The Alpha's Second Chance

Chapter 3 -Part 2

MEMORANDUM

Subject: Clarification of Dress Code for Official University Activities

She began drafting the policy.

No overly revealing outfits during official campus events.

Appropriate attire for performances.

Approval required for special costumes.

All students must comply with the university's standards of professionalism.

Aylin reviewed the document.

It sounded reasonable.

Perfectly reasonable.

She clicked Save.

Then paused.

She glanced at the clock.

7:42 AM.

She had been at the university for less than an hour.

And somehow, Kiran Sutham had already ruined her peaceful morning, distracted her from work, and inspired her to draft a dress-code memo.

Aylin leaned back.

"That girl is a menace."

She stared at the document.

Then added one more line.

The policy applies equally to all students and must not be used to single out any individual.

Aylin nodded to herself.

There.

Fair.

Professional.

Completely unrelated to jealousy.

She sent the memo to the appropriate administrative office for review.

Then closed her laptop.

And immediately regretted everything.

### 9:00 AM | The Popular Senior

"Good morning, Aylin."

Aylin looked up from her desk.

Standing in the doorway was Pimrada 'Pim' Chantarak, a twenty-two-year-old senior from the university's International Relations program.

Pim was beautiful in a polished, sophisticated way. She had shoulder-length dark-brown hair, elegant features, and the confidence of someone who had spent years being admired.

She was also one of the most popular students on campus.

Smart.

Charming.

Socially connected.

And, according to Narin, hopelessly interested in Aylin.

Aylin gave her a polite nod.

"Good morning, Pim."

Pim stepped inside, holding two cups of coffee.

"I brought you one."

Aylin looked at the cup.

Black coffee.

No sugar.

No milk.

She frowned slightly.

"Thank you, but you didn't have to."

"I wanted to."

Pim placed it on the desk.

"I heard you're coordinating Friday's welcome mixer."

"Yes."

"Then I thought you might need some caffeine."

Aylin gave a small, polite smile.

"That's thoughtful of you."

Pim took the chair opposite her.

"So, are you attending the after-party?"

"I haven't decided."

"Come with me."

Aylin looked up.

Pim smiled.

"It'll be fun. We can have dinner afterward."

Aylin paused.

It was a straightforward invitation.

Nothing inappropriate.

Nothing she hadn't experienced before.

She had received invitations from classmates, family friends, and people who wanted access to the Rattanakul name.

She knew how to respond.

"Thank you for the invitation. I'll let you know."

Pim tilted her head.

"You're always so difficult to convince."

"I'm busy."

"I know. That's what I like about you."

Aylin's expression remained composed.

Pim continued.

"You're focused, intelligent, and you don't waste time trying to impress people. It's refreshing."

Aylin didn't know what to say.

She had heard similar compliments before.

But Pim was being sincere.

And she wasn't someone Aylin disliked.

"That's kind of you," Aylin replied.

Pim smiled.

"Think about it, okay?"

She stood and adjusted her bag.

"I'll see you later."

"See you."

When the door closed, Aylin looked at the coffee.

Then at the documents on her desk.

She should have been thinking about the meeting scheduled for ten.

Instead, she remembered Kiran laughing with P'Win.

The way the boy had offered her water.

The way Kiran had smiled when he invited her to lunch.

Aylin's fingers tightened around her pen.

Why am I thinking about that?

Her phone buzzed.

A message from Narin.

Narin: Heard Pim visited you.

Another message followed.

Narin: Should we start planning the wedding?

Aylin typed a reply.

Aylin: I will destroy your phone.

Narin responded immediately.

Narin: That's not a denial.

Aylin placed her phone facedown.

Then she looked at Pim's coffee.

She had no reason to reject the invitation.

Pim was intelligent.

Beautiful.

Kind.

And she was clearly interested.

So why didn't Aylin feel even a fraction of the excitement she had felt when Kiran had looked at her with those bright, hopeful eyes?

Aylin immediately stood.

She needed to work.

Because apparently, the more she tried to avoid one particular woman, the more that woman managed to occupy her thoughts.

And Aylin absolutely refused to let that continue.

### 10:30 AM | Kiran's New Life Plan

"Okay, everyone. Important announcement."

Bea groaned.

"Another one?"

