It was the beginning of the new semester and the campus was buzzing with the usual excitement. The crisp morning air smelled faintly of coffee and fresh notebooks as students hurried from one lecture hall to another. Among the new faces, a young freshman named Aiden Fernando stood out---his nervous excitement palpable as he glanced around the sprawling campus. He adjusted his bag and took a deep breath, ready to begin his first day as a university student.
Aiden Fernando - 20 years old
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As he wandered around the main courtyard, looking for the building where his first lecture would be held, he found himself drawn to the laughter of a group of students chatting near the entrance. One of them, a tall, handsome boy with a perfectly styled mop of dark hair, stood out from the rest. Ayaan Wijewardhane, with his laid-back charm and relaxed posture, was easily the most approachable of the group. Aiden had heard whispers about this guy already---everyone at the university seemed to know him.
Ayaan Wijewardhane - 20 years old
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Ayaan noticed Aiden lingering by the entrance, looking a little lost and unsure. He smiled warmly and walked over, offering a friendly hand. "Hey, you look a bit out of place. Freshman?" Ayaan asked, his tone light and welcoming.
Aiden nodded, relieved to find someone friendly. "Yeah, first day. I'm Aiden. Just trying to figure out where my class is."
"Ah, you're in the Business Management program, right?" Ayaan asked, glancing down at Aiden's schedule. "You're in luck, it's the same one I'm in. Follow me, I'll show you around."
Aiden smiled gratefully, following Ayaan as they made their way across the busy courtyard. Aa they walked, Ayaan pointed out various places---cafeterias, libraries and the student union building---telling Aiden about the different professors, the best spots to study and of course the social scene.
"Watch out for the seniors," Ayaan warned with a grin. "Especially my brother, Aarav. He's the troublemaker around here. If you ever see him with that smug look on his face, you know trouble's about to follow."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Your brother?" he asked, intrigued.
Ayaan sighed, his expression turning more serious for a moment. "Yeah, Aarav. He's a bit of a... well, let's just say he's got a reputation. He's good-looking, popular and knows it. But he's also a jerk to the freshmen, always ragging them. Not sure why, but he finds it amusing."
Aiden couldn't help but feel a slight sense of dread. He had heard about the notorious ragging culture in university, but hearing it from someone who clearly cared about the students made it feel real.
Ayaan gave him a quick, reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I've got your back. Aarav's just all talk. He's my older brother and we don't exactly get along. Just be careful if you cross paths with him. He can be... intense."
Just as Ayaan finished speaking, a figure appeared at the top of the stairs. Aarav Wijewardhane stood there, his gaze immediately landing on Aiden. He had a certain presence about him, a magnetic confidence that seemed to draw everyone's attention. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked Aiden up and down, as though sizing him up.
Aarav Wijewardhane - 22 years old
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Aarav was tall, well-built and impossibly handsome. His features were sharp, his jawline defined and his dark eyes glinted with a mix of arrogance and mischief. His reputation preceded him and Aiden could already tell why.
"Hey, Ayaan," Aarav called down with a lazy smirk, his voice rich and smooth. "Who's this? Another one of your charity cases?"
Ayaan rolled his eyes, clearly used to his brother's sarcastic remarks. "This is Aiden. Freshman. Aiden, this is my brother, Aarav. Be careful, he's got a big ego."
Aiden forced a smile, trying to hide discomfort under Aarav's scrutinizing gaze. Aarav's eyes never left him as he stepped closer, his presence almost overwhelming.
"So, you're the new kid, huh?" Aarav said, his voice playful but carrying an edge. He titled his head as he studied Aiden. "You look like you just walked out of a high school drama, all wide-eyed and eager. You sure you're ready for this place?"
Aiden felt a slight twinge of annoyance but kept his cool. He knew this was part of the "ragging" tradition, something every freshman had to go through and he wasn't going to let it rattle him. "I'm ready for whatever comes my way," Aiden replied, meeting Aarav's gaze without flinching.
Aarav raised an eyebrow, impressed by Aiden's response. There was something about the way the younger boy carried himself that piqued his interest. Most freshmen would have cowered by now, but Aiden didn't seem to be intimidated.
"Hmm, I like that," Aarav said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Maybe you're not so bad after all."
Ayaan stepped between them, his hamd lightly resting on Aiden's shoulder. "Don't mind my brother. He's just messing with you. Let's get to your lecture, Aiden. It's better if we get you settled in before Aarav starts planning his next prank."
Aarav chuckled, his eyes flickering with a mixture of amusement and something else---something deeper that Aiden couldn't quite place. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you to it. But, Aiden," Aarav said, his tone changing just a little, becoming more serious, "watch your back. This place can be... unforgiving."
Aiden gave him a puzzled look, not sure if Aarav was being sincere or just playing his usual mind games. "I'll be fine," Aiden replied, trying to sound confident.
As Ayaan led him away, Aarav lingered for a moment, watching the two of them leave. There was something about Aiden---something that stirred a reaction in him he couldn't ignore. Aarav wasn't used to feeling this way, especially not about a freshman. Usually, he was the one in control, teasing, pushing boundaries. But Aiden... Aiden was different.
Aarav's smirk deepened as he watched Aiden walk away, his curiosity piqued. There was a game to be played here and Aarav was already planning his next move.
"Watch out, Aiden," he murmured to himself, "You might just be more than you seem."
As Aiden walked with Ayaan to their lecture hall, he couldn't shake the feeling that this university and more specifically, Aarav, was going to be much more complicated than he had expected. Little did he know, his first day was just the beginning of a tangled web of emotions, power plays and desires that would change everything.
And as for Aarav, he knew exactly what he wanted---and it was going to be fun getting it.
