Where the Waves Taught me Love

Chapter Five: The Princess of the Halls

The next morning, I strutted into the university like I owned the place—because, in a way, I did. My heels clicked against the marble floors, and the usual stares followed me down the hallway. Boys tried to catch my eye, offering shy smiles or overly confident winks. Girls whispered as I passed; some in awe, some in envy, and a few with that look of quiet fear.

I tossed my hair back, ignoring the buzz around me, and headed straight to the Dean’s office. The air there always smelled of coffee and old wood, heavy with seriousness. Dean Lopez was already waiting for me, his glasses perched low on his nose, papers stacked neatly on his desk.

“Miss Monteverde,” he greeted with that polite smile reserved for people he knew he couldn’t mess with.

“Dean,” I replied, sliding into the chair across from him, crossing my legs like I had all the time in the world.

He cleared his throat and handed me a neatly typed sheet. “As you know, the university is holding its annual fundraiser next month. The Chairman has specifically asked for your involvement. You’re… quite an influence here.”

“Of course I am.” I scanned the paper without really reading it, my mind already wandering.

“The Chairman,” he continued, “also hopes you could extend the invitation to your father. He’d like to discuss certain business matters with Mr. Alejandro during the event.”

I froze, my smile stiffening. My father. Business. Of course. It always came back to that.

I forced a little laugh. “Oh, Dean, my father is busy. He barely has time for… social events.”

Dean Lopez leaned forward, lowering his voice as if the walls might overhear. “Sabrina, this is important. The Chairman values your father’s presence. He sees the fundraiser as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the university and Monteverde Corporation. It’s more than just social.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. My father. My father who would scold me for last night if he found out. My father who was already threatening me with this whole ‘lesson in simplicity’ thing. The last thing I wanted was to drag him into a university event where people whispered about how spoiled I was.

“I’ll… think about it,” I said finally, standing before he could press further. “But no promises.”

The Dean frowned, clearly not satisfied, but he knew better than to push me.

***

I pushed open the glass doors to the university lounge, my heels sinking into the thick carpet like it had been laid out just for me. The lounge was the kind of place where only people like me—people with names that carried weight—were allowed. Leather couches, gleaming coffee tables, the soft hum of an expensive espresso machine. Everything screamed privilege.

Yannie waved me over immediately, her eyes sparkling like she had gossip ready. Liza sat beside her, legs crossed elegantly, scrolling on her phone. Nothing unusual there. But then—my breath caught.

Across the room, leaning casually against one of the couches, was a face I knew all too well. That grin. Those sharp eyes that had burned into mine under neon lights just two nights ago.

Liam.

My stomach dropped and then immediately tightened, heat rushing to my cheeks. What the hell was he doing here?

“Sabrina!” Yannie chirped, practically bouncing in her seat. “Guess who transferred here?”

I shot her a glare that could kill. Of course, she knew. Of course, she thought this was hilarious.

Liam’s gaze found mine across the room, that same smug curve to his lips. He pushed off the couch, walking toward me with infuriating calm. Like he had every right to belong here.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said smoothly, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “Didn’t think I’d see you again so soon.”

I crossed my arms, my chin tilting upward. “What are you doing here?”

He smirked, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Studying, apparently. This place isn’t half bad. Didn’t know you went here too.”

Yannie giggled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Isn’t it crazy? The world is so small.”

I wanted to strangle her.

“Whatever,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I dropped onto the couch beside her. I grabbed a magazine from the glass table and flipped it open, pretending to be absorbed in glossy photos of designer gowns.

But Liam didn’t take the hint. Of course he didn’t. He strolled over and leaned against the couch, hovering much too close. “So this is where the princess spends her days, huh? Surrounded by her little kingdom.”

I flicked my eyes up at him, unimpressed. “You sound jealous.”

He grinned. “Of your couch? Maybe.” His gaze lingered a little too long, and I hated how my skin prickled under it.

I groaned, grabbing a latte off the table that wasn’t even mine, just to have something to do with my hands. “You talk too much.”

“Only because you’re pretending you don’t want to listen,” he shot back smoothly.

Before I could reply, Yannie leaned in, her grin mischievous. “Well, at least now we know our little intro worked.”

Liza chimed. “And clearly, they both hit it off.”

“Hit it off? Please." I rolled my eyes.

Yannie squealed and clapped her hands together. “Oh my God, this is better than I imagined!”

I shot her a deadly glare, but it only made her laugh harder. Liza joined in, smirking knowingly at Liam, like the two of them had just orchestrated my downfall.

I opened my mouth to fire back when the lounge doors swung open.

Semi walked in first, clutching her designer tote like a lifeline. Right behind her was Louis—tall, broad-shouldered, the golden boy of our year.

The temperature in the room seemed to shift.

Semi’s eyes flicked from me to Liam, then to my friends, suspicion already clouding her face. Louis, on the other hand, didn’t even glance at her. His gaze locked straight on me, and his smile lit up like I’d just made his day.

“Sabrina,” he said warmly, heading toward me like there was no one else in the room.

My lips curved into a smug little smile. “Hey,”

Semi’s jaw tightened as she trailed behind him. She barely acknowledged Yannie, or Liza, her whole attention zeroed in on me like I was her personal enemy.

Louis slid onto the couch opposite me, leaning forward with that easy charm that made every girl swoon. “So, fundraiser prep going well?”

I arched a brow. “You already heard?”

“Everyone’s talking about it,” he said. “You’ll make it perfect, though. You always do.”

Semi flinched at his words, her lips pressing into a thin line. I didn’t miss it. I also didn’t miss how Liam’s smirk faltered ever so slightly as he watched Louis take the seat closest to me.

“Louis, don’t flatter me,” I said, though my tone was anything but modest. I thrived on this kind of attention.

Yannie, sensing the sparks, leaned in to stir the pot. “Looks like Sabrina’s fan club just grew.”

Semi snapped, her voice sharp. “Not everything is about her, Yannie.”

The room stilled.

Louis frowned, glancing at Semi, but she wasn’t looking at him. Her eyes were pinned on me, fiery and accusing.

I leaned back against the couch, crossing my arms. “Careful, Semi. People might think you’re jealous.”

Her cheeks flushed crimson. “Jealous? Of you? Please.”

Liza raised her brows. “You sound jealous.”

Semi ignored her, turning to Louis with forced sweetness. “We should get going. We’re late for class.”

But Louis didn’t move. His gaze stayed locked on me. “I’ll catch up,” he said, brushing her off casually.

Semi’s face crumpled, humiliation written all over her features. She spun on her heel and stormed out, her tote nearly smacking the door on the way out.

Yannie burst out laughing the second she was gone. “Oh my god, did you see her face?”

Liza smirked. “Sabrina strikes again.”

I gave a lazy shrug, though inside I was buzzing with satisfaction. Semi had been trying to dig at me for months, circling Louis like a lovesick puppy. And once again, she lost.

But Liam wasn’t laughing. He was watching me carefully, his expression unreadable.

“You’re dangerous, princess,” he muttered finally, his tone low.

I tilted my chin, smirking. “Takes one to know one.”

Louis chuckled, clearly oblivious to the undercurrent between Liam and me. “Dangerous or not, she’s still the best this place has.”

His words sent a wave of pride through me, but also something heavier, something unsettling. I hated to admit it, but at that moment, surrounded by Liam’s quiet intensity and Louis’s open admiration, I felt the weight of everyone’s expectations pressing down.

I was Sabrina Isabelle Monteverde—the girl everyone wanted, envied, and feared. And yet, somehow, none of it felt enough.

***