“Stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid of them, what else?” said Aries. He noted the way a few students were staring at them and giggling amongst themselves. 

“They don’t believe me when I deny the allegations. They come up with more taunts. It’s not that easy to evade them,” said Andrea, looking lost. 

“Fine then. Tell them that you’re my girlfriend. Tell them that everything they’re saying is true. You’re in a relationship with me. I think that will shock them enough to shut them up,” said Aries massaging his temples. He wasn’t keen on becoming her boyfriend but if that lie can save her, then why not? A gasp of horror escaped Andrea’s mouth. Did she hear him correctly? Did he just say that he wanted her to be his girlfriend? Her young mind was flabbergasted and she opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish as nothing came out of it anyway. 

Aries rolled his eyes at the silly girl. He couldn’t believe his eyes. That was all the reaction he got for being benevolent enough to sacrifice his reputation? He was the most wanted guy in the whole campus and yet she looked shocked? Shouldn’t she be like doing a happy dance right now? He felt a little snubbed and immediately wanted to take back the words but the harm was done and he would look foolish in her eyes. “I was just trying to help you out. I don’t give a f*ck about the rumors. None of them have the audacity to say anything on my face. I’ll be outta here in another year. I was just trying to look out for you,” he shrugged, whirling around and walking away. 

Andrea came to her senses and grinned at the suggestion. He was right indeed. If she accepted that she was in a relationship with Aries, all their mouths would stop harping on the same old crap. She would be at peace. And Celine? She could make that girl faint with shock! “Hey, boyfriend!” she yelled. 

Aries froze in his tracks. She didn’t just call him, did she? He turned and saw her grinning like a Cheshire cat. “I love the idea!” she yelled, turning and running towards her building leaving Aries dumbfounded and shocked. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a few students gaping at them. Aries groaned and walked back to his classroom, his cheeks coloring a little at the stunt she just pulled. He had managed to keep a clean reputation at college and now it seemed it was about to change. 

“What’s got you all blushing, dude?” asked Cameron, his jaws dropping with disbelief. 

“Why should I blush? I just rushed back,” he lied and sat down with him. He noticed that Killian was missing from class. The professor hadn’t arrived yet and there were five more minutes at hand. They all discussed the latest assignment and for the first time Aries was at a loss. He forgot to do his home assignment last night! Scott and Eric chuckled knowingly and the rest of the time, they just kept on pulling his leg. Aries just sat quietly with his eyes closed and a goofy grin on his face. In fact, it was strange that he liked the idea of being in a relationship with Andrea. With her gorgeous looks, she surely was the hottest and the most happening girl on the campus. No wonder every guy's attention was upon her. 

“Hey, Aries, you’re here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” said Killian as he rushed into the classroom and skidded to a halt right in front of them. Aries opened his eyes and frowned at his friend. 

“Why? What’s up?” he asked lazily. 

“No time to be lazy. Get up and come with me. You won’t believe what’s happening outside,” he said, pulling Aries up from his seat. 

“Even we’re coming along,” said Cameron, getting up.

“Me too,” said Scott, following them to the door but to their horror, Dr. James Halifax, their no-nonsense Computer Department Head who also taught Programming paradigms to the seniors, stood there with an evil look on his face.

“No one is going anywhere. Back to your seats, “ he barked and they groaned and went back to their seats. Although Aries was bursting with curiosity to know where Killian was taking him, he had to stay quiet and attend the class. He nudged Killian and wrote in his text book. “I’m dying of curiosity.” Killian read it and wrote. “Later.” 

“Mr. Martin,  which world are you in?” asked Halifax impatiently and Killian’s pen fell to the floor out of shock. Aries blinked and focused on the frustrated professor who always had to ask him questions. 

“I was very much here, sir,” he said hesitantly. 

“I asked you a question three times already. Are you sick?” asked the clueless professor since Aries knew everything. He had never behaved this way before. 

“Yes, sir. He’s lovesick,” whispered Cameron from behind him. Eric, sitting beside Cameron, chuckled and thankfully the professor’s attention fell upon them. 

“What’s so funny, Mr. King? Please share the joke with us,” the professor said to Eric. 

“There’s no joke, sir. I’m just laughing voluntarily,” rambled Eric and the whole class burst into fits of giggles.

“Are you insane that you would laugh voluntarily?” asked the professor, getting annoyed by the crazy class. 

“No sir, science has found out that voluntary laughter is usually the brain's way of providing a sort of ‘cooling off’ in stressful, tense or uncomfortable situations,” said Eric, making others groan. The professor rolled his eyes and held up his hand to stop his lecture.

“Done? Now have you cooled down? Let’s get on with programming paradigms, shall we?” he asked impatiently, giving the whole class a disgusted glare. 

“Yes, sir,” they chorused military style and the class continued. After two back to back classes, Aries had just stretched his tired muscles when Grantham walked in to announce the interview schedules for those who had opted for internships. Aries groaned, having completely forgotten about it. In a matter of one night, his life had turned completely upside down. He had lost track of everything but why? All he did was save Andrea and fight with her. That’s all! Then how did Aries the nerd forget his studies, his assignments, his upcoming interview? 

“The students whose names I just called out will meet me after your classes. Am I clear?” asked Grantham before leaving.

“Yes, sir,” chorused those whose names had been selected for the interviews to be held the coming weekend. 

After he left, Aries and Killian rushed out of the classroom to talk before heading off to the computer lab. “What did you want me to witness? What happened?” asked a curious Aries. 

“Fred, Celina,  Melissa and their entire gang were harassing the girl you’re living with, man. They were calling her useless names. I was about to save her when she shut them all up by saying that she’s really in a relationship with you. She told them that you were her boyfriend and that you had proposed marriage to her. She claimed that she kept you on one knee as she considered your proposal. She went on to describe how you two kissed and made love,” said Killian with a horrified look on his face. 

Aries’s jaws dropped to the floor and his eyes went wide like saucers. “She did what?” he asked, finally when he found his voice. 

“Aries kisses so well, it was the most passionate kiss I’ve ever experienced and then when we made love, it was out of the world. Seeing our wild chemistry, I have agreed to marry him. Now I’ll live with him all my life. I hope all your doubts are resolved now? Get ready for a lot of PDA between us, guys,” said Killian mimicking Andrea. Aries staggered towards a bench and collapsed into it. Was it all a joke? Was Killian making it all up? 

“She didn’t say that! You made it up, right?” he at last stammered, pulling out the bottle from his backpack and wetting his parched throat. 

“No, I swear she said it all. Celina fainted and her friends took her home,” said Killian sitting beside him. Then on an impulse he turned towards his friend. “Tell me the truth, Aries. You guys did kiss and have se*, right?” he asked looking puzzled. 

“No, are you crazy? I just met her and saved her. That’s all,” said Aries but his friend kept on staring at him with disbelief. 

“Okay, I just told her to tell everyone that we were dating. You know, just to have people off her as*,” said Aries. “But she’s really something else. I have to do something about that foul yet sweet mouth of hers,” said Aries, almost to himself. 

“Good luck, bro,” chuckled Killian, getting up to go to the computer lab. Aries sat in a daze and wondered what it would be like to really kiss her and have se* with her! Suddenly out of the blue, the object of his thoughts appeared from the library at the far end of the corridor. The moment her eyes landed upon him, she whirled and ran back into the library. Was she avoiding him? 

‘Just you wait! I’ll catch you at home,’ swore Aries.