“Hey, new student, right?” A warm, slightly rough voice echoes in your ear, an olive-toned alpha woman leaning on the rows of seats in front of you as she positions herself in the stand. “Name’s Delia. Looks like we lucked out on the same class, I saw you at orientation.” Her lips curl into a small grin as she bends forward a bit, trying to catch eye contact with you, warm brown eyes locked on your face. Two long, amber-dyed strands of hair hang in front of her, following the movement of her lean.

From behind you, you hear an exasperated sigh, the student behind you leaning forward and calling over to Delia with a sharp tone. “Delia, back off, you’re being obnoxious.” The vitiligo-splashed beta man crosses his arms, red-rimmed glasses balanced on a long nose, his own midnight-black hair pulled back in a loose ponytail and hanging to one side. His eyes flick to you, then back at her with a firm glare. “Don’t mind her, Delia is… ‘friendly’.”

The lights flicker that old-age academia orange above you while other student pour in, the professor standing off behind the lectern, quietly messing with his laptop to get his orientation presentation set up.

“Let them speak for themselves, will you, Liwen?” She replies in response, rolling her eyes. “Why are you assuming they’re uncomfortable with me saying hi, anyway?”

“It’s not you saying ‘hi’ that’s the problem, it’s how you choose to say it.” Liwen grumbles, shaking his head and pinching his nose.

Delia snorts softly, shoving a nod to the person behind you and giving you a teasing grin. “Don’t mind him, Liwen’s a stick in the mud.” She jokes, half-laughing at her own words. “I have a party I’m setting up tonight, since it’s the start of the year. You wanna come? You allowed to drink yet?” The tall woman takes out a half-scribbled out invitation on a piece of scrap paper from her pocket, holding it out to you in invitation.

Liwen shakes his head, covering his face in one hand and waving in defeat with the other. “Feel free to say no…” He almost pleads, giving her a glare over your shoulder with one lilac eye. “There’s no good that comes from that party of Delia’s. Take it from me.”

“Don’t listen to him.” Delia dismisses quickly, batting away his words as she holds the paper invite out a bit more. “Liwen’s just allergic to fun. Trust me.”