Chapter 2: A Clash Of Pride
318 Words
The entire campus is talking about what happened in Professor Kael Villanueva’s class.
Some students are impressed that Ariana answered every question correctly. Others warn her that standing out in his class only makes him expect more.
During their next lecture, Kael announces an individual research project worth a large portion of the final grade.
“I don’t give grades for effort,” he says calmly. “I give grades for excellence.”
The room falls silent.
As students leave, Ariana notices she accidentally left her notebook on her desk. She hurries back to the classroom and finds Professor Kael reading through the attendance sheet.
He looks up.
“You forgot something.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
Just as she’s about to leave, he asks, “Why are you here?”
The question catches her off guard.
“Because I earned my scholarship, sir.”
He studies her expression.
“Then don’t waste it.”
Ariana nods, but his tone irritates her.
“I don’t plan to.”
For a brief moment, neither of them looks away. The exchange is respectful, but there’s unmistakable tension between two equally strong personalities.
That afternoon, Ariana overhears classmates complaining that Kael never gives second chances.
She quietly tells them, “Maybe he just expects us to give our best.”
Unknown to her, Professor Kael passes by the hallway just in time to hear those words.
For the first time in years, a student has surprised him—not with excuses, but with determination.
As he walks away, he thinks to himself:
She’ll either become my best student… or the one who challenges everything I believe.
Later that evening, Ariana receives an email from the university.
Her research proposal has been assigned a faculty adviser.
She opens the attachment.
Faculty Adviser: Professor Kael Villanueva.
Her heart sinks.
“So… I’m stuck with him for the rest of the semester.”
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