovereign University, true to its name, attracts the most talented students from around the country and beyond. I'm studying Corporate Management here, a rare choice among students but perfect for someone like me groomed from a young age to inherit a multibillion-dollar empire.

Just before morning classes let out, I glanced over and spotted someone slipping quietly into the dining building. She moved with a quiet grace, like a cat evading detection by its owner. As she ascended the steps, her crop top rode up, revealing a slender, ivory waist.

As she turned her head, her delicate and stunning face came into view.

In an instant, everything else faded into the background—the howling wind, the passing cars, the chatter of students—all became distant echoes in my ears.

A strange sensation washed over me at the sight of her for the first time, one I couldn't quite shake.

I watched her closely until she vanished from sight.

Silently, I stepped out of the car and peered inside. True to form, she soon darted out of the building again.

She moved with the grace of an elf, light and nimble. If she had wings, I imagined she could effortlessly take flight.

The next day, I encountered her once more.

On my way to the cafeteria, she hurried past, carrying a sizable bag in one hand, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. She didn't even glance in my direction.

The bag looked burdensome, and her shoulders seemed too frail to bear its weight, yet she ran with astonishing speed.

I observed her exchanging greetings with the cafeteria worker as she rushed by. Seizing the chance, I inquired about her.

"Oh, her," the worker commented, "that young lady is quite hardworking. She takes orders from her classmates in the cafeteria and earns a bit of money doing so."

It was common for students to run errands for their peers in the cafeteria, from fetching drinks to saving seats, even waiting in line for others. Some say they even compete for business.

Was she in desperate need of money?

It seemed plausible.

I noticed her ordering only a small portion of vegetables before heading to get some free porridge, and it all started to make sense.

She wasn't trying to lose weight. She was already slender enough. If there were a contest for the slimmest waist at the university, she'd surely win, despite the campus being filled with aspiring celebrities obsessed with their figures.

Girls aiming to lose weight wouldn't opt for staple foods like porridge, known to add bulk.

She was simply trying to save money.

The moment she entered the cafeteria, several boys began discussing her, catching my attention. When she approached the porridge, I nudged the person beside me and whispered, "Toss it in the porridge pot, quick!"

He glanced at the girl beside the pot, then at the crumpled tissue in his hand, and nodded in understanding. With a smile, he complied.

I then approached her to strike up a conversation.

I thought things were progressing well, but to my surprise, she didn't follow the expected script.

Nevertheless, knowing who she was would suffice. I resolved to inquire with Director Jones from the admissions department later that afternoon.

Just then, a group of boys crowded around Josh, marveling at something on his phone. "Her waist is unbelievably tiny," they exclaimed in awe.

I fell silent for a moment, then leaned over to take Josh's phone.

At the bottom of the article, I discovered several more photos, one of which showed Genevieve bowing to school leaders, revealing a glimpse of her slender lower back.

A flicker of something stirred deep within me, leaving an indelible impression.

I quickly shut down the webpage and tossed the phone to Josh, shooting a meaningful look at the group.

"Surprisingly impressive, that girl... she didn't stick to the usual script," I remarked.

Their chatter ceased abruptly. They got it; Genevieve wasn't someone they could casually discuss.

I felt a surge of curiosity.