Chapter 4: Intellectual Rivals

“Good morning, students,” the professor greeted as he stepped in front of the class. His voice was calm yet authoritative, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.

The new semester had just begun, and it was already January—a time for fresh starts. A new year, a new beginning, new classmates, and new challenges. But for Avyanna, it was just another phase in life, a cycle that repeated itself every few months. Things would change, whether she liked it or not, and she had long accepted that.

“Good morning, sir,” the students chorused in response, their voices blending into a collective greeting.

The professor took a moment to introduce himself, stating his name and background. However, he didn’t ask the students to introduce themselves one by one. Instead, he immediately transitioned into discussing the course syllabus and outlining his expectations for the semester.

Avyanna sat quietly at the back of the classroom, listening but not particularly excited. A new semester meant new subjects, new professors, and new faces, but for her, it all felt the same. The routine never really changed—wake up, attend classes, submit assignments, take exams, and repeat. It was an endless cycle, and she had learned to simply go along with it.

As the professor continued speaking, she let her gaze wander around the room. Some students appeared eager, their eyes filled with determination, ready to take on the challenges of the new semester. Others seemed indifferent, as if they were merely going through the motions. A few, unsurprisingly, were already looking at their phones, barely paying attention.

"Alright, let's get started," the professor announced, pulling Avyanna back to reality. She straightened in her seat, bracing herself for what was to come.

The professor turned to the whiteboard and began writing down key points from the syllabus. After a brief pause, he looked at the class and continued, “I have sent the course materials in the group chat. All you need to do is read them in advance. In our next meeting, we will be having an oral recitation.”

A soft murmur spread across the room at the mention of an oral recitation. Some students exchanged nervous glances, while others remained unfazed. Avyanna simply sighed. The semester had only just begun, and yet, expectations were already being set.

And just like that, another chapter of her academic life had begun.

Days passed by easily, just as Avyanna had expected. The routine was the same—wake up, attend classes, study, and repeat. However, some days felt rougher than others. She hadn’t visited her favorite café in a while, and strangely enough, she and Kairus had not crossed paths since that night. She had even gone to the café on his day off, only to leave with a shrug. Maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe it wasn’t meant to happen.

For now, her focus was elsewhere. She had just wrapped up a few important tasks, and all she wanted at the moment was a strong cup of coffee to help her stay awake. Tomorrow was the dreaded oral recitation, and she knew she had to prepare well and do her best.

The day of the recitation arrived faster than she had anticipated. The classroom buzzed with tension as students anxiously waited for their turn. However, as the recitation progressed, it became clear that only two students were actively answering—her and another student whom the professor kept calling on.

“Can a verbal agreement be legally enforceable?” the professor asked.

Avyanna confidently raised her hand, but before she could be called on, the professor uttered a name instead.

“Mr. Chu.”

She blinked and turned to look at the back of the classroom. That’s when she realized—Mr. Chu was none other than Kairus.

Rolling her eyes, she let out a sigh. So, they were classmates all along? And here she was, thinking she wouldn’t run into him again anytime soon.

Kairus answered the question, his voice calm and composed, but Avyanna couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied with his response. As soon as he finished, she immediately added her own insights, determined to refine the discussion with a more precise argument.

After Avyanna finished speaking, silence filled the classroom. No one dared to answer afterward. She kept her gaze fixed on Kairus, her expression laced with irritation. It was as if he always managed to steal her chances to answer.

Last semester, this kind of situation never happened. Back then, she had full control over class discussions, confidently answering without competition. But this time, it felt different. There was someone constantly challenging her, pushing her to compete whether she liked it or not.

Letting out a deep sigh, she came to a realization—this person, Kairus Chu, was going to be her academic rival.

“I have a pair task for all of you,” the professor suddenly announced, pulling her thoughts back to the moment. “I won’t be around this coming Friday, so I need you to do the reading of ten assigned cases. The points will be based on pair performance, so make sure to study together.”

Avyanna immediately sighed. In past semesters, no one had ever wanted to pair with her. The class had 37 students, an odd number, which meant she was always the one left out—no group, no partner.

“Chu and Smith, you two are partners.”

At the mention of her name, Avyanna snapped her head toward Kairus’s direction. Of all people, why him?

“Everything is set, and everyone has their partners,” the professor continued, not giving her a chance to protest. “I expect that all of you will be prepared for the next recitation. That’s it for today. Goodbye, class.”

As soon as the professor left, the classroom erupted with chatter. Students were already discussing their study schedules, some complaining about how difficult the cases were, while others planned their recitation strategies.

Avyanna was still processing the situation when Kairus’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“Avyanna, since we’re paired up, I’ll just study alone,” he said nonchalantly, his tone filled with arrogance. “Even if you don’t study, I can carry our group.”

Her fingers curled into a fist under the desk. The nerve of this guy.

“Fine,” she said with a teasing smile, refusing to back down. “I’ll study alone too. Just make sure you do your best in the recitation. I don’t want to be dragged down by you.”

Before Kairus could reply, a classmate suddenly called out, “The professor said he wants documentation!”

Avyanna groaned, rubbing her temples. Great. That meant they actually had to work together.

Kairus, however, didn’t seem the least bit fazed.

“We can just do online study—” Avyanna started, trying to find a way to avoid spending more time with him than necessary.

“You can come to the café if you want,” Kairus cut in, his voice casual but firm.

She blinked. Did he just invite her?