Roxy knew he was telling the truth but laughter and the gazes of others undoubtedly trembled her avoiding her eyes landing on anybody's face trying to hide her discomfort.

Rian continued, "Roxy Stephen is my girlfriend."

​​

Many gasped hearing her and Roxy instinctively turned around to look at him. She had thought he wanted to hide it. Rian continued, "My girlfriend is one of the top young artists in country A and she had her private gallery before joining here."

Whoever thought she knew nothing and followed Rian like a crazy one-sided lover quietened down. That didn't stop there because Rian continued, "The painting at the administration block wall is by my girlfriend which most of you admired in the morning before entering inside."

As soon as those words left, Roxy was surprised because other than the staff of the university nobody knew she was the one who painted the ten feet tall, 16 feet wide wall.

When Rian asked her to join the same university, the management had closed admission and the only choice she had was impressing the staff so she had painted the wall alone for the whole night. That's how she got admission to the top art school in the world. Her expenses for education were also covered by the management who wanted to nurture her.

The rest of the fellows didn't dare to speak a word against her, and the fellas who were sitting around her started becoming friendly with her but Roxy wanted to punch their faces.

Rian didn't bother to speak about him and passed the microphone to the next one. Everyone thought there won't be any more drama or juicy gossips but Roxy started fuming when a girl's sweet mellow voices sounded.

"I'm Freya Reid from country A. I am a novice artist in my country and joined this university to excel in this field after knowing Rian Morgan joined here."

"Oh..." All cheered hearing her and were anticipating to witness a triangular love story soon. Rian lazily yawned and turned to check who Freya Reid was but he couldn't remember her face.

Freya Reid continued as she blushed, "I will follow him whichever teachers he likes to go to." Unlike normal universities, in their college, professors pick the students they like to take as their apprentice.

Somebody loudly commented on them, "Hahaha, I would love to see who Rian Morgan accepts."

Rian rolled his eyes shaking his head resignedly. He had thought he could have peaceful three years but the trailer started on the first day. Roxy was shooting daggers at Freya Reid who smiled at her provokingly. Roxy clearly understood her declaration of the war. That way, three students from country A became well-known to everyone.

Roxy wasn't sure whether she should go up to him because she didn't want him to be annoyed by her presence around him. Rian was yet to leave and Freya went up to him, "Rian Morgan, I am Freya Reid."

Rian yawned on her face without a bother and responded lazily, "Whatever." He already told all that he has a girlfriend yet he couldn't understand why she was giving him a flirtatious look, coquettish tone, and blushing excessively.

Rian skipped over rows of seats instead of going around it and reached Roxy, "Let's go... I am hungry." Roxy beamed and went with him talking about his stay and related things in the country.

Freya Reid's face fell watching them leave. When he already said he doesn't love Roxy Stephen, she couldn't understand why he is in a relationship with her. She obviously looked better than the boyish girl Roxy Stephen so she wanted Rian and his attention on her.

---

Roxy admired Rian who might look like the spoiled prince of the wealthy family but he had his principles, morals, and values. Even though both were reserved with each other due to the new relationship and hardly knew each other, both respected each other's personal space and time.

Due to her distant nature from all, she didn't get to make new friends and that became the disadvantage for her when Freya started pulling her petty tricks on her in the dorms.

After two weeks of classes on the basics and campus tour, programs, and professors, it came to the Selection competition. It was more like a test than the competition where teachers who were also best renown artists would select the apprentice to train them.

Rian's first priority was to become an apprentice under 'George Sherman' who stands topmost in a different type of painting. He hadn't asked who Roxy was choosing so he went with his supplies to the large hall where most of the students were present aspiring to be George Sherman's apprentice.

Roxy knew Rian wanted to be under George Sherman and she was early to the hall and found a good place for him and her. "Rian!" Her moderately loud voice echoed in the hall calling Rian who was thinking where to sit.

Rian sat by the window seat and glanced at Roxy who was checking her painting supplies, "Do you like Teacher Sherman too or here due to me?"

Roxy didn't hide and told the truth, "I am already an apprentice of Teacher Sherman. He was the one who spoke to the dean for my admission."

Rian: "..."

He was still dreaming to be under Teacher Sherman and his girlfriend had already won the teacher's heart and was sitting next to him brightly smiling. If Roxy wanted to be high profile, she could easily gain it but according to his analysis from a few days, he was sure she hates attention and prefers limited people around her. "Then why are you here?"

"To accompany you." She straightforwardly answered unlike what Rian always thought girls would do. She wasn't blushing or using a saccharine voice, she was bold, direct, and plain. What actually attracted him was her simplicity.

"You and my little devil are quite similar. I know her reasons but why do you hide from people?" Rian spoke to time pass till the teacher Sherman announces to begin.

Roxy looked away from him and sighed deeply before responding to his question, "Socializing with people means to tell about myself. Either I have to lie as an orphan or avoid stating about my distorted family. Nobody respects the girl from both backgrounds."

He had asked Aria about her aunt Scarlett and her husband, so he knew Jasper Madison was a loose man and resorted to physical abuse. Aria had seen Jasper beating his wife and frightened to tears at the age of four so her father completely avoided her from meeting Jasper.

Whereas Oliver had tried to talk to Scarlett to divorce him and file domestic violence but she wanted to give a complete family to Roxy hence she tolerated everything silently.

"There is nothing like that. You overthink everything." Rian gently rubbed her head seeing her gloomy face.