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ANYA

The class groans collectively. “I know, I know,” Professor Brown says. “I’m not asking for a submission now. It’ll be due towards the end of the semester, so you have plenty of time,” she clarifies, her composed tone doing little to ease the frustration in the room.

I sigh, slumping back in my seat. It’s only the first day and we already have an assignment. Great. Just what I needed. “You will be pairing up for this assignment,” she adds and the class sighs collectively. I resist the urge to groan louder than the rest. Group projects—my least favorite. Less freedom, too many opinions, and the endless back-and-forth just to agree on something.

“We can pair up together,” Sophie says, leaning toward me with an easy smile. Her blonde hair catches the light streaming through the window, and her blue eyes glint with amusement at my obvious displeasure. She knows me well enough to know how grumpy group assignments make me. We have known each other for almost a year now but she has managed to become so close to me, it’s a mystery how that happened, considering I am a reserved person. I nod and smile back at her. If there’s anyone I wouldn’t mind working with, it’s her. “How’s Siya?” she asks.

“She was very nervous,” I say. I couldn’t even bid her a proper farewell because of that stupid guy, and I didn’t even catch his name. Now, I will have to bear all the dry cleaning expenses myself. Arnav is going to eat my head off. Plus, I feel guilty for rushing Siya.

“I have already made the pairs. I will email you the list now. You have ten minutes to check it out, find your partner, and sit with them. Then I will provide you with details about the assignment,” Professor Brown informs us and walks towards her laptop, her heels clicking against the floor.

I watch as she types something into the laptop, feeling reassured. The minutes tick by slowly, and finally, she clears her throat, catching everyone’s attention.

“Alright, I’ve just emailed you your partner details,” she announces. I reach for my phone, pull up my email, and scroll down the list of names.

Daniel Grayson.

Huh? My eyebrows furrow. I have never heard the name before.

“Oh my god!” Soph exclaims. “You are partnered with Daniel!” She’s buzzing with excitement.

“Who is he?” I ask, a frown settling between my brows. She gasps dramatically, making me roll my eyes, already bracing for the inevitable fan-girl moment.

“Because Judd, the previous captain, was drafted and graduated, he has been announced as the new captain of our basketball team,” she explains, her tone brimming with excitement. “In the last game, his performance was phenomenal. And more than that...” She sighs dramatically. “He’s the epitome of hotness. You don’t know him, do you?” She gives me a bored look, and I smile sheepishly.

“Not really interested in basketball. Kindly forgive me.” I raise my hands in mock surrender and smile sheepishly. Sports aren’t my cup of tea, or cup of coffee for that matter. “Who is your partner?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“It’s Olivia Thompson. Never talked to her, but I’ve heard she’s sweet,” she says, her tone thoughtful.

“Could you spot this Daniel person for me, please?” I pout. She chuckles, getting up and scanning the class like a detective on a mission.

“I don’t think he’s here, Anya.” She frowns. I let out an annoyed sigh. Today is really not my day.

“Great,” I mutter, leaning back in my chair. “My partner’s a no-show. This semester is off to a great start already.”

Soph sits down. “I am sure he will show up,” She reassures me. “It’s not like he can miss all the classes. I will go sit with Olivia, okay?” I nod.

“Okay, let’s begin. Please take notes if you wish to. I will be providing guidelines on your emails, but you will receive them by next week,” Professor Brown announces.

I open my notes app. I have to take all the notes because I cannot depend on my partner. He’s absent, and I will have to fill him in on all the details. Plus, I tend to forget things.

I chose this class because I want to start my own company someday, and MBA always helps entrepreneurs. It's my dreams that keep me motivated–even when my partner is MIA. Professor Brown starts to discuss the details of the assignment, outlining the requirements and expectations for the upcoming project. I diligently take notes on my phone, already resigning myself to the fact that I might just end up doing this assignment alone.

