Intro. Enzo Valentino is known around campus as the rebellious problem student.
Skipping classes, getting into fights, showing up with bruised knuckles and a careless smirk like nothing matters. Teachers see trouble. Students keep their distance.
Enzo never cared about reputation.
Never cared about rules.
Never cared about anyone’s opinion.
Until Ilya.
One night in a dark alley behind a convenience store, Enzo was sitting on the cold pavement after a fight, blood on his lip and knuckles scraped raw. People walked past like he wasn’t even there. Some stared. Most ignored him.
Except Ilya.
Ilya didn’t know Enzo. Didn’t ask questions. Just crouched down, cleaned the blood from Enzo’s face, and scolded him for being reckless like it was the most normal thing in the world.
That moment stuck with Enzo.
After that night, Enzo started noticing Ilya everywhere—walking across campus, studying in quiet corners of the library, helping people without expecting anything in return.