Chapter 2

Three months ago, Chloe had turned down my offer to drive her to the station, leaving for her internship city all on her own.

Looking at Logan now, I could faintly detect the subtle family resemblance between him and Chloe.

A wave of hollow dread washed over me.

Me, Maya.

A girl who had sworn off all romance to focus purely on passing my exams... was I really about to fold? Did I even have a future?

Hearing this, Harper was rolling around on her bed, laughing hysterically.

"Chloe is literally the hardest nut to crack in the entire department! How the hell does she have a cousin that hot?!"

At that, I reached over and steadied Harper’s wobbling head.

"Doesn't your journalism clique obsess over those cool, detached academic gods like Logan?"

"Why hasn't anyone made a move on him?"

Harper held her hands up against the sunlight, admiring her fresh manicure with total disdain.

"You know what they say about guys like that."

I blinked, lost. "What?"

Harper sneered, "Old news. Pass."

I nearly choked on my water.

Harper sat up, her face turning a bit more serious.

"Our university has barely been around for a century, but your 'dream boy' Logan looks at least three or four years older than us. He's probably one of those ancient fast-track PhD candidates. Even brushing past him counts as harassing an academic fossil."

Harper leaned in close, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm not desperate like you."

I instantly raised my hand in protest.

"I don't like Logan!"

Harper arched an eyebrow, wearing a face that said keep lying to yourself. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say."

"Then explain to me how you caught feelings for the 'cousin' your roommate sent to babysit you?"

If I really had to pinpoint when it happened...

Maybe it was every drowsy afternoon when he’d tap me awake with his pen, only to slide a mint across the desk without a word.

Maybe it was every rushed lunch when a piping hot sandwich mysteriously appeared on my desk.

Or maybe it was every late night when I was having a mental breakdown over my core modules, and the notes and files he sent over always solved every single roadblock with pinpoint accuracy.

My study guides were piled high like a mountain. Every time I called my mom for an allowance bump, she asked if I’d picked up some secret, shady shopping addiction.

A faint melancholic sigh escaped me.

"It’s not like I’m in love with him," I stubbornly argued. "I just figured if we actually dated, I could use him for perks with a clear conscience—like saving seats, grabbing my takeout, and highlighting the test material."

Harper gave an enlightened nod.

"So the current situation is: your roommate thinks you're slaving away for grad school apps, but instead, you took her pass and bagged her cousin."

I flopped back onto the bed, utterly dead to the world.

"Chloe’s coming back soon anyway. It’s not like she’s losing anything."

"You never know. Around here, the only point of you grad school hopefuls is to prove you're single."

I have no idea who started that rumor on campus.

They claimed aspiring grad students only ever did three things:

Tie their hair into a high ponytail.

Chew on a pen cap.

And find a boyfriend...

"That is pure slander!"

I spat out the air in my mouth, my high ponytail swinging behind my head.

"Why would I need a boyfriend right now? Do I think getting accepted is too easy?"

Harper: "..."

Eventually, Harper left.

I popped a lollipop into my mouth, lying flat and staring at the ceiling.

A shadow suddenly fell over me.

Quickly swatting away the hand reaching for my candy, I closed my eyes and sighed, exasperated. "Logan, cut it out."

"Who do you think you're talking to?"

His tone was calm, giving nothing away.

I scrambled upright in an instant.

"Senior."

I dusted off my clothes, though there wasn't a speck on them. "Nice weather today. I should head to the study lounge."

"Make yourself at home, Senior!"

"Maya."

He called after me just as I was about to slip away. His voice betrayed neither anger nor warmth.

"Are you avoiding me?"