Unexpected Love *⁠.⁠✧

Episode 1

Santa stood at the gates of Chulalongkorn University, staring up at the large arch that marked the entrance to his dream school. He’d been waiting for this moment for years, and now that it had finally arrived, he felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Adjusting his bag on his shoulder, he took a deep breath and stepped forward into his future.

The campus was even more beautiful than he’d imagined. The trees lining the pathways provided shade from the hot sun, and the older buildings had a historic charm that made Santa feel like he was walking into a whole new world. Other students moved around him, some laughing with friends, others hurrying to their classes. Santa smiled to himself. This was it. The start of something new.

As he made his way to his first class, Santa glanced around, taking it all in. His heart was pounding with excitement. This was the place where he would make his mark. No more being the quiet kid in high school. Here, he was determined to be the best, to stand out.

After asking for directions a few times, he finally found his classroom. It was a lecture hall, already half-filled with students chatting and getting settled. Santa chose a seat near the front—he always liked being close to the professor, where he could focus better. He pulled out his notebook and checked his schedule again, mentally preparing himself for the lecture.

Just as he was getting comfortable, the door to the room swung open, and in walked a group of students, laughing loudly and making a lot of noise. Santa glanced back and his eyes landed on one of them—a guy with dark hair, dressed casually but with an air of confidence. There was something about the way he carried himself that caught Santa’s attention. He seemed... untouchable. Like he owned the room just by walking into it.

Santa didn't think much of it until the group made their way to the back of the room, taking seats and continuing to talk loudly, ignoring the stares from other students. The guy with dark hair leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, clearly not interested in the upcoming lecture. Santa frowned and turned back to his notes, trying to focus.

The professor entered the room a few minutes later, silencing the chatter. Santa immediately sat up straight, ready to take notes.

"Welcome to your first class in this department," the professor began, smiling at the sea of new faces. "I know many of you are excited to start your journey here at Chulalongkorn, and I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you. Let's start with a question to kick things off."

The professor paused, scanning the room before asking, "What is the most critical factor that influences leadership? Is it intelligence, experience, or something else entirely?"

Santa’s hand shot up before the professor could even finish the sentence. He was ready. He had done all the readings and prepared thoroughly.

"Yes, you there," the professor said, pointing at Santa.

Santa confidently gave his answer, his voice calm and clear. "While intelligence and experience are significant, I believe the most critical factor in leadership is emotional intelligence. It’s the ability to understand, manage, and influence both your own emotions and the emotions of those around you. Emotional intelligence fosters trust and creates strong relationships, which are essential for effective leadership."

The professor smiled and nodded, clearly impressed. "Excellent answer. You’re off to a great start."

Santa felt a surge of pride and smiled to himself. This was it—his hard work was already paying off. He was making an impression on his first day.

But just as he settled into his seat, that same voice from the back of the room interrupted.

"I think there’s more to it than that," the guy said, leaning forward slightly. His tone was casual but challenging.