Shielded from the Crowd
1303 Words
The morning lecture ended with the sound of the professor closing his laptop.
"Take a fifteen-minute break," he announced. "We'll continue with the next session afterward."
Almost immediately, the lecture hall came alive with chatter. Some students stretched in their seats while others hurried outside to buy snacks or coffee.
I remained where I was, organizing the notes I had taken during the lecture.
Beside me, Liam quietly closed his notebook and leaned back in his chair.
"You take really neat notes," he said.
I looked up in surprise.
"You noticed?"
He smiled.
"It'll make studying together much easier."
A faint warmth spread across my cheeks.
"Thank you."
Before I could say anything else, I noticed several girls glancing in our direction.
One of them whispered something to another, and they all laughed.
I frowned slightly but chose to ignore them.
"They've been looking over here since class started," I muttered.
Liam followed my gaze before sighing quietly.
"They're probably just curious."
"I'm not so sure."
Just then, Liam's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
"I need to answer this. It'll only take a minute."
"Go ahead."
He stood and stepped a few feet away to take the call, leaving me alone at our table.
The moment he disappeared from sight, the same group of girls began walking toward me.
There were five of them.
The one in front had perfectly styled hair and wore expensive designer accessories that immediately caught everyone's attention.
She stopped beside our table and folded her arms.
"So..."
I looked up politely.
"Yes?"
"You're sitting in my seat."
I blinked in confusion.
"I'm sorry?"
"That seat belongs beside Liam."
I glanced at the empty chair.
"The professor assigned us as partners."
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure he'll understand if we switch."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
Another girl stepped closer.
"Don't make this difficult."
"I'm only following the seating arrangement."
The first girl placed her hand on the back of my chair.
"You don't belong here."
I slowly stood.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't touch my chair."
"Oh?"
She smirked.
"What are you going to do about it?"
Without warning, another girl bumped my shoulder.
I stumbled backward.
Before I could regain my balance, someone pushed me again.
The edge of the platform behind me caught my heel.
Everything happened in an instant.
My heart lurched into my throat.
I was falling.
The lecture hall spun before my eyes.
Then...
A strong arm wrapped securely around my waist.
Another hand caught my arm before I hit the floor.
Instead of crashing onto the hard tiles, I found myself pressed safely against someone's chest.
A familiar scent surrounded me.
Fresh cedarwood.
Liam.
He had caught me.
His grip was firm enough to steady me but gentle enough that I never felt uncomfortable.
"Easy," he said softly.
"I've got you."
For a brief second, neither of us moved.
My heart pounded wildly.
I could hear his steady breathing.
The lecture hall fell completely silent.
Every student nearby had turned to watch.
Slowly, Liam helped me back onto my feet.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"N-No."
"Can you stand?"
"Yes."
He didn't release my waist until he was certain I had regained my balance.
Only then did he step back.
His expression, usually calm and unreadable, had changed.
There was unmistakable concern in his eyes.
He turned toward the girls.
"What happened?"
The leader forced a laugh.
"It was just an accident."
Liam looked from them to me.
"Was it?"
I hesitated.
Before I could answer, another girl spoke.
"We were only joking."
His voice remained calm.
"It didn't look like a joke."
The smile disappeared from her face.
Liam took a single step forward.
"I don't appreciate anyone making my study partner uncomfortable."
No shouting.
No anger.
Just quiet certainty.
Yet somehow, his words carried enough weight that no one dared argue.
"If she says she's staying here," he continued, "then that's the end of the discussion."
The girls exchanged embarrassed glances.
One by one, they muttered quiet apologies before walking away.
As soon as they were gone, the conversations around the lecture hall slowly resumed.
Liam turned back to me.
"I'm sorry."
I frowned.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I shouldn't have walked away."
"It wasn't your fault."
He studied my face carefully.
"You're sure you're okay?"
I smiled softly.
"I'm fine."
He looked relieved.
"Good."
For a moment, an awkward silence settled between us.
Then he pulled out my chair.
"Please..."
He gestured toward it.
"Sit."
I couldn't help smiling.
"You don't have to treat me like royalty."
A small laugh escaped him.
"I know."
"Then why are you?"
"Because I'd rather make sure you're smiling than see you get hurt."
My heart skipped a beat.
I looked away before he could notice the blush spreading across my cheeks.
As I sat down, he quietly took his seat beside me.
"I hope this doesn't make university difficult for you," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"Some people like creating unnecessary drama."
I shrugged lightly.
"I didn't come here to compete with anyone."
"What did you come here for?"
I smiled.
"To graduate, get a good job, and make my dad proud."
His eyes softened.
"That's a good reason."
"What about you?"
He looked out the window for a moment.
"I promised someone important that I'd become the best version of myself."
"You must care about that person a lot."
"I do."
Before I could ask another question, the professor returned to the lecture hall.
"Everyone, take your seats."
As the lecture resumed, I found it almost impossible to concentrate.
Every time I remembered Liam catching me before I fell, my heart beat just a little faster.
I had only known him for a day.
Yet somehow...
For the first time since starting university, I no longer felt like I was facing this new chapter of my life alone.
End of Chapter 2
- Writer
