Peeking at my watch, I realized that it was almost time for my French lecture, which was set to begin in thirty minutes. "Hey guys, it was great meeting y'all again, but I have to go now; my lecture starts soon," I announced to Justin, Florian, and the others. As I cast a brief glance around, I caught his gaze. There was something in his expression that I couldn't quite decipher-it appeared melancholic. Was it because I was leaving? I dismissed the thought, convincing myself it was just a trick of the mind.

Aishi's voice trailed behind me, assuring, "OK, I'll see you at home tonight."

In a hurry, I made my way to the parking lot, searching for my Mini Cooper. Unlocking the doors, I settled into the driver's seat and started the engine. To my dismay, a thin layer of dark smoke unexpectedly emitted from the front of the car. Panic set in, and instinctively, I dialed the first number on my phone book - Aishi. The unexpected turn of events left me hoping for a quick solution, and Aishi's presence was my first call for reassurance and assistance.

"Bro, my car is emitting an unusual odor; could you please drop me off?" I spoke into the phone, a creeping tenseness evident in my voice.

"Oh shit, I will do something," Aishi responded on the other end, her voice reflecting a mix of concern and determination. The unexpected car trouble added a layer of urgency to the situation, and I waited anxiously for Aishi's guidance, hopeful that her resourcefulness would help resolve the issue. As I stood by my Mini Cooper, the faint smell of smoke lingering in the air, I knew that navigating this unexpected hiccup required a quick and effective solution.

While waiting for Aishi and assessing the unexpected car trouble, I took a moment to scroll through the pictures I had taken earlier. One particular photo seized my attention-the one with Florian. In the picture, we appeared remarkably close, and his handsome features were striking, reminiscent of the Greek gods from mythology. His eyes, in particular, were drop-dead gorgeous, capturing a depth and intensity that seemed to hold a story of their own. Reflecting on Florian, I couldn't help but acknowledge his allure. He was undoubtedly the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on, possessing an undeniable charm that resonated with the essence of mythological figures. Despite knowing very little about him, I was well aware of his status among the girls at ECU-he was the object of their collective admiration.

Recalling our first class together, where he had been seated beside me, I couldn't deny the fluttering of butterflies in my heart. Florian had effortlessly captivated my attention. What intrigued me, however, was his carefree demeanor. Unlike the girls who flocked around him like hungry pigeons, he seemed oblivious to the adoration. It bestowed upon him an air of indifference, an aura befitting a god of great power. As I examined the photo, I found myself pondering the enigma that was Florian, a presence that added a layer of intrigue to the ordinary moments of university life.There she is.

''Bella?'' a deep voice broke the silence around me. I turned around, my heart skipping a beat, and stood still, confronted by the unexpected encounter. The girl who was always full of energy, was now quiet. I could almost imagine Florian, mentally amused, perhaps laughing aloud at the contrast.

''Hey,'' I managed to whisper

''I'm heading the same way,'' he said, breaking the silence with a casual remark. The simplicity of his words contrasted with the whirlwind of emotions that seemed to stir within me. As we shared a common destination, the ordinary act of heading in the same direction took on a significance that lingered in the air, leaving an unspoken tension between us.

"Oh," was all I managed to mutter in response.

"What happened?" he questioned, noticing the concern on my face.

"How am I supposed to leave my car here? It's dangerous," I expressed my worry, contemplating the predicament.

"Don't worry," His simple response carried a confidence that momentarily eased my concerns, leaving me to trust his assurance. The unfolding events seemed to have taken an unexpected turn, with Florian's presence becoming an unforeseen source of support in navigating the challenges of the day.

"What a flirt," I thought, a touch of irritation crossing my mind. It was easy to see why all those girls flocked over him. I found myself at a loss for words, questioning how I had ended up in his car. Aishi must have orchestrated this; I mentally facepalmed myself for falling into this situation. Turning my attention towards Florian, I couldn't help but notice his curly black hair, which seemed to crown his head with a few stray locks playfully dangling on his forehead. An involuntary thought crossed my mind-why is he so handsome? The unexpected notion left me flustered, and I found myself wishing I could devour him right then and there. A soft giggle escaped my lips unintentionally, a sound that didn't go unnoticed by Florian.