Kiran sat down at the cafeteria table, carrying a tray of food.

"Yes. This one is different."

Mali put her phone away.

"Should we be worried?"

"Probably."

Bea sighed.

"Go ahead."

Kiran placed her tray down and folded her hands.

"Starting today, I am officially moving on."

Bea stared at her.

Mali blinked.

Then both girls exchanged a glance.

"From Aylin?" Mali asked.

Kiran nodded.

"Yes."

Bea slowly leaned forward.

"Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent."

"Because yesterday you said—"

"Yesterday was yesterday."

"And this morning—"

"This morning was a moment of weakness."

Mali tilted her head.

"What about the coffee you bought her?"

"That was charity."

Bea burst out laughing.

"CHARITY?"

"Yes! I was helping a poor, emotionally constipated senior."

Mali nearly spat out her drink.

Kiran grinned.

"See? I'm healing."

Bea shook her head.

"You're impossible."

"No. I'm evolving."

Kiran picked up her fork.

"I've decided to focus on my studies, my friends, and my future."

Mali smiled.

"That's actually a good plan."

"Thank you."

"And maybe meet new people."

"Exactly."

Bea raised an eyebrow.

"Like P'Win?"

Kiran choked on her water.

"WHAT?"

Mali burst out laughing.

Bea leaned back, looking pleased with herself.

"Oh, so we're interested now?"

"I'm not interested!"

"You agreed to lunch."

"Because I was hungry!"

"Convenient."

Kiran pointed her fork at Bea.

"You are a terrible human being."

"And yet you love me."

"Unfortunately."

Mali laughed.

Then Kiran's phone buzzed.

A message from P'Win.

P'Win: Lunch at the café near the library? I'll save you a seat.

Kiran stared at the screen.

Bea leaned over.

"Reply."

"No."

"Reply!"

"Stop pressuring me!"

Mali smiled.

"Just go and enjoy yourself. You don't have to fall in love with him."

Kiran looked down at the message.

It was harmless.

Friendly.

And perhaps it would be good for her to spend time with someone who actually wanted to talk to her.

Someone who didn't make her feel like an inconvenience.

She typed a reply.

Kiran: Sure! See you at lunch.

She sent it.

Bea slapped the table.

"YES!"

Kiran laughed.

"Please stop celebrating my basic social interactions!"

"No. This is history."

Mali raised her bottle.

"To new beginnings."

Kiran clinked her bottle against Mali's.

"To new beginnings."

Then she added quietly—

"And to not being stupid over a senior who doesn't like me."

Bea's smile softened.

"Hey."

Kiran looked at her.

"You can like someone without being stupid, you know."

Kiran smiled faintly.

"Tell that to my heart."

Mali reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

"You'll be okay."

Kiran nodded.

She hoped so.

Because even though she had made her decision, even though she had promised herself to stop chasing Aylin, there was still a small, stubborn part of her that wished the senior would look at her one day and realize what she had been missing.

But Kiran couldn't wait forever.

She had to choose herself.

At least this time.

### 12:10 PM | The Lunch That Changed Nothing—and Everything

The café near the library was crowded when Kiran arrived.

P'Win had already secured a table beside the window.

He stood when he saw her.

"Hey! You made it."

Kiran smiled.

"Of course. I'm hungry."

P'Win laughed.

"I respect the honesty."

She sat down, placing her bag beside the chair.

He pushed a menu toward her.

"Order whatever you want. My treat."

Kiran immediately narrowed her eyes.

"Why?"

P'Win blinked.

"Why what?"

"Why are you paying?"

"Because I invited you."

"That's suspicious."

He laughed.

"You're always this dramatic?"

"Only when people offer me free food."

"Then I'll remember to bring snacks next time."

Kiran grinned.

"Now you're speaking my language."

They ordered lunch.

At first, their conversation was simple.

Classes.

The upcoming mixer.

The dance performance.

The university's terrible parking situation.

Then P'Win asked, "So, how long are you staying in Thailand?"

Kiran paused.

"At least until I finish my degree."

"Do you like it here?"

She smiled.

"I do. Bangkok feels like home."

"More than the Philippines?"

The question was innocent.

But Kiran's smile softened.

"It's complicated."

P'Win noticed.

