CHAPTER 5

HIROTO'S POV 

I woke up before my alarm the next morning, which was a rare sight. My body was stiff and aching in ways that made every movement a reminder of the library shelves. My throat was dry and my neck… I didn't even need to look in the mirror to know the collar had left a mark.

I dressed up lazily, pulling on a thick, high-collared turtleneck despite the mild weather. I had to hide the red ring, the bite marks, and the sheer, vibrating panic that hadn't left my chest since I’d scurried out of the library like a rat.

"Morning," Kenji mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He looked exhausted, his hair a mess, but something about him felt off.

"Morning," I said, my voice sounding slightly worriedl. I kept my back to him, busying myself with my bag. "You're up later than usual.”

"Couldn't sleep early enough. Also, it's just as surprising to see you up early," he said, his voice dropping. "Man, I have to tell you something. I tried to find you last night, but… I saw something. Something I wasn't supposed to see."

My heart did a violent jolt against my ribs. I froze, a sock halfway into my shoe. It couldn't be, I told myself. I was overthinking things.

"What do you mean? You went to the library?"

"Yeah," Kenji said, leaning forward, his face pale. "I went to find you there because someone said they saw you around there last. I went up to the third floor because the lights were on, and Hiroto… I walked in on Professor Karlsson."

The "familiar voice" that had echoed through the North Wing suddenly replayed in my head, clear as a bell. The tone, the cadence, the specific way he’d whispered 'Oh, shit.'

It was Kenji. It had been Kenji the whole time.

I forced myself to breathe, my lungs feeling heavy. I turned around slowly, putting on my best mask of confusion. 

"The Professor? In the library? What was he doing?"

Kenji looked around as if the walls had ears, even though we were alone in our room. He crawled off his bed and walked over to me, whispering urgently. "He was doing anything but researching. He was… he was fucking someone. Right there in the open, against the law texts."

My stomach turned over. I had to look shocked. I had to look disgusted. "Are you serious? On campus? Who… who was he with?"

"I couldn't see the person’s face," Kenji said, his eyes wide with a mix of horror and curiousity. "Karlsson was blocking her. He’s huge, man. He just had this girl pinned, holding her by the hair, making her… well, you know. It was feral. I’ve never seen anyone look like that. Not the 'refined' Professor we see in class. He looked like he wanted to devour the kid."

I felt a hot flush of shame creep up my neck. Held by the hair. That was me. Devoured. That was me. I felt the phantom weight of Neven’s hands on my hips, the way he’d used me while my best friend was standing just an aisle away. But did he really just assume it was a girl? I guess that should favor me but why did it get slightly on my nerves?

"That’s… that’s insane, Kenji," I managed to say. "Are you sure? Maybe you misunderstood?"

"Misunderstood?" Kenji let out a dry, nervous laugh. "Hiroto, I heard them. The girl was moaning so loud I thought the security guards would hear. And then Karlsson… he looked right at me. Well, he looked toward the aisle. He knew I was there, and he didn't even stop. He just kept going, like he wanted me to watch."

I felt sick. Neven had known. He’d known it was Kenji, and didn't even bother to tell me. Perhaps he did it because he was worried about me. But then again, Neven wasn't the kind of person who'd worry over anyone. Maybe he just wanted this to happen in the first place—me finding out like this, that is. But more importantly, I couldn't ignore it anymore.

“What makes you think he was fucking a girl?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“What?” Kenji raised a brow. “Pfft. Why wouldn't I think it's a girl?” He laughed.

“I'm just saying,” I muttered.

“Wouldn't it be crazier if he did it with a guy? Though, I heard that a lot of rich people have the craziest taste,” he answered. I glared at him. Of course he didn't know I was gay but it annoyed me hearing him say all this.

“I didn't say anything bad. I'm just saying, it would be weird if he swings that way,” he tried to defend himself. “Kinda like a waste of looks?”

I nearly rolled my eyes. I wasn't about to argue with this idiot, at least if I wanted to stop him from realizing that I'm the so-called “girl” Professor Neven was fucking.

"What are you going to do?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Are you going to tell the Dean?"

Kenji shook his head quickly. "Are you crazy? It’s Karlsson. He’s a billionaire, a genius, and a Head of Department. Who am I? If I report him, he’ll have me kicked out before I can finish my sentence. Besides… I’m terrified of the guy now. The way he looked at me through the shelves… it was like he was warning me."

I gripped my backpack straps, ready to leave.

"Anyway," Kenji said, trying to shake off the mood. "Let’s just get to class. I don't even want to look at him today, but we have that morning lecture. Just… don't tell anyone I told you, okay? I don't want a target on my back."

"I won't," I whispered. "I promise."

For now, I wasn't in danger but if things keep go in the same direction as yesterday, I might genuinely be caught.

“Let's grab a bowl of ramen at that new restaurant after class,” I suggested. I needed to distract myself from the possibilities and perhaps talk to Professor Neven about it.