Kai had never liked ceremonies but who did really?
Too many speeches. Too many people pretending to care.
He sat near the back of the auditorium, one leg stretched out in front of him, lazily spinning a pen between his fingers. Around him, the new students whispered nervously while the older ones scrolled through their phones.
Kai should probably have been paying attention.
After all, this university wasn't something he could afford to take lightly.
His scholarship depended on it.
But right now, his attention was somewhere else.
On the boy standing under the bright stage lights.
Julian Ardent.
Kai had heard the name three times before the ceremony even started.
Top student.
Student Union president.
From that famous Ardent family.
Kai wasn't usually impressed by titles.
But when Julian walked onto the stage, the entire room seemed to straighten.
He looked… effortless.
Tall, composed, perfectly dressed. Like he belonged exactly where he was.
Kai stopped spinning the pen.
Julian began speaking, his voice calm and confident through the microphone.
"Welcome to the beginning of a new adventure at the university on orion...."
Kai leaned his cheek against his hand, watching him carefully.
It was strange.
Everyone else in the room looked like they were listening but Kai felt like he was studying him.
The way Julian stood. The way his shoulders stayed perfectly straight. The way he paused between sentences like he'd practiced it a hundred times.It should have looked natural.
But something about it felt… rehearsed.
Too perfect.
Kai frowned slightly.
Then Julian looked up from his speech for a moment. Their eyes met.Kai's heart did something stupid.Something sudden and embarrassing.
Oh.
Kai quickly looked away, staring at the stage floor like it had suddenly become fascinating.
Why did that happen?
He didn't even know the guy.
But when he risked another glance, Julian was still speaking, still composed, still admired by the entire hall.
Kai sighed quietly.
Of course someone like that would look like that.
Figures.
Still…
Kai couldn't stop watching.
Because beneath the polished words and perfect posture, something felt wrong.
Not obvious.
Just a small crack in the surface.Like Julian was carrying something heavy that nobody else in the room could see.Kai tilted his head slightly.
He didn't know why that bothered him.
Or why he suddenly wanted to know what that hidden thing was.
But one thought slipped into his mind before he could stop it.
You don't look happy up there.He was sure.
And for some reason…
Kai felt his chest tighten.
Like he had just noticed something he wasn't supposed to see but he had fallen in love and was noticing small details without even realising it. He fell in love at first sight with the boy before him.