CHAPTER TWO- Curiosity
1205 Words
The second week of classes at Westbridge University arrived faster than Sophia expected.
Campus life was slowly becoming familiar. The once confusing paths between buildings now made more sense, and Sophia had already discovered a few favorite spots—like the quiet bench near the library where she sometimes sat between lectures.
But one class remained the most interesting to her.
Modern Literature.
Not only because of the subject itself, but because of the lecturer.
Daniel Reyes.
Sophia didn’t quite understand why she kept thinking about him. It wasn’t as if he had done anything particularly special. He was simply doing his job—teaching, explaining concepts, asking questions.
Yet every time she walked into that lecture hall, she felt slightly more attentive than usual.
“Okay,” Maya said one afternoon as they walked toward the humanities building. “Be honest with me.”
Sophia glanced at her. “About what?”
“You like that class a little too much.”
Sophia laughed lightly. “It’s just interesting.”
“Mm-hmm,” Maya replied suspiciously.
They climbed the stairs toward Room 214 along with several other students.
“Let me guess,” Maya continued. “Your favorite part of the class is the tall, mysterious lecturer with the serious face.”
Sophia rolled her eyes.
“You’re imagining things.”
“I’m really not,” Maya said with a grin. “I’ve seen the way you pay attention in class. You don’t even look at your phone anymore.”
“That’s called being a good student,” Sophia replied.
Maya laughed quietly as they entered the lecture hall.
Students were already filling the room, chatting and settling into their seats.
Sophia and Maya sat in the same row they had chosen during the first lecture.
A few minutes later, Daniel walked in.
The conversations around the room gradually quieted.
He placed his notebook on the desk and looked around the lecture hall briefly.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” he said.
“Good afternoon,” several students replied.
Sophia opened her notebook.
Daniel began discussing the reading assignment from the previous week. His teaching style was calm but engaging, encouraging students to think critically about the characters and their decisions.
About halfway through the lecture, Daniel asked a question.
“Why do you think the main character hides his feelings from everyone around him?”
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then Sophia slowly raised her hand.
Daniel noticed.
“Yes, Sophia?”
She felt slightly surprised that he remembered her name.
“Maybe he’s afraid of the consequences,” she said. “Sometimes people hide their feelings because they know others wouldn’t approve.”
Daniel nodded thoughtfully.
“That’s a strong possibility.”
He turned back toward the board, writing a few key points.
Sophia felt Maya lean toward her.
“He definitely remembers you,” she whispered.
Sophia ignored the comment and focused on her notes.
But deep down, she felt a small spark of curiosity.
---
After the lecture ended, students began leaving the room.
Sophia packed her notebook into her bag while Maya checked something on her phone.
“I have another class across campus,” Maya said. “I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Okay,” Sophia replied.
She stood up and walked toward the door with the other students.
But just before she reached the hallway, she remembered something.
Her assignment.
She had a quick question about it.
Sophia hesitated for a moment, then turned back toward the front of the lecture hall.
Daniel was gathering his papers again.
Sophia approached the desk carefully.
“Excuse me,” she said.
Daniel looked up.
“Yes?”
“I just wanted to ask something about the essay assignment,” she said.
He nodded and leaned slightly against the desk.
“What’s your question?”
Sophia opened her notebook.
“For the analysis part… are we supposed to focus on the character’s actions or their emotions?”
Daniel considered the question.
“Both,” he said. “But the key is understanding why the character makes certain choices.”
He paused briefly.
“Stories become more interesting when you look beyond what characters do and ask why they do it.”
Sophia nodded.
“That makes sense.”
Daniel glanced at her notebook.
“You seem very serious about this class.”
Sophia smiled slightly.
“I like reading.”
“That’s good,” Daniel said.
There was a brief moment of silence before Sophia spoke again.
“You’re different from most lecturers,” she said without thinking.
Daniel raised an eyebrow slightly.
“How so?”
“You actually ask students what they think,” she said. “Most teachers just talk the whole time.”
Daniel chuckled softly.
“Well, literature is about perspectives. It wouldn’t make much sense if I was the only one talking.”
Sophia nodded.
“Thank you for explaining the assignment,” she said.
“You’re welcome.”
She turned to leave, but Daniel spoke again.
“Sophia.”
She looked back.
“Yes?”
“You shouldn’t hesitate to ask questions in class,” he said. “It helps everyone learn.”
Sophia smiled.
“I’ll remember that.”
Then she walked out into the hallway.
---
Later that evening, Sophia sat with her friends in the university café.
Besides Maya, two other girls had joined them.
Lena, who was energetic and loved gossip, and Tasha, who was quieter but always observant.
“So,” Lena said, stirring her drink. “How are classes going?”
“Pretty good,” Maya replied.
Sophia nodded in agreement.
“Except someone here has a favorite lecturer already.”
Sophia immediately looked at Maya.
“Seriously?”
“What?” Maya said innocently.
Lena leaned forward.
“Oh? Tell me more.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” Sophia said quickly.
Tasha raised an eyebrow.
“Now I’m curious.”
Maya grinned.
“Her literature lecturer.”
Lena gasped dramatically.
“Is he handsome?”
Sophia sighed.
“He’s just a normal lecturer.”
“That means yes,” Lena said immediately.
Sophia laughed despite herself.
“You guys are impossible.”
But even as they joked about it, Sophia noticed something.
She didn’t completely hate the idea.
---
Meanwhile, in his office across campus, Daniel sat at his desk reviewing student essays.
The room was quiet except for the occasional sound of pages turning.
He paused when he reached a familiar name.
Sophia Carter.
He skimmed through her work quickly.
Her writing was thoughtful. Insightful.
Better than most first-year students.
Daniel leaned back slightly in his chair.
He remembered her answers during lectures.
She asked good questions.
Engaged with the material.
He tapped his pen lightly against the desk before returning to his work.
To him, she was simply another student.
Nothing more.
But outside his office window, the campus lights slowly flickered on as evening settled in.
And somewhere across the university, Sophia sat with her friends, laughing and talking about classes.
Neither of them realized that their paths would soon begin to cross more often.
And that what started as simple curiosity would slowly turn into something far more complicated.
- Writer