"Sorry. You don't have to answer."

"No, it's okay."

She played with her straw.

"My mom was Thai. I grew up in the Philippines for a while, then moved back here after she passed away."

P'Win's expression softened.

"I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

"Do you have family here?"

"My grandparents. They're amazing."

"Then you must be close to them."

"Very."

Kiran smiled.

"They're the reason I can be myself without worrying about anything."

P'Win nodded.

"That's nice."

For a moment, Kiran felt comfortable.

She didn't have to explain herself.

She didn't have to make jokes to fill every silence.

She could simply sit there and talk.

And that was unexpectedly refreshing.

Then P'Win said, "You know, I was surprised when I saw you dancing this morning."

Kiran laughed.

"Why?"

"Because you look like someone who would rather talk than dance."

She gasped.

"Excuse me! I contain multitudes."

P'Win laughed.

"Clearly."

"Don't judge a book by its cover, P'Win."

"Noted."

Kiran grinned.

"And for the record, I'm an excellent dancer."

"I believe you."

"Good. Because I have a reputation to maintain."

They laughed together.

Neither noticed the woman who had just entered the café.

Aylin Rattanakul.

She had come to collect a document from the library and decided to stop for coffee before her afternoon meeting.

She wasn't looking for anyone.

She wasn't thinking about Kiran.

She was simply walking toward the counter when she heard a familiar laugh.

That laugh.

She turned.

And saw Kiran sitting by the window.

With P'Win.

Laughing.

Smiling.

Leaning forward as the boy told her something.

Aylin stopped.

Her expression changed almost imperceptibly.

Then P'Win reached across the table and gently brushed a strand of hair away from Kiran's face.

It was a small gesture.

Friendly, perhaps.

Maybe even innocent.

But Aylin's stomach tightened.

Her fingers curled around the strap of her bag.

What is he doing?

Kiran laughed again.

P'Win smiled at her.

And suddenly, Aylin felt something she couldn't explain.

Something sharp.

Unpleasant.

Something that made her want to walk over to the table and ask the boy what exactly he thought he was doing.

But she had no right.

No right at all.

Kiran wasn't her girlfriend.

She wasn't even her friend.

Aylin had made that perfectly clear.

So why did it bother her?

Why did the sight of Kiran smiling at another person feel like an insult?

Why did she suddenly want to be the one sitting across from her?

Aylin turned away.

She walked toward the counter and ordered her coffee.

Her voice was perfectly calm.

Her expression was perfectly composed.

But when the barista asked whether she wanted anything else, she answered too quickly.

"No."

Then she glanced toward the window again.

Kiran was laughing.

And Aylin hated how much she wanted to know what was so funny.

### 12:25 PM | Jealousy Has Terrible Timing

"Aylin?"

She turned.

Pim stood beside her, holding a takeaway cup.

"Hey. I didn't know you were here."

Aylin forced a polite smile.

"I just stopped for coffee."

Pim followed her gaze toward the window.

"Oh! Is that Kiran?"

Aylin's expression hardened.

"You know her?"

"Not personally. She's the exchange student everyone is talking about. She's leading part of the dance performance, right?"

"Apparently."

Pim smiled.

"She's cute."

Aylin said nothing.

"And P'Win seems to like her."

Aylin's jaw tightened.

Pim glanced at her.

Then back at the table.

"Oh."

Aylin turned.

"What?"

Pim smiled slowly.

"Nothing."

"You're doing that thing."

"What thing?"

"That thing where you pretend you don't know something."

Pim laughed.

"Fine. I was just thinking that you look a little annoyed."

"I'm not."

"Of course."

Aylin picked up her coffee.

Pim followed her toward the exit.

"You know, Aylin, you're very bad at pretending you don't care."

Aylin stopped.

"I don't care."

Pim's smile softened.

"Then why do you keep looking at her?"

Silence.

For the first time, Aylin didn't have an immediate answer.

Pim didn't press.

Instead, she touched Aylin's arm lightly.

"Come on. We have a meeting this afternoon."

Aylin nodded.

"Right."

They left the café together.

But as they walked toward the main building, Aylin's mind remained inside that café.

At the table beside the window.

Where Kiran was laughing with someone else.

Someone who wasn't her.

And the worst part?

