CHAPTER TWO

ADRIAN

“Fuck!” I cursed for the fifth time today.

My mind went back to the argument in class with that annoying girl. No one's ever challenged me like that, it's not the fact that she pointed something wrong in my teaching but her way of approach.

Where did she get such confidence?

One would think a girl like her would be naive and shy, but never judge a book by its cover. She's the definition of vixen and I wasn't going to let her go scot free. She would think twice next time before embarrassing me like that.

My students and even a lot of other people on campus knew how strict I was. If you wanted to be taken seriously, then you'd have to do away with the so-called nice guy attitude. 

And my appearance was another reason. I've had a few female students come at me— Even male students. Trying to make advances at me, so this is a way to keep them at arm's length.

The chattering and sounds of students walking in snapped me back to reality. I pulled myself back together and brought out my books, also writing something on the board.

A few students greeted me, but their greetings flew over my head because I was waiting for one student to walk in. The moment she stepped in, no one could deny the tension that filled the air.

We stared daggers at each other, neither of us wanting to look away. “Might want to take your seat?” I stretched forth my hands.

She sighed and made her way to her seat. “Today, we're going to be talking about a literature book— Invisible Man,” I said, jotting down a few points on the board.

My gaze landed on the new student whose attention was on her phone. “Miss Hart,” I called. “Do you remember the last thing I said?”

She blinked, getting up on her feet and just stared at the board for a few seconds before sighing in defeat. “S—Sorry. I wasn't paying attention.”

I stared blankly at her. “But I thought you were miss know it all, Miss Hart,” I mocked, causing the whole class to erupt into laughter.

She frowned. “Just because I don't know it doesn't mean you should make fun of me. It's not my fault your voice is too boring to listen to,” she replied.

The nerves on this girl.

“Oh really?” I crossed my arms together. “What can you say to the invisible Man?”

She stared at the board, not able to come up with anything. It was obvious that she hadn't read the text before. A smirk made its way on my lips, happy that I'd win this round.

She sighed in defeat and stared at the ground, fiddling her hands. “I haven't read it before.”

Her voice sounded so vulnerable that I almost felt guilty— Almost. “Read this book and cover themes based on your understanding, don't copy off the internet and if you use ai, I'd know.”

“Is it for all of us sir?” A student asked.

I shook my head. “Only for special advanced students— Miss Hart.”

She stared daggers at me and slowly sat back down on her chair.

                         ********

“Class dismissed.”

Everyone started packing their bags and leaving the class. “Miss Hart?” I called, before she could escape. 

She turned to look at me, trying to force a smile. “Did you work on the assignment I gave you yesterday?” I asked.

She sighed and brought it out of her bag. “I didn't have much time to work on it,but I did my best though,” she handed it to me.

“I thought you've read it before, Miss Hart?”

She didn't respond to that and I went through the paper, a little impressed by her work but of course, there were a few flaws.

I scanned her paper again, this time pointing out the smallest flaw like it was a crime. “Your transitions are weak. Paragraph three is disorganized. And this…” I tapped the corner of the paper, “...this line is borderline childish.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and I saw the way her shoulders slumped just a little. She tried to keep her face neutral, but I caught it—the way her lips trembled before she looked away.

I shouldn’t care. I don’t care.

But something about the way she blinked fast, trying not to cry, did something strange to my chest. Guilt? No. I don’t do guilt.

She bit her bottom lip and nodded slowly, gently taking her paper back from my hand without saying a word. Her silence cut deeper than her comebacks ever did.

“Return to your seat and correct your mistakes,” I said curtly.

She did, quietly slipping into her chair like all the fight had left her. I went back to pretending I was fine, flipping open a random book, but my eyes didn’t read the words. Instead, I kept catching glimpses of her.

Why did it bother me?

Her work wasn’t terrible. Actually, it was better than most in this room. But I didn’t like that she’d challenged me. I didn’t like that I wanted her to challenge me again.

She bit her lip again, and this time, I couldn’t look away. My jaw tensed, eyes fixed on the way her teeth sank into that soft, pink flesh. She probably didn’t even know she was doing it, but damn if it didn’t drive me crazy.

Stop it.

“Miss Hart,” I said again, sharper than intended.

She looked up, startled. “Yes?”

“Stop biting your lip.”

She frowned, confused. “Why?”

“I said stop,” I repeated, firmer now, walking closer to her. “You don’t understand what that does.”

She tilted her head slightly, almost amused. “What it does to what?”

I could hear my breath loud in my ears. Her lips were still between her teeth, and she bit harder this time—like she was trying to push me, trying to test the boundaries again.

Damn it.

Without thinking, I leaned in and gently reached down, hooking my thumb under her chin and pressing lightly until her lip slipped free. It was soft. Warmer than I imagined.

Her breath caught in her throat, and mine wasn’t much better.

The air between us shifted. Electric. Dangerous.

Her eyes locked with mine, wide and questioning. I could hear the tick of the classroom clock.

This close, she smelled like something sweet—vanilla and something else I couldn’t place.

I held her stare for a second too long. My thumb was still near her lips, and I knew I should pull away. But I didn’t.

Not yet.

She opened her mouth to say something, and then—

“Sir? I forgot to ask for my papers,”

A voice interrupted. One of the students.

I blinked and stepped back quickly.

What the hell was I doing?