"Share the joke with me too, princess," he smirked, catching my attention. His playful remark added an extra layer of complexity to the already perplexing situation, leaving me to navigate the car ride with a mix of amusement and a hint of uncertainty.

My knees quivered at the way he whispered "princess." He exuded the aura of the type of guy your dad always warns you about. Tall and well-built, Florian possessed impeccable facial features - wide bluish-grey eyes, perfect eyebrows, and eyelashes that could be described as nothing less than sexy. His arms appeared well-built, and the contours of his abs were visible through his tight shirt. The long, slender legs completed the picture, creating an image of a hot, messy skyscraper of a man. As I sat beside him, the subtle allure of his presence, coupled with the magnetic pull of his charisma, made it challenging to focus on anything else. Despite the internal warnings, a part of me found it hard to deny the undeniable physical attraction. The car ride, which had started as an unexpected twist of fate, became a journey through uncharted territories, where the landscape seemed to shift with every whispered word and smirking glance from Florian.

"It's just some dad joke," I lazily brushed off the matter, attempting to divert the conversation and prevent further embarrassment.

We reached ECU before Florian could say anything. I expressed my gratitude, "Thanks for the ride, Florian. That was so sweet of you." Opening the door, I quickly turned on my heels and ran to my class without waiting for his response. Hastening to my class, I eagerly anticipated the end of the afternoon. The day had unfolded in unexpected ways, filled with twists and turns, but an underlying sense of happiness lingered. Throughout the lecture, a genuine smile adorned my face, marking a contrast to the routine days. The warmth of unexpected kindness and the company of intriguing individuals had turned an ordinary day into a wonderful one, leaving me with a renewed sense of joy that I hadn't felt in a long time.

As I opened my bag to reach for my notebook, a familiar fragrance wafted through the air. "Shut up, it can't be him," my brain protested. Slowly lifting my head, I was surprised to find him already staring at me with those magnificent eyes. He didn't blink, and a smirk played on his lips. I mentally slapped myself when Mr. Jean Paul introduced Florian as the subsidiary French teacher.

My heart clenched at the revelation, and I let out a forced cough, drawing attention to myself. Observing my state, Florian couldn't help but smirk. Mr. Jean Paul left the class, leaving me to grapple with the reality that Florian, the unexpected presence from earlier, was now my French teacher. Thankfully, the class was small, with only five students present-the smaller, the better, I thought, trying to process this unexpected turn of events.

''Je suis Florian, votre professeur de français,'' he announced. Florian continued with a few rules, his delivery marked by his typical flair for eccentric regulations. ''Bella, viens ici,'' he said, breaking into my thoughts. I stood up, challenging the request, and replied, ''Pourquoi? Je suis bien étalée ici.'' ''C'est moi le professeur,'' he simply replied, asserting his authority. The unexpected twist of Florian becoming my French teacher added a layer of complexity to the situation.

I walked to his table, and he handed me some papers. ''Comme c'est une classe de français, on va communiquer en français. Vous avez eu assez de temps pour pratiquer votre grammaire, et maintenant on va commencer par la lecture. Je vais vous envoyer les notes importantes sur vos emails,'' he continued. I peeped at the papers; he had actually given us paragraphs to read to practice our vocal tone. Thankfully, having attended a British French medium school, my proficiency level was more advanced than those present here. Still, I wanted to earn a certificate - there's no harm in adding an additional certificate to the collection, right? The challenge and the promise of improvement ignited a spark of determination in me as I prepared for the semester ahead.

''Bella va être la représentante de votre classe, alors c'est elle qui va collecter vos devoirs,'' he suddenly declared. ''Moi? Pourquoi moi, Florian?'' I said, shocking everyone at the mention of his name. ''Désolée, monsieur le prof,'' I added with a sarcastic undertone, which he clearly ignored as he walked away because it was already time to head home. The unexpected responsibility of being the class representative added another layer to the day's surprises, leaving me to navigate the complexities of both student and representative roles in Florian's French class.