The Goddess At My University

Wait… hmm, around the same height," the receptionist muttered, narrowing her eyes at Chase. She stepped closer, forcing him to instinctively back away. Her gaze locked on his. "Same exact eyes, too. It is you!" she squealed in delight.

Chase flinched as if ready to bolt, his shoulders tense and his hood pulled low over his head. But before he could make his escape, the receptionist blurted out, "Oh my gods, can I please have a selfie?"

He sighed, clearly uncomfortable. His hand brushed the edge of his hood, debating whether to refuse outright. But he needed something from her, so he finally muttered, "If I take a selfie, can you do something for me?"

"Anything!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in place, her eyes shining with excitement.

Reluctantly, Chase pushed back his hood, revealing his black hair. His natural glow was impossible to suppress, even with the dyed color. His expression was a mix of awkwardness and resignation as he offered a faint, half-hearted smile. It didn't matter, though—his subdued effort was enough to leave the girl breathless. She hugged his arm tightly, tilting her phone up to capture the moment.

"Okay," he said firmly once the photo was taken, stepping back to create some distance. "Now, listen—don't post that picture anywhere. Promise me."

Her enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but she nodded. "Fine… I won't post it," she said, her tone betraying her intention to share it privately.

"And about that favor," Chase added, brushing off her not-so-subtle defiance. "Can I get another key to my apartment?"

"Oh, sure," she replied, her cheerfulness bouncing back. "I'll have it ready when you come back. Just give me your room number later!"

He gave her a curt nod of thanks before turning away, feeling Diana's eyes burning into the side of his face.

As they walked outside, the cool morning air did little to ease the odd tension between them. Chase noticed that Diana hadn't looked up from her phone once since leaving the building. Instead, she appeared fixated on her game, but her scrunched-up expression and furiously tapping fingers told a different story.

"What's wrong with you?" Chase finally asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Diana stiffened but didn't immediately reply. She didn't understand the strange twist in her chest either, but her annoyance bubbled to the surface. "What was that… thing she was doing with you?" she demanded, still glaring at her screen.

Chase frowned, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"That thing! She held your arm, and you posed for… whatever!" Diana's voice was sharp, but her words stumbled as though she couldn't quite articulate what she was feeling.

"Oh," Chase said, realization dawning on him. "It was just a selfie. A picture."

Diana finally looked up, her expression pinched with frustration. "Take one with me," she said abruptly.

"What?" Chase stopped mid-step, turning to stare at her. "Why?"

She faltered, her face flushing. "Just…!" she grumbled, marching ahead to avoid his gaze.

Chase stood there for a moment, utterly baffled. "…What just happened?" he muttered to himself before jogging to catch up, shaking his head.

Chase considered talking to her, but Diana suddenly quickened her pace. He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets as he trailed behind. "It's too early for this," he muttered, deciding not to push the issue.

Diana, however, seemed unable to let it go. When she realized he wasn't making an effort to catch up, she slowed her pace, keeping just ahead of him—close enough for him to see her back but far enough to maintain her distance.

Her thoughts churned as she tried to pinpoint the source of her irritation. Was it because that girl hugged him so closely? Maybe it was the way he smiled, even if it was faint and awkward, during the picture. Or perhaps it was the fact that he agreed to take the picture at all.

But this shouldn't make me angry, she reasoned, clenching her fists slightly. He's just a boy. And he's mortal.

Yet her mind betrayed her. Although… he is one of the best mortals I've met. He's kind, his cooking is good, and his looks are… quite impressive…

She abruptly shut down that train of thought, her face heating up. I would never have thoughts about a male mortal's body! she scolded herself, her expression darkening.

Her steps quickened again as frustration bubbled over. "Damn Aphrodite," she muttered under her breath, her silver eyes narrowing.

Behind her, Chase scratched his head, thoroughly puzzled by her erratic behavior.

By the time they reached the school, Diana had already left him behind. Chase watched her storm off, letting her have her fit without attempting to follow. Whatever's going on with her… she'll get over it, he thought with a sigh.

He made his way to the auditorium where the orientation meeting was set to begin. Glancing at the time, he saw it was only 8:40—still early, and not many students had arrived yet. Grateful for the quiet, he slid in his new earbuds and pulled up an anime on his phone to pass the time.

For a while, it was peaceful. But as more students trickled in, Chase grew uneasy. The last thing he wanted was for someone to notice and strike up a conversation about the show—even if they were just trying to be friendly. He sighed and put his phone away with less than ten minutes to spare.

His gaze drifted to the doorway just in time to see Diana walk in. She wasn't alone—someone was talking to her, chatting away in an animated fashion. Diana didn't seem annoyed, though, which struck Chase as odd. That must be her roommate, he guessed, narrowing his eyes.

The girl looked vaguely familiar. Wait… isn't that the girl who explained the housing rules? Realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Definitely can't let someone like her get too close—or recognize me.

