The Alpha's Second Chance

Chapter 3 — Operation: No More Rivals

### THE ALPHA'S SECOND CHANCE

“You told me to stop chasing you, Senior. So I did. Now, why do you look like you’re the one who wants to chase me?”

Setting: Rattanakul International University, Bangkok, Thailand Genre: GL Romance • Romantic Comedy • Jealousy • Slow Burn • Angst POV: Third Person

### 6:45 AM | A Beautiful Morning for a Miserable Senior

Umagang kay ganda.

The sky over Bangkok was painted in soft shades of blue and gold. The morning breeze moved through the trees lining Rattanakul International University's pathways, while students slowly filled the campus grounds, some carrying books, others holding iced coffee, and a few desperately trying to finish assignments they should have completed the night before.

Sa isang itim na luxury car, nakaupo si Aylin Theeraphat Rattanakul habang tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang campus mula sa tinted window.

She was in an unusually good mood.

For once, hindi siya na-late sa unang meeting niya. Her assistant had already emailed the financial reports she needed, her mother had sent her a sweet good-morning message, and Narin hadn't called her at six in the morning just to ask whether she was secretly in love.

A perfect morning.

A peaceful morning.

A morning without—

"Good morning, Miss Aylin."

Aylin glanced at the driver.

"Good morning, Uncle Somchai."

"You're smiling today."

Her eyebrows rose.

"Am I not allowed to smile?"

"Of course you are, Miss. It's just been a while since I've seen you this relaxed."

Aylin looked out the window again.

"Perhaps because nobody has annoyed me yet."

The driver chuckled.

"Then I hope you have a wonderful day."

"I intend to."

The car stopped near the university entrance.

Aylin stepped out, dressed in her familiar university uniform: a crisp white blouse beneath a fitted navy blazer, a dark pleated skirt, and polished black shoes. Her long black hair fell neatly past her shoulders, while a silver watch rested against her wrist.

She carried a leather folder in one hand and her phone in the other.

Composed.

Elegant.

Unapproachable.

The kind of woman who could make an entire room reconsider its life choices simply by looking at it.

She adjusted her blazer and began walking toward the main building.

Everything was going perfectly.

Until—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A loud beat suddenly echoed across the campus grounds.

Aylin stopped.

Her smile disappeared.

"What the hell?"

The music continued.

Boom! Clap! Boom-boom! Clap!

Students were gathered near the central courtyard. Some were sitting on the low walls surrounding the garden, while others stood in a loose circle, clapping and cheering.

Aylin frowned.

Was there an event today?

She checked her calendar.

No.

Her next meeting was at nine.

The event committee's rehearsal wasn't supposed to start until eight thirty.

She looked at her watch.

Seven-oh-two.

Who in their right mind is playing music this early?

She was about to continue walking when she heard a familiar voice.

"FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT!"

Aylin froze.

No.

No, no, no.

She knew that voice.

She had heard it in classrooms, hallways, the library, and even in her increasingly unfortunate thoughts.

She turned toward the courtyard.

And there, in the middle of the gathered students, stood the last person she wanted to see before breakfast.

Kiran Sutham.

Except this wasn't the Kiran who carried oversized bags and approached people with endless questions.

This Kiran looked different.

Very different.

Her light-brown hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, moving with every turn of her head. She wore a fitted white cropped athletic top beneath an open black sports jacket, paired with black track pants featuring white side stripes and white sneakers.

Her usual navy school uniform was nowhere in sight.

Neither was her oversized tote bag.

Instead, she looked like someone who belonged on a concert stage rather than in a university courtyard.

Kiran moved with the music, her expression focused, her steps precise. She turned, lifted one arm, and hit the next beat perfectly.

The girl who had once nearly tripped over her own bag while introducing herself to Aylin was suddenly graceful.

Confident.

Effortlessly captivating.

Aylin stopped walking.

Completely.

For a few seconds, the entire campus seemed to slow down.

The students' voices became distant.

The music faded into the background.

All Aylin could see was Kiran.

What...

