His Redemption

2 He’s interested

EPISODE 2

Diana’s POV

She started the lecture right away. The low murmur of students talking was like quiet background noise under the professor’s voice.

Everyone was focused on their work — until they walked in.

The six boys.

The professor didn’t even acknowledge their lateness. She acted like no one had just interrupted her class. It was like these guys had some kind of spell on the girls — everyone gasped with admiration.

“Oh my God, they’re so hot,” the girl in front of me whispered, and I knew I felt the same way. It was undeniable.

But my eyes were only drawn to one of them — the boy I’d bumped into in the hallway. His intense stare and sharp jawline were burned into my memory like a perfect painting. I tried to focus on the lecture, but my mind kept replaying him over and over, making my skin tingle.

The professor looked annoyed by the noise. Her voice was calm but firm when she said,

“Silence, class.” The room went quiet instantly. All I could hear was the soft shuffle of papers and chairs as the six boys sat down, moving in sync like they’d done it a hundred times.

The boy from the hallway slid into a seat just a few feet from me. His sharp gaze flicked over to me before he looked away, pinning me in place for a second. I rubbed my arm, trying to steady my nerves.

I could still feel the weight of his stare at the back of my head — a tiny spark of electricity that lingered even after he looked away.

I was still trying to refocus when the professor’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“The girl beside Michael, please stand and explain what I just covered.” I frowned, glancing over to see who he meant.

Turns out I wasn’t the only girl beside him. The girl stood up, ready to answer, when someone interrupted.

“We’d love for the new girl to answer that question for us,” Michael said, eyes twinkling before they settled on me.

My head snapped up. Me?

The entire class turned to stare. Panic flooded me, and my heart pounded. The professor strangely didn’t object — just waited. Everyone was watching, and Sia bit her lower lip, giving me an encouraging smile.

I shot Michael a look that could’ve melted steel, but he just leaned back, a faint, infuriating smirk on his lips.

“f**k, I wasn’t even paying attention,” I muttered under my breath, hoping no one heard.

The professor’s gaze landed on me, eyes narrowing slightly as he waited.

“I heard she’s on scholarship,” someone whispered.

“The spot is competitive at Teens Heart Academy.”

“Let’s see how smart she really is to earn it.”

I stood there, frozen. Whispers rippled through the room.

“Ms.?” the professor called, voice strict but polite.

“Can you please… ask your question again?” I managed, forcing a smile even though my stomach was in knots. My voice came out soft. I usually don’t blank out when something important is being discussed.

The professor asked, “Can you explain what you understand by the term ‘youth empowerment’?” I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. My thoughts were racing.

“Youth empowerment is about giving young people the tools and support they need to make informed decisions and take control of their future,” I said, trying to sound confident. The professor nodded, a small smile on his lips, approval in his eyes.

As the class continued, my nerves started to settle. I felt more grounded. When the lecture finally ended, I exhaled in relief and quickly packed my things.

Sia turned to me, smiling warmly, concern clear in her eyes.

She leaned over, impressed. “You crushed that! But why did Michael call you out? He totally set you up.”

I kept packing, still glaring at the back of Michael’s head. “I don’t know, but he’s officially the rudest person I’ve ever met. He probably thought I’d be an easy target.”

“Hey, you did great up there. I was worried you were going to panic or something,” she said kindly.

I chuckled. We shared a small, secret laugh now — a little connection forming.

As we walked out of the classroom, I saw Michael. His intense eyes locked onto mine while he chatted with his friends, hands in his pockets, leaning against the cold wall.

I didn’t realize I’d started picturing him like some kind of superhero until then.

My chest fluttered, and my heart skipped a beat. Sia noticed where I was looking and followed my gaze. Her eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Oh, that’s Michael,” Sia whispered conspiratorially. “He’s one of the most popular guys in school. And he’s definitely interested in you,” she teased, eyes twinkling.

My cheeks went red, and I quickly looked away, trying to act like it didn’t affect me.

“I’m not interested,” I whispered. Weak. I knew it was a weak attempt to get Sia to drop it.

Sia laughed, eyes full of mischief. “We’ll see about that,” she said, winking at me.

As we walked into the cafeteria, the smell of food mixed with the sound of chatter and clinking trays. Sia put a comforting hand on mine, leading us to a table. I slid into my seat and scanned the room. Thankfully, the boys weren’t here yet, so I felt myself relax.

“Don’t worry about Michael. Don’t let him distract you,” Sia said seriously, looking straight at me. “But Diana, what was that in class? I know Michael and his friends are handsome, but don’t let them pull your focus. You were staring at him like he was the answer key to the final exam.”

I hesitated, unsure how to explain the strange, overwhelming feeling I got whenever Michael was near. My mind was a mess.

“I don’t know… it’s just that whenever I see him, I feel weird,” I confessed softly, the words slipping out. “It’s like… my feet want to run, but my eyes are glued to him.”

She didn’t look surprised at all. Her eyes held that pitying look, like I’d just made a mistake I couldn’t take back.

“It’s normal to feel that way. Guess you’re no exception either,” she said, sounding disappointed.

I didn’t know why she felt that way, but I found myself trying to shut down whatever she was thinking.

“I wouldn’t get involved with them if I were you,” she said, shrugging as she took a bite of her food.

“It’s not what you’re thinking, Sia.”

“It’s never what I’m thinking… until it is Diana,” she shrugged. “Love isn’t a crime. Just not with them.”