He quickly looked away, trying to make himself inconspicuous. But it was too late—Diana had already noticed him. Her eyes narrowed, and she let out an exaggerated hmph before turning away dramatically.

Her roommate followed her line of sight, but Chase had already ducked lower into his seat, blending into the crowd. "Damn it, that was close," he muttered under his breath.

The two girls found seats not far from him, and soon after, the principal took the stage.

"Good morning, everyone," he began, his voice calm yet authoritative.

"Good morning," the students responded in unison.

The principal offered a polite smile before continuing. "Today will be a bit more intense than yesterday, so I suggest you prepare yourselves for a lot of walking."

A groan rippled through the auditorium, but the principal ignored it. "We'll start by handing out your IDs and schedules. Once you've received your schedule, don't worry too much about it—it's just a draft. You'll have a chance to meet with a counselor later to fine-tune it to your liking."

Chase tapped his chin thoughtfully at that. A draft schedule, huh?

The principal gestured toward a set of tables along the walls. "Now, please line up at the tables, just as you did yesterday, to receive your materials."

Students began rising from their seats, forming loose lines. Chase remained seated for a moment, his mind racing. The less attention I draw to myself, the better, he thought, keeping an eye on Diana as she moved to join a line with her roommate.

Chase waited a bit longer before joining the line. It moved steadily, and after a few minutes, he finally got his materials. Sitting back in his seat, he flipped through his schedule.

Five classes. Literary Theory, Literary Criticism, Historical Literature, Introduction to Literary Studies… and History, he thought, noting the general education class. Not too bad, he decided, leaning back in his chair.

Across the room, Diana watched him curiously. She wanted to know what his schedule looked like, but with so many students around, she hesitated. She knew how much Chase valued staying under the radar, and while she respected that… for now, at least, her curiosity gnawed at her. She clenched her fists, her lingering irritation at him bubbling up again. I'm still mad at him, she reminded herself, as if that would help.

The principal's voice echoed across the auditorium, but Diana barely noticed. Her attention was on Chase, who was studying his schedule with faint interest. Her curiosity finally won. She pulled out her phone, opening the message app.

There was only one contact: Chase.

Seeing his name on the screen made her scowl, but she pressed forward, typing quickly.

"What is your schedule"

She sent the message not bothering to add a question mark. Beside her, Diana's roommate froze, her jaw dropping as she peeked at the message. The shock on her face quickly morphed into a sly grin.

"Ohhh," her roommate whispered, leaning closer. "Is that your brother by chance?"

Diana, without looking up, answered bluntly, "No."

Her roommate's grin widened. "Really? Then who—"

"None of your concern," Diana cut her off curtly, sending the message with a huff.

The roommate leaned back in her chair, mischief sparking in her eyes as she stole glances at Diana.

The principal continued his speech.

"Now that everyone has received their schedules and student IDs, you may go find a counselor. They will be here until 12, so you have around two hours to talk to one if you'd like to make changes to your schedule. You're dismissed for now."

With that, students began filing out of the auditorium. Some headed to meet with counselors, others sought out friends to adjust their schedules together, while a few just decided to take a break until noon.

Chase stood and slipped out with the crowd, sighing in relief once he was outside. The thinning number of students made him feel more at ease as he wandered the campus. He glanced at his schedule again, double-checking the class names and times.

But before he could commit them to memory, the paper was snatched from his hands.

"Hey!" he snapped, spinning around to see who'd done it. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Diana standing behind him, her silver eyes glaring daggers at him.

She wasn't even looking at the schedule she had stolen. Her gaze was locked on him, seething with anger.

Chase blinked, completely baffled. What did I do now? His eyes flicked past her and caught sight of her roommate, who stood nearby with a sheepish smile. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Did I do something to you?" he finally asked, exasperated. "You've been mad at me since we left the apartment."

Diana's glare intensified, and Chase's confusion only deepened.

Before Chase could respond, Diana's roommate cut in with a teasing grin.

"Diana, I didn't expect this to be your type," she said, her tone playful as she eyed them both. "And… since the apartment?" Her gaze drifted over Chase, sizing him up as if trying to figure out what about him had caught Diana's interest.

Diana didn't even flinch at her roommate's quip, her focus remaining solely on Chase. "Why didn't you answer my text?" she demanded, irritation clear in her voice.

Chase blinked, genuinely confused. Text? He quickly pulled out his phone and noticed the message she'd sent earlier. It was still unopened.

"I didn't see it," he explained honestly, holding up his phone as if to prove his innocence.

Diana huffed, glaring at him before glancing down at his schedule. Without another word, she declared, "We're going to the counselor together."

Before Chase could protest, she grabbed his wrist and started dragging him toward the counselor's office.

"Wait, what? Why—" Chase barely managed to sputter as he stumbled after her.

Her roommate stood frozen for a moment, staring in shock at the scene unfolding in front of her. What just happened?

