The Reveal

The next morning, Nora woke up late.

Very late.

“Mum!” she rushed out of her room, half-dressed, grabbing her bag. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I tried,” Mrs. Oscar replied calmly. “You threatened me in your sleep.”

Nora didn’t even stop. “Please, let’s go, I’m already late!”

A few minutes later, she jumped out of the car in front of the faculty building.

“Bye, Mum!”

“Try not to spill anything today,” her mother called after her.

Nora froze mid-step. “…Not funny!”

She hurried toward the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, heels clicking fast.

Her phone rang.

“Hello?” she said, breathless.

“Where are you?” Mary’s voice came sharp.

“I’m already in the faculty. Why?”

“The lecturer is in class already!”

Nora stopped walking. “What? Already?”

“Yes! And he’s taking attendance!”

“Attendance? This early? What is wrong with all these old lecturers?” Nora groaned, climbing the stairs two at a time. “Please, keep a seat for me!”

“Baby girl, he is calling names. So get your ass up here!”

The call ended.

Nora stared at her phone.

“Attendance? By this time? God please in you…”

She pushed the classroom door open—

“…Philip Levi.”

“Present, sir,” a student answered.

Nora slipped in quietly, trying not to draw attention, chest rising and falling fast.

“…Nora Oscar.”

Silence.

“…Nora Oscar.”

She froze at the door.

“Miss Oscar?” the lecturer called again.

“Present, sir!” Nora blurted out.

Every head turned.

The lecturer slowly turned toward the door.

Nora froze.

Her heart dropped.

Her brain stopped working.

No.

No way.

It was him.

The coffee guy.

He stared at her. Calm. Still. Unreadable.

Her palms went cold.

For a second, the entire room disappeared.

Just him.

Looking at her like he recognized her.

Because he did.

“…Miss Oscar,” he said finally, voice steady. “Kindly take your seat.”

Nora nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”

She walked to the nearest empty seat like someone being escorted to judgment.

Mary leaned closer immediately.

“Girl…”

Nora didn’t respond.

“Girl,” Mary whispered again, barely holding it in.

“That is your coffee guy.”

Nora stared straight ahead. “…I know.”

“Our lecturer.”

“…I know.”

Mary bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

“You are finished.”

Nora closed her eyes briefly.

“I’m dead.”

“Good morning, class,” He said, turning back to the board like nothing happened.

“Good morning, sir,” the class responded.

“My name is Edwin Hart. I’ll be taking you for NUD 215 this semester.”

Nora swallowed.

Edwin Hart.

Of course he had a name.

“And I expect punctuality, focus, and seriousness,” he continued. “Nutrition is not guesswork. It is science.”

Mary leaned slightly.

“He’s strict.”

“No kidding,” Nora muttered.

Edwin picked up a marker and began writing.

“Today, we’ll be introducing macronutrients. Can anyone tell me the three major classes of macronutrients?”

Hands went up.

Nora stared at him.

That’s him.

That is actually him.

“Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats,” a student answered.

“Correct,” Edwin nodded. “Now, carbohydrates—primary function?”

More answers came.

Nora heard nothing.

Her mind was replaying everything.

You always approach strangers like this?

Why are you always seeking attention?

Don’t touch it.

“Miss Oscar.”

Her heart skipped.

She didn’t move.

“Miss Oscar.”

Mary elbowed her. “He’s calling you!”

Nora snapped up. “Sir?”

Edwin’s eyes were on her. Calm. Sharp.

“Since you seem… distracted,” he said, “kindly explain the primary function of proteins in the human body.”

Nora blinked.

Her brain went blank.

Completely blank.

“Proteins…” she started slowly.

Silence.

The whole class waited.

“…they are… um…”

Mary whispered, “Growth and repair!”

Nora panicked.

“They are… for… energy?”

The class went quiet.

Mary slapped her forehead.

Edwin held her gaze.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then—

“Proteins can provide energy,” he said calmly, “but that is not their primary function.”

Nora wished the ground would open.

“They are mainly responsible for growth, repair, and maintenance of body tissues,” he continued.

“Yes, sir,” Nora said quickly, cheeks burning.

Edwin tilted his head slightly.

“Perhaps if you focused less on… unnecessary distractions, you’d recall basic concepts.”

A few students snickered.

Nora’s jaw tightened.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Pay attention.”

He turned back to the board.

Mary leaned in immediately.

“Unnecessary distractions?? He dragged you!”

Nora whispered, “I’m going to cry.”

“Don’t cry, just don’t talk again.”

“I didn’t even talk!”

Mary bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

Class continued.

But Nora wasn’t listening.

Not really.

She kept sneaking glances at him.

The way he spoke.

The way he wrote.

Calm. Controlled. Completely different from everyone else.

And yet…

Still the same guy from the coffee shop.

Still the same guy who looked at her like she was chaos.

The lecture was over.

Students began packing up.

Nora grabbed her bag quickly.

“I’m leaving. I can’t stay here.”

Mary held her wrist.

“Relax.”

“I embarrassed myself. Again!”

“Welcome to your brand.”

Nora glared at her.

As she stood up—

“Miss Oscar.”

She froze.

Slowly turned.

Edwin was watching her.

The class quieted slightly.

“…Yes, sir?” she said carefully.

He paused.

Then said,

“See me after class.”

Mary’s grip tightened.

“Ah.”

Nora swallowed.

“…Yes, sir.”

As the last student walked out, Nora stood rooted to the spot.

Her heart pounding.

Mary leaned close and whispered—

“Boo… you are in trouble.”