Kiran spun toward the group, her hair sweeping over her shoulder as she completed the choreography.

Aylin's fingers tightened around her folder.

What is she wearing?

Her gaze moved away.

Then returned.

Immediately.

Why am I looking?

She looked away again.

Then, almost against her will, she glanced back.

Kiran smiled at one of the dancers beside her.

Aylin's jaw tightened.

And then she noticed something even worse.

The audience.

Specifically, the boys.

A group of male students stood near the courtyard fountain, practically losing their minds.

"OH MY GOD!"

"WHO IS THAT GIRL?"

"IS SHE A NEW MEMBER OF THE DANCE TEAM?"

"BRO, I'M JOINING THE EVENT COMMITTEE!"

"YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DANCE!"

"I'LL LEARN!"

Aylin's eyebrows drew together.

Idiots.

Then she saw Narin and Kin.

Her two best friends were standing among the cheering students.

Narin had his phone raised, recording the performance.

Kin was clapping along with the beat.

Aylin stared at them.

Betrayal.

Absolute betrayal.

She marched toward the courtyard.

### 7:05 AM | The Girl Who Stole the Morning

"AYLIN!"

Narin spotted her first.

His smile widened.

"Oh, perfect timing! You're just in time for the best part!"

Aylin stopped beside him.

"What is this?"

Narin looked at the dancers.

"A rehearsal."

"I can see that."

"Then why ask?"

Aylin gave him a deadly look.

Kin quietly lowered his hands.

"Good morning, Aylin."

"Why are there students dancing in the middle of the campus at seven in the morning?"

Narin shrugged.

"Because talent doesn't sleep."

"Neither does my headache, apparently."

Kin coughed to hide a laugh.

Narin pointed toward the dance group.

"Come on, don't be so serious. It's for Friday's welcome mixer. They're preparing a performance."

"Who approved the rehearsal?"

"The event committee."

"Who approved the music?"

"The event committee."

"Who approved—"

"AYLIN," Narin interrupted, grinning. "Do you want me to ask them for a written statement, a notarized affidavit, and three business permits?"

Aylin turned toward him.

"Don't tempt me."

Narin burst out laughing.

Then the music changed.

The dancers moved into the next sequence.

And Kiran stepped forward.

Aylin's attention snapped toward her.

The younger woman was completely focused on the choreography, following the rhythm with confidence. She moved with the kind of natural ease that suggested she had been dancing for years.

Her expression changed with the music.

Playful during the lighter beats.

Fierce during the sharper movements.

Confident when she stepped into the center.

Aylin had seen Kiran laugh.

She had seen her talk.

She had seen her make a fool of herself trying to impress someone who clearly didn't want to be impressed.

But she hadn't seen this side of her.

And for reasons Aylin couldn't explain, that bothered her.

Because it meant she knew even less about Kiran than she thought.

"She's good, isn't she?" Kin asked.

Aylin immediately looked away.

"Average."

Narin slowly turned toward her.

"Average?"

"Yes."

Narin looked back at the dancers.

Then at Aylin.

Then back at the dancers.

"Girl, you stopped walking."

Aylin's eyes narrowed.

"I was checking whether the performance complied with university regulations."

"With your eyes?"

"Yes."

"From head to toe?"

"Narin."

He held up both hands.

"Okay! Okay! I'm silent!"

He remained silent for exactly three seconds.

Then he leaned toward Kin and whispered loudly enough for Aylin to hear.

"She's jealous."

Aylin's head snapped toward him.

"Excuse me?"

Narin looked innocent.

"I said she's talented."

"No, you didn't."

"Maybe I said both."

Kin laughed.

Aylin inhaled slowly.

These two are going to die.

But before she could threaten them, the music stopped.

The dancers broke formation.

Kiran bent forward, hands on her knees, catching her breath.

One of the boys near the fountain immediately approached her with a bottle of water.

"Here, Kiran! You did amazing!"

Kiran accepted it with a smile.

"Thank you, P'Win!"

Aylin's eyes moved toward the boy.

P'Win?

Who was P'Win?

