Chapter 2 :- Start of something golden (part-2)

“Hey,” came a voice, a little breathless, a little too bright, to finally pull Aurora out of her own world of thoughts.

She turned to see the bubble- gum- pink- haired girl still there, walking by her side — her cheeks flushed, eyeliner still perfectly winged, and her schoolbag bouncing with every step. “You seriously didn’t know who Leo was? Like, the Leo Callahan?”

Aurora shook her head with an awkward smile. “I just… bumped into him.”

“I’m Rhea! You can call me Queen, whatever suits you. ” the girl beamed, holding out her hand with such enthusiastic force that Aurora nearly dropped her notes again.

“Just call her Rhee.” Said another voice, cutting-in Rhea’s sentences but it was still softer — the girl who had quietly stood beside Rhea the whole time, adding touch ups to Rhea’s dialogues from time to time. She had honey-brown skin, eyes framed by round glasses, and a warm vibe that wrapped around you like a cozy blanket.

“Rude.” Rhea dramatically scoffed.

“And I’m Vanessa, Van for short.” She ignored Rhea like thin air and continued. “I’m in Aerospace batch 101, Lecture Hall A3 too… I think, I sat two rows behind you. You know I was the one who wrote you that kinda creepy note in Vance’s lecture.”

“Aw, how can I forget it!” Aurora smiled, a little hesitantly, but it felt warm. Real. Although Rhea felt like a third wheeling here, she asked them what they were chatting about but ended up sounding like a child hopping like a broken toy. Still, it was the kind of warmth you don’t expect on your first day in a completely new world.

“I’m Aurora or you can call me Auro… if suitable.” she said, shaking both their hands in turn.

“Well, Auro,” Rhea grinned, flipping her pink curls back dramatically, “you just caught the attention of the hottest guy in the college, so… obviously we have to sit together for lunch now.”

Vanessa giggled. “Come on, cafeteria’s this way. And we really need to get food into you before your brain short-circuits from that run-in.”

Aurora laughed—really laughed—for the first time since this chaotic day had begun. “Honestly, I could eat an entire spaceship right now.”

Rhea hooked her arm around Aurora’s as they walked. “That’s the spirit. First heartbreak? We binge chocolate. First college breakdown? We binge fries. First Leo moment?” She paused for effect. “We document it, obviously.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes, but fondly. “Ignore her. She’s been journaling her imaginary life with Leo since freshman year.”

The cafeteria buzzed with the kind of chaos only a first day of college could bring—clinking trays, students scanning tables, and the scent of freshly baked garlic bread wafting through the air like a promise.

Aurora spotted a free table near the window and waved at Vanessa, who was still stuck in line, balancing a juice box on top of her tray like a game of Tetris. Rhea, already seated with her boots propped against the chair leg, was casually scrolling through her phone and sipping on a peach soda.

“So,” Aurora said, unwrapping her sandwich, “how do you two know each other?”

Vanessa plopped into the chair next to her just then, nearly spilling her fries. “Oh, that’s a story,” she grinned, tossing a fry toward Rhea. “Want to tell it, senorita?”

Rhea didn’t even flinch. She caught the fry mid-air like it was second nature, crunched it, and raised a brow. “Dramatic version or real version?”

“Both,” Aurora laughed, taking a bite of her sandwich.

Rhea sat up straighter, adjusting her pink bubble-gum ponytail like it was a crown. “Okay. Picture this: it was raining. Hard. Like nature was crying because freshmen were getting lost.”

Vanessa groaned. “Here we go…”

“I was in semester 3, second year, storming across campus to return a book to the library. And there she was—little Miss, here—absolutely soaked, spinning in circles like a malfunctioning compass.”

“I was not spinning,” Vanessa huffed, crossing her arms. “I was… mildly disoriented.”

“She was crying on the phone to someone,” Rhea added with a smirk. “Asking if they had GPS for humans.”

