Blake

After a long morning of lectures and classes, Emily and Sophia made their way to the cafeteria, the bustling atmosphere of the college around them. The clatter of trays, the murmur of conversations, and the smell of food filled the air. Emily was feeling a little overwhelmed, still not used to the hustle and bustle of college life, but Sophia’s bubbly presence always managed to put her at ease.

"I heard the chocolate cake here is to die for!" Sophia said with excitement in her voice, practically bouncing as she led Emily toward the line. "Come on, let’s get some before it sells out!"

Emily smiled faintly, happy to follow along, though she couldn’t help but feel like she was always a little out of place. She had never been in a cafeteria like this before, and the college environment was so different from the quiet and sometimes lonely life she’d known.

As they made their way to a table near the window, Emily couldn’t help but feel someone watching her. A chill ran down her spine, and she turned to find a tall, confident-looking guy eyeing her from across the room. He had messy dark hair, a smirk on his lips, and a rebellious aura that screamed bad boy. His gaze lingered on her for a moment too long, and Emily quickly looked away, trying to focus on her food.

Sophia, who had noticed the attention Emily was getting, frowned slightly. "Uh-oh, looks like we’ve caught the eye of Blake," she muttered, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

Blake was known as the college bad boy—the kind of guy who was always surrounded by a group of friends and who had a reputation for causing trouble. He was arrogant and carefree, and he’d already made a name for himself by constantly getting into mischief, especially with girls.

"I don’t like the way he’s looking at you," Sophia said, her voice low, but full of warning. "He’s trouble. Stay away from him."

Emily nodded, trying not to let the nervousness show on her face. She wasn’t used to the attention, especially from someone like Blake. She didn’t know what to do or say, feeling awkward under his gaze.

As if on cue, Blake pushed through the crowd and approached their table, a cocky grin spreading across his face as he stood beside Emily. "Hey, beautiful," he said smoothly, leaning against the table with one arm resting on it. "You must be new around here. I haven’t seen you before."

Sophia immediately shot him a sharp look, her expression turning serious. "Blake, I told you before—stay away from her. She’s not interested."

Blake chuckled, unfazed. "Oh, come on, Soph. Don’t be like that. I’m just getting to know the new girl." His eyes shifted back to Emily, his gaze lingering a little too long. "You know, I could show you around the college. Take you to some of the better places. I’m sure you’d enjoy it."

Emily shifted uncomfortably in her seat, glancing at Sophia for reassurance. She could feel the intensity of Blake’s eyes on her, and it made her feel uneasy. She didn’t want to be rude, but she didn’t want to encourage him either.

Sophia stood up, clearly fed up with Blake’s advances. "I’m warning you, Blake," she said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Leave her alone. You’ve been trouble ever since you set foot on campus, and you’re not going to ruin her experience here."

Blake smirked, clearly not taking Sophia’s warning seriously. "Oh, come on, I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m just being friendly."

At that moment, Viktor’s voice rang out from behind them. "I don’t think she wants your friendly attention, Blake."

Emily turned around to see Viktor standing by the entrance of the cafeteria, leaning casually against his sleek sports car. His presence was commanding, his eyes narrowed as he watched Blake with a mixture of calm and warning. The tension in the room shifted instantly as Viktor’s gaze landed on Emily, his eyes softening when he saw her sitting at the table with Sophia.

Blake, seemingly unfazed by Viktor’s arrival, chuckled, turning to face him. "And what do you want, Viktor? Are you here to lecture me too?" he sneered, clearly not intimidated by the other man’s presence.

Viktor’s expression didn’t change, but the coolness in his voice was evident. "I think you’ve overstayed your welcome," Viktor said evenly, his tone carrying an edge that made it clear he wasn’t joking.

Blake gave a dismissive shrug, but as he moved closer to Emily, trying to reach out and touch her arm, something snapped inside Sophia. Without hesitation, she planted a firm kick right where the sun doesn’t shine.

Blake immediately staggered back, letting out a strangled groan as he grabbed his stomach, eyes wide with shock. "What the hell, Sophia?!"

Sophia crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a smug grin. "That’s what you get for not listening," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You should know better than to mess with my friends, especially when they don’t want anything to do with you."

Viktor, standing just behind her, allowed himself a small, approving smile at Sophia’s boldness. He hadn’t expected her to react like that, but he couldn’t deny that she had done exactly what needed to be done.

"That’s enough, Blake," Viktor said calmly, his eyes never leaving the other man’s face. "If you ever approach Emily again, I won’t be as patient." His tone was soft, but the underlying threat was clear.

Blake, still recovering from the unexpected kick, scowled at Viktor. "You think you can scare me off?" he sneered, but his posture was more defensive now. "This isn’t over."

Viktor took a step forward, his presence imposing and his voice low but firm. "It is for now," he said, making it clear that Blake had overstayed his welcome. "Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of."

Blake shot one last glance at Emily, his gaze dark and filled with frustration, before turning on his heel and walking away, disappearing back into the crowd.

Viktor turned to Emily and Sophia, his expression softening as he approached their table. "Are you both alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Sophia grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "I’m good. I can handle myself," she said, winking at Viktor.

Emily nodded, her heart still racing from the encounter. "I’m fine," she said softly, looking up at Viktor. "Thank you for coming."

Viktor reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze tender. "You don’t have to thank me. I’ll always be here to protect you."

Sophia looked at the two of them, her playful smile widening. "You two make such a cute couple," she said teasingly. "You know, Viktor, you’ve got to let Emily come to our hangouts more. She’s welcome anytime."

Viktor’s lips twitched into a small smile. "Of course," he said, his voice firm. "She can come home whenever she wants."

Emily felt a warmth spread through her chest at Viktor’s words. For the first time in a long while, she felt safe and cared for. It was a strange, yet comforting feeling to know that she had someone who would stand by her, no matter what.

As they left the cafeteria together, Viktor walking beside her with that ever-present calmness, Emily couldn’t help but feel a sense of belonging. She had a new life now—one filled with people who cared about her, and a future that was no longer so uncertain.

And no matter what challenges lay ahead, Viktor would be there, watching over her, guiding her every step of the way.