Chapter 3

Nick: [Sorry about today. I didn't expect those sudden, last-minute arrangements to pop up.]

I didn't think twice about it and tapped out a casual reply: [No worries. Actually, our university happened to host a guest lecture today. Because our plans fell through, I managed to score a prime seat in the front row.]

Thinking back to the intense atmosphere in the lecture hall, I began sharing the gossip of my day with him.

I: [The expert they brought in was shockingly aloof, though. He put a student on the spot during the Q&A, and when the guy couldn't answer, the professor just iced him out.]

I: [I honestly felt so bad for the kid. But as cold as the man is, his academic caliber is top-tier. I learned a ton just from sitting in on it!]

I: [I honestly have no clue how our administration managed to pull the strings to invite an elite like him.]

I: [Oh, and get this. I was tasked with delivering some materials to his office afterward, so I got to see him up close. His looks are dangerously insane!]

Worried my boyfriend might get jealous, I quickly added: [Don't misunderstand. It was just a polite glance, and looks don't matter anyway.]

I expected Nick to share his day as well, but instead, he asked: [You study there?]

I sent back a confused emoji.

Nick: [Hudson University.]

I: [Yeah. Did I never mention that to you before?]

We had talked about so many deep, late-night topics over the months that I had lost track of whether we had ever exchanged basic logistics.

He went silent, but the status bar suggested that he was typing. Baffled by the suspense, I sent another text.

I: [Is something wrong?]

Nick: [Nothing.]

I: [Well, since we missed our chance today, we have to lock down a proper date the next time we're both free.]

Nick: [Yeah.]

His solid confirmation sent a wave of comfort through me. To say I completely didn't care about a partner's looks would be a lie, but to me, warmth, patience, and emotional stability mattered much more.

Even though I had no idea what he looked like in real life, our months of daily conversations had checked every box of my fantasy partner.

...

It was the weekend, and my mind drifted back to our postponed meetup.

I was just about to pull out my phone to ask if Nick was free when a sudden text from my counselor came through.

[Mr. Harrington is only in town briefly. We can't let this golden opportunity slide.]

My stomach dropped, and the next message confirmed my bad feeling.

[You're the student rep. Go interview him. The school's reputation is riding on this.]

I was speechless. Why did the universe throw a wrench into my schedule every time I tried to meet my boyfriend?

But to maintain my golden-student persona and protect my scholarship for the upcoming semester, I could only swallow my frustration.

I: [Understood, Professor. I'll handle it.]

I felt like an absolute hypocrite. Meeting my boyfriend was starting to feel like a distant, unreachable dream.

But since I had accepted the task, I had to put my full focus into preparing for the challenge. I sat in my dorm for a short while to organize my thoughts before heading off to the hotel.

Following the room number the professor had provided, I found the correct suite in no time. I was just about to knock when a man in a black suit stopped me.

His expression was stern. "Authorized personnel only on this floor."

Judging by his intense aura and immaculate suit, I understood that he must be the expert's assistant.

I put on my politest smile. "Hello! I'm the student representative from Hudson University. I've been dispatched by the administration to conduct an interview with Mr. Harrington."