CHAPTER 5: "MAYBE. JUST MAYBE"

{PREVIOUSLY ON LUSTBORN:}

Fallon grumbled when Professor Ellis didn't show up.

"What kind of grown man gets food poisoning on a Monday?" she hissed, flipping through her literature book.

The classroom buzzed with low chatter and frustration.

Professor Ellis had not shown up.

Again.

Literature was supposed to be the most engaging class, but lately it felt like a ghost subject.

Fallon slumped over her desk, groaning dramatically. "This is the third time in two weeks. Does he even like us? Or is this his soft launch into retirement?"

Elara barely responded.

Her fingers twitched against her notebook.

Her thoughts weren't even with the class or the absent Professor.

They were with last night's decision, deleting the entire chapter she wrote about Marek.

It was supposed to be symbolic.

The last word.

The last goodbye.

He didn't show last night.

She woke up whole.

Rested.

Safe.

Until now.

The door opened.

Footsteps.

Controlled.

Measured.

Heavy.

Fallon sat up straighter. "Please let him be fine," She whispered with a hopeful smirk. "Let the substitute be hot."

Elara didn't even have time to look.

Because the voice hit her like a blade. "Good morning class."

That voice.

Elara froze.

A man walked in.

He wore a black, button-up shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, he was tall, dark, thick and messy hair, olive toned skin, piercing blue eyes, pointed nose, luscious lips, sexy walk, he walked with grace and possessiveness, that would make any girl want to make him pregnant, lean muscular build and elegant.

His presence swallowed the air like smoke.

He dropped a leather folder on the table in front of the classroom, slowly looking up.

RECENTLY ON LUSTBORN:

"I'm Professor Ashford. I'll be your substitute Literature teacher today. Professor Ellis is out due to illness."

He walked to the board, writing his name in clean sharp strokes: "Professor Vos Ashford"

No one noticed Elara's entire body stiffen.

Her stomach flipped.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Fallon's jaw practically unhinged. "Well damn," she muttered. "This man looks like he just stepped off the set of a forbidden romance."

Girls around them giggled and whispered.

Marek or rather, Professor.

Ashford was wearing a crisp black shirt, rolled up to his sleeves, veins running down his forearms like roots.

He looked like temptation sculptured in a man.

But his eyes.

His eyes searched, found and held Elara.

He didn't blink.

"Elara," Fallon whispered nudging her. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"That's him." Her voice was hollow.

"Who?"

"Him. Marek."

Fallon scoffed. "Not again. You deleted that chapter, you said it worked."

"He wasn't supposed to come back," Elara muttered, trying not to tremble.

But Professor Ashford…Marek smiled at the class, and began to teach.

His voice was calm, rich and hypnotic.

"As we continue our discussion on tragic flaws, let's revisit Oedipus Rex. What makes a character doomed by fate versus doomed by choice?"

Fallon raised her hand like a loyal puppy. "Sir, is Oedipus' flaw his pride or his ignorance?"

Marek's eyes flickered to Fallon briefly before returning to Elara.

"Good question," He said, though his voice softened as he stared directly at Elara. "Pride is a form of blindness. Oedipus didn't just ignore warnings, he believed he was above fate. That belief doomed him."

Marek's tone was double edged.

A lesson to the class and a warning to Elara.

Fallon sat and sighed. "That's deep. I think I'm in love."

Elara wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

****

After class.

Marek didn't linger.

He returned to his office swiftly, closing the door behind him.

Papers scattered across the desk.

Books cracked open.

He looked busy, intentionally so.

Elara packed her things in silence, visibly shaken.

Fallon popped her gum and adjusted her top. "I swear, if he teaches again tomorrow, I'm wearing mascara."

Elara grabbed her arm. "Fallon, listen to me. That's him. That's Marek. The one I wrote about."

Fallon gave her a long slow blink. "Girl. Stop."

"No, I'm serious and he is here. He is real."

Fallon tilted her head. "Maybe you need iron supplements."

"Fallon!"

Fallon raised her hands. "Okay, okay. Just tell me, do you want to go see him or not?"

"No!"

"Cool. Let's go!"

Elara's eyes widened. "Are you deaf?"

Fallon grinned, dragging her towards the office.

Fallon began blabbing on the way to Marek's office. "Elara, if I moan during his explanation, pretend you didn't hear it. If he's a demon, I'll sprinkle glitter. No force can survive glitter. If I faint too, catch me. But if you faint, I am leaving you respectfully. Oh My dear Professor Ashford. He probably bathes in scented metaphors."

Elara was too weak to resist.

Fallon knocked confidently.

"Come in," came the velvet voice.

They stepped inside.

Marek….Professor Ashford was seated behind a mountain of books and open folders.

A pen rested between his finger, his gaze calm, unreadable.

Fallon led with a smile. "Hello Sir, My name is Fallon. I didn't quite understand your Oedipus breakdown. Could you please explain the symbolism in more detail?"

Marek leaned back slowly, tilting his head. "Of course."

He stood, walked to the bookshelf, and pulled a worn copy of Oedipus Rex.

He flipped it open, placing it on the desk in front of Fallon.

"Oedipus' story is layered," he began, eyes brushing Elara's face. "Symbolism appears in blindness, both literal and metaphorical. Tiresias, the blind prophet, can see the truth. Oedipus, who has eyes, refused to see. Only when he gouges them out does he accept reality."

Fallon nodded, utterly absorbed. "So, his flaw wasn't ignorance…..it was denial?"

Marek smiled softly. "Exactly. His pride built a wall between him and the truth."

While he spoke, his eyes never left Elara.

He never touched her.

Never said her name.

But that stare said it all.

You know me.

You wrote me.

Fallon scribbled notes feverishly. "Sir, you are so good at this. I feel like I'm inside the story."

"Stories," Marek murmured, finally dragging his gaze away from Elara. "Have more power than people realize."

Elara stepped back slightly, her heart racing.

Fallon tilted her head. "You okay?"

Marek placed his hands flat on his desk. "Is she?"

There was a long pause.

Fallon looked between them confused.

Marek recovered. Smiling politely. "Thank you for coming, Miss Fallon and Miss Elara."

Elara's skin turned ice cold.

Fallon raised a brow. "Oh…. I didn't tell you her name."

Marek looked her dead in the eyes. "Didn't you?"