Aurora burst into laughter, nearly choking on her juice. “Oh my god.”

Rhea grinned. “I handed her my umbrella and said, ‘Newbie, you look like a rom- com protagonist. Come with me if you want to survive.’”

“And I did survive,” Vanessa said proudly, grinning at Rhea like an annoying younger sister. “We’ve been friends since. She helped me find my dorm, taught me how to cheat the vending machine, and convinced me to dye the tips of my hair blue.”

“Worst mistake of my life,” Rhea muttered. “She looked like a broken highlighter.”

Vanessa gasped. “It was a vibe! For like a week.”

Aurora watched them, amused and a little warmed by their dynamic—the way Rhea’s sass balanced Vanessa’s sparkle, the easy friendship between them.

“You know,” Aurora said softly, “I didn’t think I’d make friends this fast.”

Vanessa leaned over and bumped her shoulder. “Same. But hey—first day and we’re already bonding over cafeteria chaos and hair dye disasters. That’s got to mean something, right?”

Rhea raised her soda can in a toast. “To chaos, carbs, and unexpected friendships.”

Aurora clinked her juice box against it, smiling.

She didn’t say it out loud, but in that moment—surrounded by fries, laughter, and two girls who felt like home—her first day didn’t feel so overwhelming anymore.

“So,” Rhea started the chit- chat again, slurping her drink. “What’s your story, Auro? Where are you from?”

Aurora paused. “Oh, just a small town. Nothing fancy. I’ve worked hard for almost 2 years to get here— at one point I lost hope of getting here, hence I took admission in a local college but still some part of me didn’t want to lose my dream just yet. I did two shifts at part-time jobs, endless applications. Chrestvelle was the dream. And I-… it still doesn’t feel real that I’m here.”

Vanessa nodded. “That’s amazing. Seriously. I got in through a science Olympiad scholarship. But sometimes I feel like everyone else already knows what they’re doing and I’m just… winging it.”

“Same!” Aurora said, eyes lighting up. “Half the formulas Vance was talking about might as well have been in another language.”

They all laughed.

“By-the-way, which dorm is yours, Auro!? How about we make a girl’s time tomorrow? Yuh know cuz tomorrow is Sunday.” Rhea was hoping on her seat like a broken toy, with springs.

“Yeah! Now, that you putted it I was curious too, it could be a great- help, for me, as we are class-homies.” Vanessa whispered the last part.

Aurora hesitated, for first time being around them, air felt heavy her throat went dry and was burning.

“I don’t live in dorms; I have rented a tiny apartment on the outer crusts of the city.” Somehow, she manages the words out.

“Whaaaaaaaat!” they both gasped, first Aurora thought, they were pitying her but, to her surprise, their voice seemed rather… Surprised!!!??

With the amusement, Aurora looks up.

“Girl!!! You are so damn lucky!” Rhea said as she would die envying her.

But- Lucky!?

“Yeah, you don’t have to listen to the lectures and mocks of wardens!” Vanessa joined in.

“Tell me, do you have roommates? Perhaps you have a hot hunk as your roomie!!” Rhea’s eyes were literally sparkling.

“Yeah, tell us do they irritate you?” Vanessa asked in rather a firm voice.

“I can’t quite say about a hot hunk, but he is cute and yeah, he irritates me  a little but, comes in handy at times like today due to his greatness I was able to come-to college, as he chewed on my hair strands!” Aurora said chuckling  playfully.

“Whaaatttt?” They hit that high note again and launched  up from their seats this time, they didn’t seemed amusement- in fact, they looked kind of disgusted. Aurora could see some heads turned their way.

“Chill guys you are scaring some beings here!” Aurora waved here hands as if she were calming them down. “I’m talking about my new pet rabbit that I brought in just yesterday, His name is Mochii, you can drop by anytime and meet him.”

“Ohh!” they both again intertwined their chorus and retreated back to their seats.