Why was he giving Kiran water?

And why was Kiran smiling at him like that?

Aylin's expression darkened.

Narin followed her gaze.

Then slowly, very slowly, a grin spread across his face.

"Oh."

Kin glanced between them.

"Oh, indeed."

Aylin turned.

"What?"

Narin shook his head.

"Nothing."

"Then stop making that face."

"What face?"

"The face that makes me want to throw you into the fountain."

Narin smiled.

"You're welcome."

"For what?"

"For making your morning interesting."

Aylin was about to respond when Kiran turned toward the audience.

And saw her.

For one brief moment, the smile on Kiran's face faltered.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Then she looked away.

No greeting.

No wave.

No cheerful Senior Aylin!

Nothing.

She turned back to her teammates and began discussing the next rehearsal.

Aylin stood still.

Something unpleasant settled in her chest.

She didn't understand why.

She had wanted Kiran to stop chasing her.

And now she had.

So why did she suddenly want the girl to look at her again?

### 7:15 AM | A Senior's Extremely Unprofessional Problem

"Okay, everyone! Ten-minute break!"

The dance coordinator clapped her hands.

The dancers scattered toward their bags and water bottles.

Kiran sat on the edge of the courtyard stage while Bea approached her, holding a towel.

"Girl, ang galing mo!"

Kiran accepted the towel.

"Really?"

"Yes! You were amazing!"

Mali joined them.

"Especially the last part. I didn't know you could dance like that."

Kiran smiled.

"Surprise!"

Bea narrowed her eyes.

"Wait. Since when?"

"Since forever."

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"You never asked."

Bea stared at her.

"You're impossible."

Kiran laughed.

But her gaze drifted toward the far end of the courtyard.

Aylin was still standing near Narin and Kin.

The senior was talking to someone now, her expression composed as ever.

Kiran looked away.

Nope.

Not today.

Hindi na tayo magpapakatanga.

She had made a promise to herself the night before.

No more chasing Aylin.

No more looking for excuses to approach her.

No more trying to turn a simple interaction into a sign that the senior might secretly like her.

She had friends.

She had classes.

She had a dance performance to prepare for.

She had an entire life outside Aylin Rattanakul.

And she was going to remember that.

"Hey, Kiran."

She turned.

P'Win stood beside her, holding another bottle of water.

"You're really good at this."

Kiran smiled politely.

"Thank you."

"Are you free after rehearsal? A few of us are getting breakfast."

"Maybe. I still have a class later."

"Then lunch?"

Kiran hesitated.

Before she could answer, Bea suddenly appeared behind her.

"She's free."

Kiran turned.

"BEA!"

Bea smiled sweetly.

"What? You said you wanted to focus on yourself and your friends. This is focusing."

Mali nodded.

"Technically, she's not wrong."

Kiran covered her face.

"I hate both of you."

"No, you don't," Bea replied.

P'Win laughed.

"So, lunch?"

Kiran glanced at him.

He was handsome, friendly, and clearly interested in getting to know her.

And perhaps, in another situation, she might have been excited.

But her heart was still doing something incredibly stupid whenever a certain senior entered the same room.

Kiran sighed inwardly.

Move on, Kiran.

"Sure," she finally answered. "Lunch sounds good."

P'Win smiled.

"Great. I'll message you."

He walked away.

Bea immediately grabbed Kiran's shoulders.

"OH. MY. GOD."

"Don't."

"Someone wants to take you to lunch!"

"Bea."

"A handsome senior wants to take you to lunch!"

"BEA!"

Mali grinned.

"At least someone appreciates our girl."

Kiran laughed despite herself.

"Can you both stop?"

"No," Bea replied. "This is the most entertaining development of the semester."

Kiran shook her head.

But for the first time in days, the smile on her face didn't feel entirely forced.

Maybe she could do this.

Maybe she could stop waiting for Aylin to notice her.

Maybe she could enjoy her life without constantly wondering whether the senior was watching.

She glanced toward the courtyard entrance one last time.

Aylin was gone.

Kiran's smile faded for a moment.

