We Were Young

It was a sweltering September day, the cicadas outside adding to the oppressive heat. At T University, freshmen had just begun their sports training, filling the campus with energy and the sharp shouts of coaches pushing their teams to the limit. For the second-year students, however, the summer break was over, and the new semester had already begun. In one of the English major classrooms, the overhead fan creaked as it spun, barely providing relief from the heat. Seated in the last row, Ava leaned her head against her arm, trying her best to sleep through the dull lecture. The gossiping whispers of the two girls in the row ahead floated to her ears. “Did you hear? A new freshman joined the civil engineering program—Ethan Sinclair. He’s gorgeous,” one girl giggled. “He’s from Sinclair Prep, right? I heard he’s been the heartthrob there for three years!” her friend replied excitedly. Ethan Sinclair? Ava tried to push the name from her mind, but her thoughts kept drifting back to him. She wasn’t the type to care about the latest heartthrobs on campus, yet something about the name lodged itself in her brain. Sitting at the back of the class, with her head leaning against her arm, she could barely stay awake, the teacher’s voice droning like a lullaby. Suddenly, a stack of test papers fell on her head, pulling her abruptly out of her half-asleep daze. Her classmates laughed quietly. Ava lifted her head slightly, pretending she had just woken up as the papers slid off her desk. “Ava’s asleep again,” someone whispered. “Yeah, as usual,” another replied. From under the stack of test papers, her eyelashes fluttered, but Ava didn’t move. She listened as the students around her gossiped about her. She was wide awake now, her mind sharper than ever, but she remained perfectly still. The scent of fresh ink from the newly printed exams filled her nose. In the midst of the chatter, her foot tapped softly against the floor, a subtle sign that her mind was awake and working. But as always, Ava felt out of place. Though her family’s wealth could have easily won her friends with a mere invitation for ice cream or coffee, it never worked that way for her. Her sharp intellect and cool demeanor kept people at a distance, unlike the other wealthy kids who always seemed to be surrounded by eager friends. Ava had always preferred to handle things on her own. She wasn’t afraid of confrontation, and most people knew better than to cross her. But now, as three boys in military fatigues cornered her in an alleyway, something about their demeanor was unsettling. They were younger, maybe high school freshmen, and from a nearby private school known for taking in students who didn’t quite make the cut for more prestigious institutions like hers. “Got a problem?” she asked, her voice steady, but her fingers tightened around her bag’s strap. The leader of the group smirked, stepping closer. “No problem, sweetheart. Just thought you’d have some spare cash for us. My buddy here just got out of the hospital, you know… medical bills.” Ava raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “You want money? That’s all?” She sighed, knowing it was better to let this go. Her father had always told her, “No amount of money is worth more than your skin.” She reached into her bag, pulling out a wad of cash. The boys’ eyes lit up greedily. As she handed it over, one of the boys noticed the necklace dangling around her neck—a simple diamond pendant. His eyes glinted with a different kind of hunger. “That necklace… is it real?” His voice was low, a dangerous edge creeping in. Ava froze for a second, instinctively reaching to cover her neckline. Before she could respond, the boy’s hand reached out toward her. Just then, a voice rang out from the other end of the alley. “Hey! Hands off her.” Ava turned around, surprised to see a tall figure standing against the setting sun. The light framed him, his silhouette imposing. He wore a white T-shirt with a camouflage jacket slung over his shoulder, a university badge gleaming on his chest. His sharp, yet youthful features were unmistakable. Ethan Sinclair. The boys recognized him too. The leader faltered, stuttering, “E-Ethan? What are you doing here?” Ethan stepped forward, his expression cool but dangerous. “Thought I told you last summer not to mess with anyone from my school. Looks like you didn’t get the message.” Before anyone could react, he grabbed Ava by the arm, pulling her back toward the safety of the alley’s exit. “Get lost, or do I need to make sure you understand this time?” The group of boys quickly scattered, murmuring curses under their breath as they disappeared around the corner. Ethan turned to Ava, his grip on her arm loosening. “You okay?” Ava blinked up at him, still processing what had just happened. For a second, she had imagined herself as some kind of bystander in a cliché action movie, but the intensity in Ethan’s eyes made it all too real. “I didn’t need your help,” she muttered, shaking off his hand. Ethan smirked, crossing his arms. “Sure you didn’t. I’ll remember that the next time I see you getting mugged.” Without waiting for a response, he walked to the boys, slowly, leaving Ava standing alone, staring after him. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the alley. She glanced down at the diamond pendant around her neck and clenched her fists. Ethan Sinclair… he wasn’t someone easily ignored. For a moment, she considered walking away, as any sane person would. But something kept her rooted to the spot, her eyes following Ethan’s every move. There was something wild and reckless about him, like a character from one of the martial arts movies her father loved to watch. The way he effortlessly dispatched his opponents, using everything from discarded trash can lids to stray bricks as weapons, was nothing short of mesmerizing. It was as if he were in his element here, thriving in the chaos. A part of her wanted to leave, to escape the madness. Yet another part—a part she rarely acknowledged—was curious, drawn to the scene unfolding before her.