More Than A Bet

Chapter 5

GIOVANNI

The sun had barely risen over Riverside Park, the fog clung low to the path. I watched as Adina jogged through the park, her sneakers hitting the pavement in a steady rhythm. A few joggers blurred as they jogged past me.

“Of course, you're the type who likes to run at dawn.” I said cutting in beside her.

She glanced sideways, annoyed by my presence. “ Do you ever appear normally or is sneaking up on people a hobby for you?”

“ I don’t sneak up on people, Adina, I just choose the right moment to appear. Thought you might need these,” I said, holding out a bottle of water.

“ Thanks, but I'm good,” she replied, her voice clipped, as she put on her headphones, blocking me out and quickening her pace.

“ Come, Ice Queen! Just a little chat ? I promise not to slow you down!.” I shouted, refusing to back down.

“ Wow. Not even a good morning?” I said, matching her pace easily. “ Now that's cold, Ice Queen even for you.”

“ Come on, Ice Queen. Three words. That's all I'm asking for. ‘ Go away, Giovanni,’ would do it.”

She rolled her eyes, ignoring me, pushing herself harder and sprinting towards the path ahead.

“ I’m not going away, Ice Queen !” I shouted. “ I can do this all day! I have a personal trainer, Adina!”

Finally she stopped dead under a big Oak tree, hands on her knees, breathing heavily, trying to regain her strength. I slowed down beside her, my grin unabated. She pulled her headphone down to her neck.

“ Why are you here, Giovanni?”

“To jog, just like you ”

She scoffed. “Who the hell are you fooling Giovanni, you don’t seem like the type who likes jogging so why are you really here?”

“ Okay, fine, when I found out you always jog at Riverside Park every morning I thought to myself you might be lonely and might need a jogging partner. So I decided to come and keep you company you know make your jogging fun”

“ First of all I don’t need a jogging partner, and how the hell do you know I would be at Riverside park, to the best of my knowledge I didn’t give you that piece of information.”

“I have my ways, Adina.” I said a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

“ Hydrate, you're dripping sweat and I'm sure you might be thirsty." I said, offering her the bottle of water,

She shook her head. “I have my own.” She wiped her forehead and the back of her wrist. “ I don't need yours.”

I tilted my head, studying her. “ You're really going to make this difficult for me, aren't you?”

“ Leave Me Alone, Giovanni Atticus Malvetti,” she wheezed.

“ Ice Queen,” I muttered, stepping closer to her, my tone shifting to a playful one. “ Why do you take everything so seriously? I'm just trying to lighten up your morning. You know, make your running a little more enjoyable”

“ Your idea of enjoyment isn't the same as mine,” she replied, her tone sharp.

I chuckled, moving a stray chestnut curl that escaped from her ponytail sticking to her wet cheeks, my fingers brushed against her skin, slow and deliberate.

She slapped my hand away. “ Giovanni,” she called sternly, pulling back. “ If you touch me again, I will file a harassment report faster than your father can bail you out.”

“Get out of my way.” She shoved me aside, pulled the headphone back to her eyes and began a steady jog towards the park exit.

I watched her retracting figure, a slow dark smirk curling at the corner of my mouth.

Harassment report,” I whispered, to the empty air. “Fascinating.”

11:30 AM

Professor Moretti stood at the front of the lecture hall, his voice booming as he clearly explained the details of building technology 1.

But I wasn’t focused on what he was saying. I was too busy staring at Adina who was sitting a few rows ahead, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration as she furiously took note of what professor Moretti was saying.

“ Are you always this serious at every class,” I murmured, sliding into the empty seat beside her.

She didn’t look at me. “ Giovanni, go back to where you were sitting. I'm not in the mood for your shenanigans.”

“ Nope,” I replied leaning closer to her. “ You look cute when you’re annoyed.”

She paused, finally turning. She shot me a quick glare, her pen pausing mid air “ Stop distracting me.”

“I don’t know what’s more captivating between your eyes and professor Moretti's lecture?” I said, staring at her hazel eyes.

Her pen stopped mid-stroke. “ Giovanni, I swear to God if you don’t stop distracting me, I will personally dismantle your balls.”

“Is that a threat Adina?”How very…

“Enough!” Professor Moretti's voice boomed, silencing the lecture hall, all eyes turned towards him, his face masked with fury. Mr Malvetti, Miss Rivera, am I to understand that my lecture is of no interest that you feel the need to provide your own entertainment?”

I smirked, completely unfazed. “ Professor, we’re merely engaging….

“Silence!” Professor Moretti thundered. “Disrupt my class, one more time and you both will find yourself outside this classroom. Do I make myself clearer?

“I warned you.” Adina muttered glaring at me.

“ It was worth it,” I winked at her.

“Alright class, let’s carry on, ” Professor Moretti said. “ As part of your assessment for the semester, you would be assigned to groups for your upcoming project on construction methods.”

“Group assignments are final. No changes, No appeal.” His voice cuts through the lab. “you’ll be working on the material systems analysis for a mid rise mixed use buildings, focus on sustainable choices; concrete versus steel framing, facade assemblies and insulation integration.”

Professor Moretti projected the list of the groups. “Check for your various partners. And make sure you reach out to them before the week runs out. Deliverables are due in five weeks: research board, section details, 1:50 model and a cost comparison.”

A collective sigh of anticipation filled the room as students searched for their various patents.

Adina scanned the list for her partner, smiling, her eyes drifted down the page, and she stopped breathing for some seconds as she saw a name beside mine.