Episode 1

"Come on Tess, you're already late!" Thessaly mutters to herself, slipping on her shoes in her bedroom.

She dashes down the stairs, and her mother calls her to have breakfast.

"It's okay, Mom, I'll grab something on campus. I'm late!"

"Take care, Tess!"

Thessaly speeds to college, arriving just in time. She hurtles through the doors and collides with a man she's never seen on campus before.

"I'm so sorry," she gasps.

The man, seeming somewhat surprised, steadies her by the arm but quickly lets go and looks at her intently. "Where are you rushing off to?"

Thessaly answers without stopping, "To class. There's a session with a new lecturer today; I can't be tardy on his first day—what will he think of me!"

"Ah, aiming to make a good first impression!"

"And to avoid trouble. Rumor has it he's the devil incarnate."

"Good luck, young lady."

Thessaly quickens her pace and arrives at the classroom. Her friend Dani is already there, looking anxious, and Thessaly takes the seat beside her.

To everyone's surprise, Professor Lurdes enters and announces that for today only, the schedule has changed and the new professor will start tomorrow.

Thessaly breathes a sigh of relief and settles into another day of learning.

During the break, she spots the same man, but he pretends not to see her, so Thessaly just watches him, saying nothing.

...----------------...

In the afternoon, Thessaly and Dani work on an assignment together, and Thessaly recounts her encounter with the man, making Dani laugh.

"So, you almost knocked him over?"

"Oh, Dani, don't remind me. How embarrassing. I turned the corner at full tilt and ran right into him, nearly sending us both crashing to the ground. Lucky for me, he's strong enough to hold us both up."

Danielle bursts out laughing, then changes the subject, telling Thessaly that the coming weekend looks promising.

"I dunno, Dani. I'm growing tired of these little parties."

Danielle rolls her eyes. "It's time for you to start living again."

"I am living just fine, darling."

"You know what I mean. How is it that with such liberal parents who don't confine you, allowing you to come and go without explanation, and yet you don't take advantage of it?"

Thessaly laughs. "Maybe that's precisely why I don't care. They always say forbidden fruit tastes sweeter."

Danielle laughs again, agreeing that it makes sense.

...----------------...

"Hey man, so how was college? Any cute girls?" Ilker inquires.

Can laughs. "Dude, don’t start. You know my rules."

Ilker chuckles. "No dating your students, none under 25, and so on."

Can laughs. "And the teachers—most are old enough to be my mother."

Ilker nudges him. "Why not break the rule just once?"

Can shakes his head. "And throw away my career over inexperienced girls? No thanks. Just today I bumped into a girl, couldn't be more than 19 or 20, late, scatterbrained, and clumsy. Not worth it."

Ilker laughs. "So, what's the plan for tonight?"

Can grins, pouring a drink. "You know, I've been running around stressed for days. Tonight, I'm going to relax. I called Elza; she'll send me one of her girls. I'll use her, pay her, and she'll leave. No attachments. That’s another rule of mine."

Ilker - "Never sleep with the same woman more than once."

Can - "Exactly!"

Ilker stands up. "Well, in that case, I'm off, champ. Tomorrow, that office is going to be on fire."

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