Celestial Guardians: Uniting Dimensions (Celestial Guardians Series, #1)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Kevin's POV

The buzzing of students filled the air as I stepped onto the campus grounds for the first time, blending into the crowd like any other freshman. It was surreal—a celestial guardian masquerading as a college student. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and if Jamaica was here, then I needed to be, too.

It hadn't been easy. After a few well-placed bribes and forged documents, I was now "Kevin Ramirez," a philosophy major in my first year. Illegal? Sure. Necessary? Absolutely. Protecting Jamaica was my priority, and if that meant walking among mortals and sitting through lectures on Plato and Aristotle, so be it.

The campus buzzed with life, with students milling about with books, coffee cups, and earbuds. It was a far cry from the celestial realms, but there was something oddly grounding about it. Maybe it was the chaos, the humanity of it all.

I spotted Jamaica near the cafeteria, her dark hair falling loosely around her shoulders as she laughed at something Ella said. Her laugh was rare these days, given her weight, so seeing it now sparked a strange warmth in my chest.

She deserved this—normalcy, friends, a chance to be Jamaica Cruz, a college student, even if only for a while.

But then my gaze shifted to the side, and my stomach churned. Nel.

He leaned casually against the wall near her, his signature smirk plastered across his face as he talked to Ella. Seeing him here wasn't a surprise—I'd sensed his energy before I even stepped onto campus. But knowing he'd followed her here felt... intrusive.

And if that wasn't enough, he wasn't alone. A girl stood beside him, her auburn hair catching the sunlight. She was tall, with sharp green eyes that scanned the crowd like she was cataloging every face. Maggie.

I clenched my jaw, stuffing my hands into my pockets. Nel spotted me first, his smirk widening as if he'd just won some unspoken competition.

"Kevin," he greeted, his tone dripping with faux surprise. "What a coincidence."

"Yeah, small world," I replied, forcing a tight smile.

Jamaica turned, her eyes widening slightly. "You're here?"

"I transferred," I said casually, trying not to make a big deal. "Figured it wouldn't hurt to get a degree while keeping an eye on things."

Her brows knitted together, but Nel jumped in before she could question me further.

"Same here," he said, slinging an arm around Maggie's shoulders. "I thought I'd tag along and ensure our savior stays out of trouble."

Maggie offered a polite smile, but her eyes were calculating. I didn't trust her. Not yet.

Jamaica sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Great. Now I've got a celestial entourage."

Ella looked between us, her expression one of confusion mixed with curiosity. "Wait, you all know each other?"

"Old friends," Nel said smoothly, flashing his charming grin.

I bit back and retorted. It was no use making a scene here, not when we had bigger things to worry about.

As the day went on, I stuck close to Jamaica, sitting beside her in lectures and keeping an eye on her during breaks. Nel, of course, did the same, but his presence was a constant irritation.

But something about being here felt... different. I wasn't just a celestial guardian fulfilling a duty. I was Kevin Ramirez, a student navigating the mess of college life. And for a fleeting moment, it almost felt normal.