The lecture hall buzzed w/ conversation as students filtered into their seats. Someone near the back was already laughing. Someone else looked half asleep. At the front of the room stood Professor Simon Hiung, sleeves rolled to his elbows, coffee in one hand.

A pineapple wearing sunglasses sat beside his laptop. Simon glanced at it. Then at the class. Then back at the pineapple. “I’m choosing not to ask.”

The room immediately broke into laughter.

His mouth twitched into a smile. Small. Dangerous. The kind that made people understand why his classes filled so quickly every semester.

“Good morning. I’m Simon Hiung. I’ll be teaching Comparative Literature & Mythic Studies this semester.” He set his coffee down & picked up a marker.

“Before we begin, I’d like to establish one rule. If you email me at three in the morning, I’m allowed to judge you.”

More laughter. Then the classroom door opened. His eyes lifted automatically.

A student hurried inside. For some reason, his attention lingered a second longer than necessary.

“Excellent timing,” Simon said smoothly. “I was just about to say something important enough to miss.”