"Scholarly Hearts" When academic rivals found love

Chapter 1: The Rivals

JENNIE KIM'S POV

Hi there! My name is Jennie Kim, and I'm a PhD student in the Department of Literature at one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

I'm sure you're wondering why I'm telling you this, but trust me, it's all part of the story. You see, I have a rival. Her name is Lisa Manoban, and she's the bane of my existence. We're both vying for the same prestigious fellowship, and let me tell you, it's a cutthroat competition.

Lisa and I have been at each other's throats since day one, constantly trying to one-up each other in every aspect of our academic careers.It all started when we were both accepted into the same graduate program.

I thought I was the top dog, but then Lisa showed up and started stealing the spotlight. She was always raising her hand in class, answering questions with such eloquence and depth that even the professors were impressed.

And let's not forget about her research – it was groundbreaking, innovative, and always ahead of the curve. I, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up. I spent countless hours in the library, pouring over books and articles, trying to find a way to outshine Lisa.

But no matter how hard I tried, she always seemed to be one step ahead of me. It was infuriating, to say the least. I would lie awake at night, stewing over Lisa's latest accomplishment, wondering how I could possibly top it. I started skipping meals and sacrificing sleep just to get ahead, but it never seemed to be enough.

And Lisa? She thinks she's so smart, so talented, so destined for greatness. But I know the truth – she's just as flawed and human as the rest of us.

And I'm determined to prove it. So, as we set off on this journey together, I'll be keeping a close eye on Lisa. I'll be watching her every move, waiting for her to slip up, waiting for my chance to strike. Because in the end, there can only be one winner.

And I'm determined to be that winner.

I sat in the lecture hall, my mind wandering to the countless hours I had spent preparing for this moment. I was finally a PhD student, and I was determined to make the most of it. But as I gazed out at the sea of unfamiliar faces, my thoughts began to drift away. I was lost in thought when suddenly, a voice cut through the silence.

"Why are you spacing out in the first day of class? Are you already seeing the bright future of me being the valedictorian?" I turned to see Lisa Manoban, my arch-rival, standing beside me with a smirk on her face.

My eyes narrowed as I felt a surge of anger. How dare she? I was just lost in thought, trying to process the sheer amount of information being thrown at us. But Lisa didn't care. She was always like this, always trying to get under my skin.

"I'm just trying to take it all in," I said, my voice even but laced with a hint of annoyance. Lisa chuckled.

"Oh, I'm sure you are. You're probably already planning your acceptance speech for when you win the Nobel Prize in Literature." She rolled her eyes.

"You're so predictable, Jennie. Always trying to one-up me."I felt my face heat up as I glared at her.

"I'm just trying to do my best," I said, my voice firm. Lisa raised an eyebrow.

"Your best? Ha You're just trying to keep up with me. You know you'll never be able to outdo me, so you're just trying to cling to my coattails."I felt a surge of anger at her words, but I bit my tongue. I wasn't going to let her get to me. Not now, not ever.

"I'm not trying to keep up with you, Lisa," I said, my voice cold. "I'm trying to make a name for myself. And I will."Lisa laughed.

"Oh, I'm shaking in my boots. You're so cute when you're trying to be fierce."I felt my anger boil over, but I kept my cool. I knew that Lisa was just trying to get under my skin, to make me lose my temper. But I wasn't going to fall for it. Not today, not ever.