The Heartthrob At The Next Desk
University.
For some people, it was a place to chase dreams, make lifelong friends, and enjoy the freedom that came with adulthood.
For me, it was my second chance.
After losing my mother years ago, life had never been the same. It had always been just my father and me, leaning on each other through every hardship. Watching him work tirelessly to provide for us made me promise myself one thing—I would graduate with excellent grades, build a successful career, and one day repay every sacrifice he had made.
Love?
Relationships?
They were distractions I couldn't afford.
That was exactly what I kept reminding myself as I stood outside the gates of Riverside University, clutching the straps of my backpack.
The campus was alive.
Students hurried in every direction, some dragging suitcases into the dormitories while others laughed excitedly with friends they had just met. Tall palm trees lined the pathways, their leaves dancing gently in the morning breeze, while colorful banners welcomed freshmen to the beginning of a new academic year.
I took a deep breath.
"You can do this."
After checking the faculty map on my phone, I made my way toward the Business Administration building.
The lecture hall was already filling up when I arrived.
Rows upon rows of seats stretched upward like a small theatre. Students chatted excitedly while waiting for the lecturer to arrive.
"Looks like I barely made it," I whispered.
Scanning the room, I searched for an empty seat.
Almost every row was occupied.
The only available seat was beside a young man sitting quietly near the middle of the hall.
He was reading a book, completely ignoring the noisy conversations around him.
His neatly pressed white shirt, dark jeans, and silver wristwatch gave him an effortlessly elegant appearance. A pair of wireless earbuds rested on the desk beside him, and strands of jet-black hair fell naturally across his forehead.
Even from where I stood, I could hear girls whispering.
"That's Liam."
"The top student from last semester."
"I heard he turned down three girls already."
"He's even more handsome in person."
I blinked.
So...
That was Liam.
The mysterious university heartthrob everyone had been talking about online before resumption.
I wasn't interested.
At least...
That's what I told myself.
Straightening my shoulders, I walked toward the empty seat.
Just before I reached it, Liam looked up from his book.
Our eyes met.
For one brief second, everything around me seemed to fade into the background.
His eyes were a warm shade of brown, calm and unreadable, yet strangely comforting.
He gave me a polite smile.
"Are you looking for a seat?"
His voice was smooth and gentle.
I quickly looked away.
"Yes."
He glanced at the chair beside him.
"It's free."
"Thank you."
I carefully placed my bag beneath the desk before sitting down.
A faint scent drifted toward me.
His cologne.
It wasn't overpowering like the expensive perfumes people often wore.
Instead, it smelled clean, warm, and fresh, reminding me of cedarwood after rainfall.
Without realizing it, I inhaled softly.
"Focus," I scolded myself.
"He's just another student."
The lecturer hadn't arrived yet, and the hall buzzed with conversations.
Liam quietly returned to reading his book.
Curiosity got the better of me.
"What are you reading?"
The question escaped before I could stop myself.
He looked up.
"The Psychology of Human Behavior."
I smiled awkwardly.
"That sounds... serious."
He chuckled.
"It probably does."
His laugh surprised me.
For someone with such a calm appearance, it was unexpectedly warm.
"I'm Liam," he said, extending his hand.
For a moment, I hesitated.
Then I reached out.
"I'm..."
The instant our hands met, a strange warmth spread through my fingers.
His handshake was gentle—not too firm, not too loose.
Just respectful.
"...I'm Ava."
"It's nice to meet you, Ava."
"You too."
Before either of us could continue, a girl wearing designer sunglasses walked confidently toward our row.
She smiled brightly at Liam.
"Hi, Liam."
"Hello."
"Mind if I sit beside you?"
He glanced toward the occupied seats before looking back at her.
"I'm sorry, but this seat's already taken."
Her smile disappeared as she noticed me sitting there.
"Oh."
She looked me up and down.
"I didn't notice."
I offered a polite smile.
"It's okay."
Without another word, she walked away.
I quietly exhaled.
University certainly wasn't lacking in drama.
"You seem popular," I joked.
Liam rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'd rather not be."
"Really?"
"I came here to study."
His answer caught me off guard.
"So did I."
For the first time since meeting him, he smiled a little wider.
"Looks like we have something in common."
Something about those words made my heart flutter unexpectedly.
The lecture hall suddenly fell silent as the professor entered.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Professor."
"Welcome to a new academic session."
As the lecture began, I opened my notebook and tried to focus.
Tried.
Every few minutes, I became painfully aware of Liam sitting beside me.
When he wrote notes, his handwriting was surprisingly neat.
When he listened, he paid complete attention.
When the professor asked a difficult question, Liam answered calmly without trying to impress anyone.
Everything about him felt... effortless.
Halfway through the lecture, the professor assigned everyone into semester-long study pairs.
Before I could even wonder who my partner would be, he looked directly at our row.
"Since you're already seated together, Liam and Ava will work as partners this semester."
A murmur swept through the hall.
I froze.
Liam simply turned toward me.
"I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other."
For the first time that morning, I laughed.
"I guess we will."
Little did I know...
That single empty seat in a crowded lecture hall had just changed the course of my university life forever.
