The Hidden Passion of the Step Uncle

only teach us three credits? Why not just go full twenty-four credits while we'

e's covered has actually sunk in

taught all the subjects, I could graduate with a GPA of four point

s exuberance. Deep down, she wasn't convinced that D

a laid-back approach to all her courses and exams. She often said she had no in

n, all Elara heard in the cafeteria was praise from the female students about their handsome,

message. She was shocked to see that the message was from the man who had just taught in her class. Elara was in

ends in two hours. Wait at the b

ied to hold herself back. How could her uncle know her class schedu

ades? Isn't that rude? Would he

mester grades were definitely p

with Rayyan? Doesn't she already have Alfred, who

to take public transportation. Whether it was to campus, a friend's hous

having a personal driver meant making someone wait. But Granny Ada told her that Elara could c

everyone that she could use public transportation. Even her parents had allowed her to do so because

o use public transporta

e was introduced to Alfred, a man who ha

uncle's messag

I have to go

fred has diarrhea.

outh agape. Diarrhea? Really? Or was

Divya asked curiously while

away into her bag, fearing Divya

annoying," she

the lecture ended, Elara glanced at her phone again, only to see a message from Rayyan saying he wou

ppy. She even felt like throwing the book in her hand at him when she sa

had been at the bus stop for five minut

hort, especially with the scorching weather, heavy traffic, and the fact that there were no

raged her to buy cold, sweet drinks at the supermarket-she hesitated. Instead of letting her buy drinks from outside, her

her mother's constant reminder to her and her siblings. "Kidney health is importa

e. Imagine if her mother had asked her to bring a one-and-a-half-

rom where she stood. She was really thirsty, and she just wanted to buy plain mineral water. Only mineral wate

d, a car she didn't recognize stopped in fron

sitting behind the wheel, his dark su

etween asking her uncle for permission to buy water f

the man urged again,

the back door, but before she could grab the handle,

e man commanded, causing Elara to scowl in annoyance

But Rayyan's assumption was incorrect. Except when using ride-hailing services, Elara was used to sitting next to the driver, regardless of w

tting next to him, as being close to him made Elara feel uneasy. That was w

ow and locked it automatically. He turned on the car's air

mething to drink first?" El

glove compartment, and pulled out a small bottle of mineral

Rayyan remarked when Elara

dentally brushing against Rayy

heir skin touched. She tried not to jerk her hand away and grabbed the bottle. Leaning bac

toward her, causing Elara to furrow her brow. "I'm thirsty too," he said, taking the bottle from her h

ide of the car. For some reason, her hear

reaction," Elara tol

Elara's mind flash with the phrase "indirect kiss." She had never thought

upper right arm. Rayyan was handing her back

me an empty bottle?"

it, crush it, and then toss it when you see a trash can, Ela dear." Hi

chuckle. "Besides, why do you still call me Ela? I don't lik

me?'" Rayyan said in a teasing tone, mimicking a doting mother talki

a lisp. You're not a kid, so why do you have to

ne was nonchalant. "Ela dear." He conti