By around eight in the morning, the sun was already blazing mercilessly high in the sky, spreading its warm rays across the campus. There were few people walking through the corridors; most were already inside their classrooms, focused on studying or on the first activities of the day. Only the late ones—like me—were rushing around, desperately trying to escape the wrath of a clock that never forgives. It was far too early to be awake, yet there I was, racing against time to avoid being caught entering by the professor. And, as always, I was one of the last to arrive.
Luckily, I managed to slip into the classroom without being noticed. The professor had his back turned, scribbling something on the board, and didn't seem to notice my late arrival. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief, silently thanking my luck, since he was the type who didn't tolerate tardiness. With an almost military attitude toward punctuality, he made a point of recording even the slightest deviation from schedule. I didn't know how he treated others, but I definitely didn't want to be the target of his morning frustration.
I quickly scanned the room and spotted Nathan, already seated at his desk, staring at his phone. I decided to sit beside him.
"Always late, huh?" he whispered, looking up with an amused smile.
"Overslept," I replied, trying to brush off the implicit criticism. Then I gave a sarcastic grin, as if everything were completely under control—even though it clearly wasn't.
Nathan then discreetly pointed toward Olivia, who was sitting a few rows ahead of us.
"Olivia looks beautiful today, as always," he said, his tone filled with admiration.
In the economics course, very few girls truly stood out, but Olivia was undoubtedly the exception. She entered college the same year I did, and from the very first day it was impossible not to notice her presence. Her perfectly straight black hair, intense blue eyes, and full, rosy lips gave her an aura of perfection that only grew with time. Before long, her classmates nicknamed her the "Queen of Economics"—a title she carried with pride, but without exaggeration. To many, she was the most beautiful woman in the course, and her beauty wasn't limited to her face. Her perfectly balanced body also drew plenty of attention.
Olivia had proportional breasts that, while not large, were well-shaped and attractive. Her butt, on the other hand, was a spectacle of its own. It wasn't excessively big, but its round, well-defined shape made her the center of attention wherever she went. It was impossible to ignore the way she walked, as if she knew exactly the power she held over others. Personally, I thought she wore tight clothes on purpose—especially those jeans that always seemed just a bit tighter, further emphasizing her hypnotizing curves.
"Everyone, pay attention," the professor announced, interrupting my observation of Olivia. He cleared his throat and continued, his tone shifting to something more serious. "Next week, I'll assign a group project worth points. It will be done in pairs, and both the topic and the pairs will be decided by a draw."
Suddenly, a murmur spread through the classroom. I already knew what was happening. Many of Olivia's admirers were now visibly excited, eyes shining as they dreamed of being paired with her. It would be the perfect opportunity to get closer to her, work together, and maybe earn a bit more attention from the "Queen of Economics." Honestly, it didn't interest me. I had other things on my mind besides competing for a spot next to Olivia.
"This project will be worth forty percent of your final grade," the professor added before wrapping up the explanation.
The class went on until the bell finally rang. Time dragged on, as it always did. After class ended, I exchanged a few words with Nathan and we agreed to have lunch together. We had chosen different subjects that semester, so I had another class while he didn't. That next class was extremely boring and exhausting; I struggled to stay awake, simply waiting for time to pass.
Finally, lunchtime arrived. I met up with Nathan again, and we went together to the college cafeteria. The place was large, with an atmosphere that felt more like a restaurant than a simple cafeteria. Tables were scattered everywhere, and among them it was possible to see students from different courses talking, eating, and exchanging ideas. It was a place where all kinds of people on campus mixed together.
We served our food and sat at an empty table that, luckily, was still available. The cafeteria was packed, so we didn't have many seating options. We ended up at one of the few remaining tables, right in the center of the room. Normally, I preferred to sit off to the sides, in quieter areas, but there were no other choices. So we settled there, surrounded by the constant movement of other students.
"So," Nathan asked while taking a bite of his food and looking at me with curiosity, "what was so important that you couldn't tell me over text?"
I took a deep breath and, with a grin I couldn't hide, said, "I lost my virginity with Vanessa Ivanova."
I could see Nathan's reaction even before he fully processed the information. For a moment, he frowned and leaned forward, as if trying to grasp the weight of what he had just heard. A few seconds passed before it finally sank in. The shock on his face was obvious, and I couldn't help but laugh internally.
"No way," he said, almost unable to believe it.
I started telling him the details. Nathan was always very expressive, and I knew watching his reactions as I spoke would be part of the fun. He was the kind of friend who fully immersed himself in the conversation, and I could tell he was absorbing every word, eyes wide with surprise.
"Man, I'm happy for you," he said after processing everything. "But be careful with her—and with the mafia. I don't want to lose my friend."
He was right to be worried. Vanessa was beautiful, but her possible involvement with the Russian mafia made me extremely uneasy. I didn't want to end up dead—or trapped in a world I couldn't escape.
"But changing the subject," Nathan said, trying to ease the tension, "what's going on today? It feels like all the biggest beauties on campus are here."
I couldn't help but notice it too. To our right, Olivia was sitting at a table with a few members of her fan club, all of them trying to get her attention.
To our left was Margaret, our economics professor. She was a mature and attractive woman, with a body that defied time. Her full breasts and generous hips made her a classic "milf"—a woman desired and admired even if she wasn't as young as the others.
In front of us was Sofia. Blonde, green-eyed, with a body sculpted in an almost surreal way. She had the kind of figure that looked like it had been drawn by hand, perfect in every detail.
Sofia was my childhood friend, and sitting beside her was Ethan. He always had a striking appearance, and for some reason his name was often associated with being handsome. I had a past with both of them, but our relationship cooled when I drifted away. They continued to shine while I chose to stay in my own world.
Suddenly, to our left, I noticed Emilly—a girl with an alternative style, wearing dark clothes and sporting white hair with blue streaks. Her mysterious appearance gave her a charm that was both captivating and slightly intimidating. She studied architecture and somehow always drew attention wherever she went.
And, of course, Vanessa. She was as beautiful as ever, but carried an energy that still intimidated me. That day, she was wearing a blue shirt and slightly loose black jeans, giving her a more casual look. The black designer bag beside her completed the outfit. Vanessa, who studied law, always stood out wherever she went, radiating that cold, distant magnetism.
I was so absorbed in observing the people around me that I didn't even notice Vanessa approaching until she was already standing right in front of me, wearing a mysterious smile.
"Hello, Luke," she said, smiling—a smile that was as beautiful as it was strange. After all, she rarely smiled, which made it all the more surprising.