Then she took a deep breath.

Okay.

No more rivals.

No more chasing.

No more hoping.

She stood and grabbed her bag.

"Come on. We have class."

Bea linked her arm through Kiran's.

"That's my girl."

Kiran smiled.

And somewhere behind them, Aylin was about to discover that the girl she had spent days trying to avoid was becoming much more difficult to ignore.

### 7:30 AM | The Birth of a Very Petty Memo

"Explain something to me."

Narin looked up from his phone.

"That depends. Is this about economics, politics, or your inability to admit you're jealous?"

Aylin didn't blink.

"Do you want to survive the day?"

Narin smiled.

"Economics. Definitely economics."

Kin sat across from them, trying not to laugh.

They were now inside the Business Society office, where Aylin had insisted on reviewing the university's event documents.

Again.

For the third time.

Narin watched her open the same folder she had already reviewed twice.

"Are you actually working?"

"Yes."

"Then why have you been staring at the same page for five minutes?"

"I'm reviewing."

"You're glaring at it."

Aylin ignored him.

Kin leaned forward.

"By the way, did you know Kiran is leading part of the dance performance?"

Aylin's pen stopped.

"No."

"Really? I thought you were checking the event schedule."

"I was."

"Then you must have missed that part."

Aylin resumed writing.

"Apparently."

Narin tilted his head.

"She's also wearing a different outfit for the performance."

Aylin's pen stopped again.

Narin grinned.

"Interesting, isn't it?"

Aylin slowly raised her eyes.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because we're friends."

"Then try being a better one."

"Friends tell each other important information."

"That is not important information."

Kin nodded.

"Of course not."

Narin continued.

"Apparently, the outfit was approved by the dance coordinator. The students are allowed to wear athletic clothing during rehearsals, provided it meets safety requirements."

Aylin's eyes narrowed.

"Who approved that?"

"The coordinator."

"Which coordinator?"

Narin blinked.

"Why?"

"Because I want to review the university's dress code."

Kin stared at her.

Then looked at Narin.

Narin stared back.

Slowly, both men began smiling.

Aylin noticed.

"What?"

Narin pressed his lips together.

"Nothing."

"You're smiling."

"I'm happy."

"You're being irritating."

"Also true."

Kin cleared his throat.

"Aylin, if you're going to revise the dress code because one student looks good in athletic clothes, at least make the policy apply to everyone."

Aylin's face went blank.

"I am revising nothing."

"Good."

"I'm simply ensuring that all student activities comply with university standards."

"Of course."

"Especially those involving public performances."

"Naturally."

"And I will not tolerate inappropriate clothing during official university events."

Narin slowly leaned back in his chair.

"Define inappropriate."

Aylin glared at him.

"Clothing that violates university policy."

"Such as?"

"Clothing that is not approved for the occasion."

Kin nodded thoughtfully.

"So, the outfit Kiran is wearing is allowed because it's an athletic rehearsal."

Aylin's jaw tightened.

"Yes."

"And Friday's event has a different dress code."

"Correct."

Narin placed his phone on the desk.

"Then I have one question."

Aylin looked at him.

"What?"

"Are you going to ban the boys from looking at her, too?"

Silence.

Kin burst out laughing.

Aylin stood so abruptly that her chair scraped against the floor.

"Meeting over."

Narin held up his hands.

"Okay! Okay!"

"Both of you. Out."

Kin picked up his laptop.

"You're welcome, Aylin."

"For what?"

"For helping you discover your feelings."

Aylin pointed toward the door.

"NOW."

The two men escaped, laughing.

Aylin remained standing in the middle of the office.

Her cheeks were warm.

Her jaw hurt from clenching it.

And she had absolutely no intention of admitting that she had spent the last fifteen minutes thinking about Kiran's outfit.

It wasn't jealousy.

It couldn't be.

She wasn't interested in Kiran.

She simply didn't like the way those boys had been looking at her.

That was all.

She was concerned about professionalism.

University standards.

Appropriate conduct.

Nothing more.

Aylin sat down, opened her laptop, and typed a new document.