Chapter 3 Chapter three

~TROUBLE FOUND ME~

They are twins, not completely identical, but similar enough to make people stare.

One wore silver glasses with a calm, unreadable expression while the other had tattoos running down both arms, his uniform sleeves folded carelessly to his elbows. The tattooed one looked dangerous without even trying.

The entire pathway practically parted for them.

Girls were already whispering, blushing, fixing their hair, and rushing closer just to get a better look.

I got shoved hard from the side.

My balance almost gave out, but I managed to steady myself. Except my phone slipped from my hand.

“Oh no—”

It hit the ground and slid across the floor.

I immediately bent down to grab it, but students kept stepping around it carelessly, their shoes kicking it farther away each second.

Panic instantly rushed through me.

“That’s my phone!”

I stretched my hand desperately, almost reaching it, then a black shoe stepped directly on it.

Crunch.

My heart nearly stopped.

“No! My phone!” I shouted instinctively.

Without thinking, I smacked the person’s leg angrily.

The crowd around us suddenly became weirdly silent. I hit the leg again.

“Get your freaking shoe off my phone!”

The shoe finally moved.

Breathing hard, I looked up furiously and froze instantly. The tattooed twin was staring down at me.

Beside him, the other twin adjusted his glasses slowly while watching the scene unfold. Around us, every single student had gone completely silent.

I quickly picked my phone from the ground and stood up properly, dusting my skirt with shaky fingers. The screen was completely cracked.

My heart sank instantly.

I looked back at the twins properly this time, and that was when I noticed the one wearing glasses also had a small black cross tattoo at the side of his neck, partially hidden beneath his collar.

They both looked intimidating in completely different ways. I swallowed before lifting my damaged phone toward the tattooed twin.

“You stepped on my phone and crushed it,” I said, trying hard not to sound emotional even though I was seconds away from crying.

The boy looked down at the phone lazily before scoffing. “Is this some new tactic to get my attention?”

The arrogance in his voice stunned me.

I blinked twice.

“Excuse me?” I stared at him in disbelief. “Why would I destroy my own phone just to get your attention?”

A few students nearby immediately leaned in closer.

“You seriously think you’re Keith Powers or something?”

The entire crowd gasped loudly.

Someone behind me literally whispered, “She’s dead.”

The tattooed twin’s brows lifted slightly in genuine shock, like nobody had ever spoken to him that way before. Meanwhile, his brother with the glasses completely lost whatever calm expression he had been maintaining and let out an amused laugh.

And honestly?

That somehow annoyed the tattooed one even more. I suddenly remembered I was already late for class.

Crap. Without giving myself time to overthink it, I grabbed the tattooed twin’s wrist and shoved my broken phone into his hand.

“I’m a freshman in Philosophy,” I said quickly. “Amaya Gilbert.”

His eyes stayed fixed on me.

“Repair my phone and return it.”

He looked genuinely caught off guard for the first time since I’d seen him. Like nobody had ever ordered him around before.

He opened his mouth to say something, but I didn’t wait. I turned around immediately and hurried toward the building while my heart pounded wildly inside my chest.

Behind me, the entire campus remained disturbingly quiet for about two seconds before loud whispers exploded everywhere.

‘Did she just touch Alec?’

‘She’s insane.’

‘She handed him her phone?’

‘Who even is she?’

I walked faster.

At that point, I honestly wasn’t sure whether I had just defended myself or completely ruined my first day at King’s College.

Wait… Alec? My steps slowed slightly as realization finally hit me. The twins. Those were the twins Mother had been talking about with Maddie.

The powerful MK heirs.

I nearly groaned out loud. Of all people to run into on my first day, it had to be them. If that was truly Alec, then I needed to stay far away from both brothers. Far away from their attention, their drama, and whatever elite chaos surrounded them.

I only needed my phone repaired.

After that, I would avoid them completely until I graduated from King’s College.

Simple. At least… that was the plan.

I finally reached the correct classroom and immediately froze at the door.

The professor was already teaching.

I lowered my head and started walking further, pretending not to notice the sudden attention, but the professor’s voice stopped me halfway.

“What’s your name, young lady?” he asked. “You’re late to my class.”

He looked to be in his early forties, dressed sharply, his tone calm but carrying enough authority to freeze the room.

A few students chuckled.

I swallowed lightly. “I’m Amaya Gilbert. The bus slowed me down, I’m sorry.”

A murmur spread through the room.

Then a voice called out from somewhere near the back.

“She took the bus.” Laughter erupted immediately. “What kind of bag is that? From a resale shop?”

More laughter broke out.

Heat rushed to my face, but I kept my expression still.

The professor’s jaw tightened.

“That’s enough,” he said firmly, silencing most of them. Then he nodded toward the seats. “Go ahead and take a seat.”

I murmured a thank you and hurried inside, trying not to die from embarrassment.

The classroom itself looked more like a luxury conference hall than a lecture room. Students sat confidently behind sleek desks with expensive laptops, designer bags, luxury watches, and perfumes strong enough to fill the room.

Some looked like celebrities.

Others looked like they owned companies already.

Meanwhile, I was praying nobody noticed the tiny scratch on my old shoulder bag.

I scanned the room desperately for an empty seat.

Most students sat in groups already, laughing quietly or whispering among themselves.

Two students shifted their legs just enough for me to pass, their expressions openly curious. I ignored them and reached for an empty chair near the aisle.

Before I could sit, the girl beside it smoothly placed her handbag across the seat. A shiny Chanel bag, all polished leather and deliberate display.

She looked up at me once with a cool and dismissive look. The message was clear without a single word.

Then someone spoke from the other side of the room. “New girl, come sit here.”

I turned.

A girl with bright eyes and an easy smile was waving me over, patting the empty seat beside her.

For the first time since walking into this school, the tension in my shoulders eased slightly.

I changed direction.

Behind me, the Chanel girl gave a short laugh.

“Well, that works. You both deserve to sit together.” She glanced between us. “Cheap with no class.”

A few nearby students snickered, but I didn’t react.

Neither did the girl who had called me over.

I walked the rest of the way and slid into the seat beside her.

She smiled like none of it mattered.

“I’m Jenna,” she said, extending her hand.

I took it. “Amaya.”

“Nice to meet you, Amaya.”

There was something warm and effortless about her, the kind of free spirit that didn’t need to humiliate anyone else to exist.

I settled into my chair properly, pulled out my notebook, and faced the front. The professor had already resumed speaking. So I listened and wrote everything down.

Then suddenly, phones started buzzing.

Notification sounds started going off around the classroom one after another.