Chapter 2 – The First Battle

The auditorium emptied as students gathered with their assigned teams.

"Group Seventeen, this way!" a student volunteer called.

Evelyn adjusted the strap of her backpack while Mia bounced beside her.

"I hope they're not weird."

"You've known them for exactly thirty seconds."

"And?"

"You've already judged them."

"I judge everyone."

Evelyn laughed softly.

"Fair enough."

Near the campus fountain...

Three boys were already waiting.

Liam was busy eating chips.

Ethan was scrolling through his phone.

Noah leaned against the stone railing with one hand in his pocket, looking completely unbothered by the surrounding crowd.

The moment Evelyn walked over...

Noah looked up.

For a second...

Their eyes met.

Something about the way neither looked away made the air feel oddly tense.

Mia broke the silence.

"Hi! I'm Mia."

Liam grinned.

"Liam."

"Ethan."

"Noah."

"Evelyn."

Short.

Simple.

No smiles.

No unnecessary friendliness.

Noah tilted his head slightly.

"So..."

"Business major?"

"Yes."

"Looks like you're the serious type."

Evelyn crossed her arms.

"And you look like someone who talks before thinking."

Liam almost choked on his chips.

Ethan quietly looked up from his phone.

Noah blinked.

Then...

He smiled.

"Interesting."

A volunteer handed every team an envelope.

"Welcome to the Freshman Challenge!"

"You'll solve clues across campus."

"First team to finish wins dinner vouchers."

Liam whispered dramatically.

"We're winning this."

Evelyn calmly opened the envelope.

"The first clue says the oldest building on campus."

She started walking immediately.

Noah frowned.

"Hold on."

"What?"

"Maybe we should discuss it."

"I already know the answer."

"And if you're wrong?"

"I won't be."

She continued walking.

Noah laughed.

"She's bossy."

Without turning around, Evelyn replied,

"I prefer efficient."

Twenty minutes later...

Group Seventeen had somehow reached the final clue before almost everyone else.

Unfortunately...

The last puzzle required five people to solve together.

Noah reached for one side of the wooden puzzle board.

At the exact same moment...

Evelyn reached for it too.

Their hands bumped.

Neither moved.

"You can let go," Noah said casually.

"You can."

"I touched it first."

"I did."

"You wish."

"You need glasses."

Liam sighed dramatically.

"They're arguing over wood."

Mia whispered,

"I think this is kind of entertaining."

Ethan nodded.

"I've already started recording."

After several minutes of bickering...

They finally solved the puzzle.

"Congratulations!" the volunteer announced.

"Group Seventeen finishes first!"

The five received vouchers.

Liam raised both fists.

"YES!"

Mia cheered with him.

Ethan clapped once.

Noah looked toward Evelyn.

"You know..."

"You weren't completely useless."

Evelyn smiled sweetly.

"I'm sorry."

His eyebrow lifted.

"I didn't realize compliments were so difficult for you."

He laughed.

"Touche."

The campus café was overflowing with students celebrating orientation.

Since they had won together...

They reluctantly agreed to use the vouchers together.

"This feels wrong," Evelyn muttered.

"I agree," Noah replied.

"I've never voluntarily eaten with someone this stubborn."

She looked at him.

"You should try it more often."

"I'd rather fight bears."

"You'd lose."

He smiled.

"You sound confident."

"I don't sound confident."

"I am."

While everyone waited for their drinks...

The barista accidentally called out the wrong order.

Noah reached for an iced coffee.

At the exact same second...

Evelyn grabbed it too.

"It's mine."

"No."

"My name was called."

"So was mine."

"It's clearly mine."

"It's clearly not."

They stared.

Liam whispered to Ethan,

"Five..."

"Four..."

"Three..."

Mia covered her face.

"They're about to start."

Noah suddenly let go.

"My mistake."

Evelyn smirked.

"I thought so."

She took one sip...

Instantly frowned.

"...Black coffee?"

She hated black coffee.

From across the counter...

The real barista shouted,

"Oops! Sorry! Wrong order!"

Noah burst into laughter.

"I knew it wasn't yours."

Evelyn slowly looked at him.

"You..."

"You did that on purpose."

"I might have."

"You are unbelievable."

"And yet..."

He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice just enough for only her to hear.

"You still fell for it."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Congratulations."

"You've officially become the most annoying person I've met today."

He smiled wider.

"Only today?"

She leaned in slightly, matching his confidence.

"Don't worry."

"You have plenty of time to secure first place."

For the first time...

Noah's grin turned genuine.

"Challenge accepted."

Neither of them noticed...

Liam was already nudging Ethan.

"I give them two months before they're dating."

Ethan shook his head.

"I give them two weeks before one of them commits murder."

Mia watched Evelyn walk ahead with a tiny smile.

"They're definitely going to make freshman year interesting."

As Noah caught up beside Evelyn, she didn't even look at him.

But when he deliberately matched her pace, refusing to fall behind or move ahead, she noticed.

And despite herself..

The corner of her lips twitched for just a second.

Neither of them would admit it.

But the game had begun.

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