“At the end of the report, please mention your contributions to the project. In case of any conflicts, email me,” she says. “And I see some students sitting alone.” Her gaze snags on me. “You can find your partner’s email and contact number in the email. Please inform them about this assignment. If there’s no response, come to me. ”

I quickly copy his address. Opening a new email, I paste Daniel’s email address into the “To” field. My fingers tap swiftly across the keyboard as I begin to type out a message.

I go over the email once more, satisfied with its straightforward tone and proud of myself for not using any sarcasm.

I am very capable of doing this assignment on my own. I don’t mind mentioning his name. I just want my grades—that’s all. Secretly, I hope he’s one of those athletes who hates studying. Maybe he won’t reply to me at all, so I can do this project at my own pace, according to my liking; no need to discuss with anyone. The freedom is too tempting.

The rest of the class drags on, my attention wavering as I struggle to focus on Professor Brown’s words, typing notes almost mechanically. “Alright, that’s all for today. We’ll meet on Thursday,” She wraps up the lecture. I pocket my phone, and Sophia comes and stands next to me, waiting patiently for me.

“Let’s go!” I exclaim, getting up and giving her a wide grin, trying to shake off the fatigue from the long class. She smiles back. We make our way out of the classroom, the corridor bustling with students chattering and footsteps echoing in the hallway. I can’t help but grumble about my missing partner. “Can you believe missing the first class itself? It doesn’t really give a good impression,” I comment.

Soph chuckles lightly, trying to be positive. “Maybe something came up. Give him the benefit of the doubt.” I nod. I am not going to judge someone I haven’t even met yet , I remind myself.

“How was your experience with Olivia?” I ask.

“She seems really kind. And she is also very smart,” she says.

“Good for you,” I nudge her playfully. We spot Siya walking towards us, her head down. She has her headphones on but we both know nothing’s playing in it because she likes to be extra conscious about her environment.

“Siya!” Soph exclaims, her voice too loud. I swat her arm, shooting her a warning look.

“Don’t shout. She doesn’t like public attention.” I hiss under my breath. Sophia gives me an apologetic smile.

“Hi, Soph.” Siya greets us, her eyes flicking up from the ground.

“How was your class?” I question, hoping it went better than she expected.

“It was fine. I made a friend.” She smiles shyly.

“I am so proud of you,” Sophia says.

“I told you. You will be fine, babe.” I wink, giving her a quick side hug.

“Come on. I am hungry,” Soph whines, dragging out the word and we chuckle. We begin making our way towards the campus cafe, Cafe d’ Meet . It is a cozy and inviting space with warm lighting and colorful decorations adorning the walls. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout the room, students lounging and chatting over steaming cups of coffee or plates of pastries. Siya falls into step beside me. The air is filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, warm pastries, and hints of cinnamon and vanilla from the baked goods.

My phone pings. I pull it out and see a new email notification. Curious, I open the email app and check the new message. Seeing the sender’s name, my eyes widen. It’s from Daniel. Wow. That was quick. The sound of my friends chatting fades into the background as I click on it.

The quickness of his response makes me believe that maybe he is serious about academics after all.

I quickly save his number. Taking a deep breath, my fingers hover over the screen of my phone, unsure of what to type back. Should I keep it professional? Or friendly?

Finally, I decide to keep it simple and to-the-point.

Hello! Anya here.

Please save my contact, and I would prefer

to meet so that I can explain everything in detail.

The moment I hit send, I feel a pang of doubt, wondering if I sound too direct and unfriendly. I see three small dots appear on my phone screen. They blink and indicate that he’s typing a response.

“Hurry up, Anya,” Soph calls, a hint of impatience in her voice.

“You guys get me an iced coffee, please. I will save a table for you,” I plead. They give me a thumbs-up, walking toward the counter.

Daniel:

Okay, let’s meet up in the library.

Today at 7 PM, if that

works for you?

I hesitate for a moment but then type out a reply, my fingers flying across the keyword.

Yes.

7 PM in the library is perfect.

See you there.

∞∞∞