Chapter 10: In the Professor's gaze.

As Erica glanced at her phone, the caller ID caught her attention, revealing the name "Mark," her ex-boyfriend. An immediate wave of disgust crossed her face, and without a moment's hesitation, she decisively ended the call, placing the phone aside with a firm motion.

"No way am I dealing with that liar again, never!" She thought, a clear sense of frustration echoing in her mind. The idea of any communication with her deceitful ex-boyfriend held no appeal for Erica.

Later in the day, Lisa entered the dorm room after her class, finding Erica in a state of repeated sighs. Lisa, intrigued by Erica's evident trouble, couldn't resist asking, "What's going on, Erica? Why all the heavy sighs? Something bothering you?"

Erica hesitated to confide in Lisa once more about her deepening feelings for Sebastian. She was well aware of what her roommate and friend would say, and it wasn't something she was eager to hear.

Lisa persisted with her prodding. "Come on, Erica, you've been sighing all day.