A wave of laughter again surrounded the cafeteria; they didn’t care about people giving them looks as they enjoyed their moment together.

“You really caught us off guard with this one!” Rhea said by wiping off a tear that trailed down her eyes due to laughing like a maniac.

“Yeah, and for sure we’ll come by and meet you little notorious Mochii.” Vanessa delivered a soft smack to Aurora’s shoulder.

“I think we’re goanna make a good team,” Aurora said, resting her chin on her palm.

Vanessa smiled. “We already are.”

“And now,” Rhea announced grandly, “we make a pact.”

Aurora raised a brow. “A pact?”

“Yep,” Rhea said. “We always sit together. We always cheer each other up after a terrible lecture. And—most importantly—we never let Leo Callahan mess with our heads.”

Vanessa giggled. “Except Auro already broke that rule.”

They all burst into laughter.

And somewhere in the upper floor of the cafeteria, watching from a spot near the railing — eyes hidden behind tinted sunglasses— Leo smirked to himself.

…

After a cheerful goodbye hug from Vanessa and an overly dramatic curtsy from Rhea, she waved and dashed toward the metro station, hoping she’d still catch the 4:10 express before the city traffic swallowed her whole.

By the time she made it to her building’s lobby, she looked like a time traveller who had sprinted through three dimensions and a physics lab.

Her sneakers squeaked slightly against the polished floor as she stumbled toward the elevator, shoulders slumping with relief. “Finally,” she whispered, pressing the button with her elbow, still clutching her notebook.

Ding.

The silver doors slid open. She stepped in… and froze.

Inside the small elevator stood the very person whose smirk had made her legs jelly not even six hours ago.

Leo.

Warm hazel eyes. Ruffled blackish brown hair. Casual white shirt rolled up at the sleeves. That same glint in his eye, like he was always a thought away from mischief.

She blinked. “You live here?”

He tilted his head slightly, amused. “You’re the one in my building, sunshine.”

Sunshine?

She stepped inside, clutching her backpack tighter, her heart thumping a little too loud in the silence. The doors slid shut, and the silence thickened like fog.

The elevator hummed as it began its slow ascent. She avoided his gaze, instead staring determinedly at the glowing floor number. 2... 3... 4...

He was the first to break the silence.

“You always crash into people like that or is today special?”

She turned her head slowly, her face blank. “Excuse me?”

“In the hall earlier,” he said, lips twitching. “I’m still recovering.”

Aurora rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “It wasn’t my fault. You were standing in the way.”

He chuckled softly. “Right. Of course. I stood in the way of your stampede.”

She glanced at him now, properly. His smile wasn’t mocking—it was… curious. Like he was genuinely amused by her flustered energy.

“Also,” he added, tapping the wall beside them, “you’ve got good instincts.”

“Huh?”

“You didn’t panic,” he said, “when my idiot friends tried to start a scene. You stayed calm.”

Aurora looked at him warily. “Why did you take my side, anyway? You don’t even know me.”

He shrugged, looking straight ahead. “Maybe I like people who don’t know me.”

The elevator dinged again. Her floor.

She stepped out, turning to look at him over her shoulder. “You’re weird.”

He leaned slightly out from the elevator, hand in his pocket, and smile was barely there.

“And you’re late,” he teased. “Hope your rabbit didn’t eat your couch.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait—how do you kn—?”

Ding. The doors closed before she could finish.

She stood frozen in the hallway for a moment, blinking at the silver doors, her heart drumming wildly.

“How the hell did he know about Mochii?” she muttered.

Inside her apartment, she would later find Mochii—very much alive, very much not on the couch—casually chewing on one of her astronomy textbooks like it was a gourmet salad.

But that mystery could wait.

For now, all she could do was lean her back against her apartment door, eyes wide and cheeks warm, thinking about one thing.

Leo Callahan was a riddle.

And she was already trying to solve him.

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