From what she knew about Diana, this was completely out of character. Diana rarely gave anyone—especially boys—the time of day. Since arriving at the university, she had made it clear that she had no interest in making friends, let alone getting close to anyone. In fact, Diana was known for being aloof and intimidating, the type to shut people down with a single glance.

And yet, here she was, not only talking to a guy but actively dragging him along as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her roommate's jaw dropped for a moment before a mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Well, well," she murmured to herself before following them at a leisurely pace.

Of course, a few students nearby noticed the scene, their curiosity piqued. But as soon as Diana shot them a glare, they quickly looked away, pretending not to have seen anything.

Chase finally spoke up, his tone exasperated. "Can you stop dragging me?"

Diana instantly retorted, "Oh, but you let the girl from this morning grab you like this."

The words left her mouth before she could stop them, and regret immediately set in. Why did I say that? she thought, mentally kicking herself. That sounded so… petty. Feeling embarrassed, she released his wrist and grumbled under her breath, walking faster to put some distance between them. Her irritation with Chase—and with herself—was growing. The emotions she was experiencing were foreign and overwhelming.

Chase frowned, confused by her behavior. He glanced at Diana's roommate, hoping for some sort of explanation. Instead, she gave him a mischievous smile that sent a chill down his spine. He immediately labeled her dangerous.

Was letting that girl take a selfie really such a big deal? Chase wondered, sighing. He picked up his pace to catch up with Diana, determined to get some answers.

"Can you at least tell me why we're going to the counselor's office?" he asked, his tone more assertive.

But Diana kept walking, her thoughts consuming her. Her face twitched slightly as she tried to suppress her frustration.

Now Chase was starting to get irritated. In a quiet but firm voice, he said, "Stop walking."

Diana froze mid-step and turned to face him, her silver eyes narrowing dangerously. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice sharp.

Chase realized with a sinking feeling what had just happened. Did I… use my powers on her?

"That was an accident," he admitted quickly, holding up his hands in surrender. "But can you slow down and explain what's wrong with you?"

Diana didn't respond immediately, but her glare intensified. She didn't like what just happened—not one bit.

Meanwhile, her roommate stood a few steps behind them, utterly confused. "What was an accident?" she asked, looking between the two of them. "And what did he do?"

Diana took a deep breath, deciding that it probably was an accident. She reminded herself that Chase didn't even want to learn how to use his powers, so there was no way it was intentional. Still, she needed an explanation.

"Why did you do it?" she asked, her voice still sharp but lacking its earlier edge.

Chase blinked, confused for a moment. "Do what?"

Diana frowned. She hadn't realized she hadn't answered his earlier question, too caught up in her own internal frustrations. Thoughts of her strange, annoying, and unwanted obsession with this mortal boy consumed her mind. Why is this happening? she thought. What's wrong with me?

Chase cleared his throat, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Why are we going to the counselor's office?" he repeated, his tone more cautious.

Diana crossed her arms, avoiding his gaze. "Obviously, so we can have the same classes," she said flatly.

Chase froze. "Wait, what?" He really hoped he had misheard her, but Diana's expression—one that suggested she was ready to strangle him if he argued—said otherwise. He sighed, resigning himself to whatever chaos was about to unfold.

"Fine," he muttered, walking alongside her and matching her pace. His reluctance was clear, but Diana didn't seem to care.

After a moment of silence, Diana turned to him, her expression softening into something more neutral, though the irritation still lingered faintly in her eyes. "Was that all you wanted?" she asked.

Her voice sounded casual, but there was something underneath that Chase couldn't quite place. He thought she was trying to keep a lid on her emotions, but the hidden tension in her tone made him feel as if there was more she wanted to say.

Diana, meanwhile, was struggling with herself. She could feel her emotions bubbling beneath the surface, their source still elusive but undeniably tied to Chase. The idea that he might have unknowingly charmed her crossed her mind, but she dismissed it almost as quickly as it appeared. Stupid mortal body, she thought bitterly.

Chase glanced at her sideways, sensing something unsaid. Trying to lighten the mood—or maybe just out of sheer curiosity—he blurted out, "Do you want to take a selfie?"

Diana stopped in her tracks, her silver eyes widening slightly in surprise. That wasn't the question she had been expecting. If anything, she thought he might ask why she'd been irritated all morning. But no, he had to ask that.

For a split second, she felt a pang of disappointment that he hadn't asked what was wrong. But as quickly as it came, it was replaced with a spark of interest. Her eyes lit up at the idea of trying something new.

"A selfie?" she repeated, her tone softening as curiosity overtook her irritation.

"Yeah," Chase said, a little embarrassed. He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. "You seemed annoyed I took one with that girl earlier, so… I don't know, maybe you'd want one too?"

Diana stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without another word, she gave him a small nod. She didn't quite understand why she wanted it so badly, but the thought of having a picture with him filled her with an unfamiliar excitement.