Chapter 1: The First Glance

Ethan Vale (Mixxiw) walked into Professor Aiden Cross’s (Earth Pirapat) lecture hall, feeling a mixture of nerves and anticipation. It was the first class of his final semester, and he had been looking forward to this course for months. "Contemporary Literary Criticism" was known to be challenging, but more than that, it was taught by Professor Cross—widely respected, somewhat feared, and undeniably brilliant.

Ethan scanned the room, spotting an empty seat near the back. He quickly sat down, pulling out his notebook and laptop, trying to blend in with the students around him. The lecture hall was larger than he expected, and yet, it felt small the moment Professor Cross entered the room.

Aiden Cross commanded attention the second he stepped inside. His tall frame and sharp, tailored suit gave him an air of authority that made even the most confident students sit up straighter. His dark hair, perfectly combed, added to his composed appearance, but it was his eyes that captured Ethan's attention—piercing, intense, and unreadable.

"Good morning," Aiden said, his voice steady and deep, echoing through the hall. "I’m not here to waste your time or mine. This course will demand your best. If you're not prepared for that, there's the door."

A few students shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but Ethan felt a thrill. He had heard about Aiden’s no-nonsense attitude, and it only intrigued him more. This was a professor who expected excellence, and Ethan wanted to prove himself.

As Aiden began the lecture, Ethan was captivated—not just by the content, but by the way Aiden spoke. He moved fluidly between complex ideas with ease, his passion for the subject shining through with every sentence. Ethan scribbled down notes, trying to keep up with the professor's rapid pace, but every so often, he found his gaze drifting back to Aiden.

There was something about the man that was impossible to ignore. Maybe it was his intelligence, the way his voice commanded respect, or the occasional flicker of something softer behind his otherwise stern demeanor. Whatever it was, Ethan felt drawn to it, even if he couldn't explain why.

The class passed quickly, and as Aiden wrapped up the lecture, he glanced around the room. "Remember, you're not here just to listen. I expect engagement, critical thinking, and originality. Dismissed."

Students began packing up their things, but Ethan lingered for a moment. He wanted to say something—anything—to stand out, to make a good first impression. But what could he say that wouldn’t make him seem like just another eager student?

Before he could gather the courage to speak, Aiden’s eyes met his. For a brief second, Ethan felt his heart skip a beat. Aiden’s gaze was sharp, appraising, but there was something else—something that made Ethan feel as if, for that fleeting moment, he had been seen.

Then, just as quickly, Aiden broke the eye contact and turned his attention to his desk, gathering his papers.

Ethan exhaled, realizing he had been holding his breath. He grabbed his bag and headed toward the exit, his mind still buzzing from the lecture—and from that glance. It was nothing, he told himself. Just a professor scanning the room, looking at a student.

Still, as he walked out into the hallway, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. He had come to class to learn about literature, but it seemed he had left with something far more complicated.

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