Kiran looked happy.

Genuinely happy.

As though she had finally found someone who didn't make her feel unwanted.

Aylin swallowed.

She had asked for this.

She had wanted Kiran to stop chasing her.

She had wanted peace.

And now that she had it, she couldn't stop thinking about the girl she had pushed away.

### 1:30 PM | The First Official Clash

The afternoon meeting took place in the Business Society conference room.

Aylin sat at the head of the table, reviewing the event schedule.

Narin was beside her, trying very hard not to smile.

Kin sat across from them.

Pim had joined the meeting as a representative from the International Relations Society.

And Kiran?

Kiran arrived five minutes later with the exchange student committee.

She entered carrying a folder, her hair tied neatly back, and a bright smile on her face.

Aylin looked up.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, the room seemed to go quiet.

Then Kiran gave her a polite nod.

"Good afternoon, Senior Aylin."

Senior Aylin.

Not just Aylin.

Not the cheerful voice calling her name across campus.

Not the girl who once insisted that they had already spoken, so they couldn't possibly be strangers.

Just a formal greeting.

Aylin felt the difference immediately.

"Good afternoon," she replied.

Kiran took a seat beside Mali.

She didn't look at Aylin again.

The meeting began.

The committee discussed the welcome mixer, the stage arrangement, the guest list, and the performance schedule.

Kiran was attentive.

Professional.

Efficient.

She answered questions clearly and offered practical suggestions.

She was still the same girl.

But something had changed.

She no longer tried to make Aylin laugh.

She no longer interrupted the conversation to ask for her opinion.

She didn't even glance toward her when she made a joke that caused the others to laugh.

Aylin found herself watching her.

Again.

And again.

Until Narin nudged her foot beneath the table.

Aylin shot him a warning look.

He mouthed silently.

Jealous.

She kicked his shoe.

He winced.

Kiran looked up.

"Is everything okay?"

Aylin immediately straightened.

"Yes."

Narin smiled innocently.

"Everything is wonderful."

Kiran nodded and returned to the schedule.

Aylin's jaw tightened.

Why was Kiran being so polite?

Why wasn't she talking?

Why wasn't she annoying?

Why wasn't she looking at her?

She had spent days wishing for this.

Now she wanted the opposite.

The realization was so absurd that she almost laughed.

Almost.

Then the event coordinator brought up the dance rehearsal.

"We also need to confirm the costumes. Kiran, can you show us the proposed performance outfits?"

Kiran stood.

"Of course."

She opened her folder and distributed the photographs.

Aylin looked down.

The proposed outfits were athletic and coordinated, with black track pants, white tops, and jackets matching the university's colors.

They were appropriate for the performance.

Professional enough.

Completely acceptable.

Aylin knew this.

She had reviewed the dress code before the meeting.

Still, when she noticed P'Win's name beside Kiran's on the performance roster, she felt something unpleasant stir again.

"You'll be performing together?" Aylin asked.

Kiran looked at her.

"Yes, Senior. P'Win is part of the dance team."

"How long have you been practicing?"

"Two weeks."

"Two weeks?"

Kiran nodded.

"Yes."

Aylin looked at the schedule.

"Why wasn't this included in the original proposal?"

Kiran frowned slightly.

"It was included in the supplementary file submitted last Friday."

Kin looked through his documents.

"She's right. I approved the file yesterday."

Aylin's expression remained composed.

"I see."

Kiran waited.

When Aylin said nothing else, she sat down.

The meeting continued.

But the atmosphere had changed.

Narin leaned toward Kin and whispered, "She's losing her mind."

Kin whispered back, "She's been losing it since this morning."

Aylin heard them.

"Would you like to share your conversation with the entire room?"

Both men straightened.

"No, ma'am," Narin replied.

Kiran glanced at them.

Then, unexpectedly, she smiled.

A small smile.

Amused.

Aylin saw it.

And for one ridiculous second, she wished that smile had been meant for her.

### 3:15 PM | The Memo Arrives

The meeting had barely ended when a message appeared in the university's official student group.

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

Notice: Updated clarification regarding dress-code requirements for official university activities and campus performances. All students and committees are reminded to observe the approved attire for each event. Special costumes must be cleared by the relevant coordinator.

to be Continued