002

“Aurora, breathe. You’re going to pass out if you keep doing that.”

Ela grabbed my arm just outside the lecture hall, pulling me into a quiet corner near the staircase.

I kept glancing back toward the door Professor Howard had disappeared through, half expecting him to come storming out and drag me away in front of everyone.

“I can’t do this, Ela. That’s ‘him’. The same guy whose bed I ran away from like a thief. And now he’s my professor? What kind of sick joke is the universe playing on me?”

My voice came out shaky.

I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to calm my racing heart.

“He said ‘Miss Finland, in my office now’ like he already owns my entire semester. I’m going to die. Like I'm so dead.”

Ela cupped my face with both hands, forcing me to look at her.

“Okay, listen to me. You are spiraling. Yes, this is insane. Yes, the odds are ridiculous. But panicking won’t help. Maybe he doesn’t even remember you. It was one drunk night in a random Texas hotel. Hot guys like that probably have a different girl every weekend.”

I groaned.

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“I’m just saying… calm down. Go in there, keep your head high, and don’t confess anything. You slipped out before sunrise for a reason. Act normal. You’re Aurora Finland, not some scared little girl.”

She squeezed my shoulders

“You’ve got this. I’ll wait for you at the hostel. I'm gonna look for my Bible as soon as I enter and start with prayes.”

I nodded weakly, though my stomach was still doing violent flips.

“If I don’t come back, tell my parents I loved them.”

Ela rolled her eyes and gave me a light push.

“Go, drama queen.”

My feet felt heavy as I walked down the corridor toward the faculty offices. Each step echoed louder in my ears. I stopped in front of the door that now had a fresh nameplate:

‘Professor K. Howard’.

I stared at it for a few seconds, willing myself to knock.

I raised my hand and tapped lightly.

“Come in.”

His voice was deep and commanding, exactly how I remembered it from that night. I pushed the door open.

Professor Howard sat behind a large wooden desk, typing something on his laptop. He didn’t look up immediately.

The office smelled faintly of coffee and expensive cologne. Books and papers were neatly arranged on the shelves behind him. Everything about the space screamed control and discipline.

I stood awkwardly in the doorway.

“You’re late, Miss Finland,” he said without lifting his eyes from the screen. His tone was cold and professional.

“I….I’m sorry, sir. I… I got a bit lost on the way,”

I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. My cheeks burned. I couldn’t stop remembering how those same lips had traced my neck two weeks ago.

He finally looked up. His sharp gaze locked onto mine. For a split second, something flickered in his eyes …..recognition? Or was I imagining it?

“Close the door and sit down.”

I obeyed quickly, sitting on the edge of the chair in front of his desk like a student who’d been caught cheating. The silence stretched between us.

Professor Howard leaned back in his chair, studying me with that same calm, observant look from the bar.

“I called you here because I reviewed the student profiles for this semester. Your academic record is impressive… particularly in research methodology and behavioral psychology. There’s a national undergraduate psychology quiz competition coming up in a month and I want you on the team.”

I blinked, surprised.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. We’ll be competing against other universities. Only the best students are selected. That means extra work. You will report to my office for tutoring sessions three times a week Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 4 PM sharp. No excuses. This is not optional if you want the opportunity.”

I sat there, stunned. He was being completely professional. Not a single hint that he remembered me naked in his hotel bed. Relief flooded through me so strongly I almost laughed.

“I… yes, sir. I’d be honored to join,” I said quickly, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Thank you for the opportunity.”

He slid a folder across the desk toward me.

“These are the topics and past questions. Study them. Our first session is tomorrow. Don’t waste my time, Miss Finland. I expect excellence.”

“Yes, Professor Howard.”

I stood up, clutching the folder to my chest like a shield.

The awkwardness was still thick in the air, at least on my side. Every time I looked at his hands, I remembered how they had gripped my waist.

Every time his deep voice spoke, I remembered the filthy things he’d whispered against my ear.

But he remained ice-cold.

“You may leave.”

I nodded and practically fled the office.

By the time I reached the hostel, my nerves had calmed into a strange mix of relief and lingering panic. Ela was waiting on my bed, legs crossed, eating chips straight from the packet.

“Finally! I was about to send a search party. Tell me everything. Did he remember? Did he say anything weird? Is he going to fail you out of spite?”

I dropped onto the bed beside her and buried my face in a pillow for a second before spilling the whole story…. the strict tone, the competition, the mandatory tutoring sessions three times a week.

Ela listened with wide eyes. When I finished, she let out a low whistle.

“Three times a week? Alone in his office? Aurora… there’s chemistry written all over this.”

I sat up quickly.

“No. There isn’t. He was completely professional. He doesn’t remember me, Ela. I’m sure of it. This is just an academic thing.”

Ela smirked, popping another chip into her mouth.

“Babe, you see the way he looked at you in class. That wasn’t a normal professor-student stare. And now private tutoring? Please. The universe is not done with you two yet.”

I groaned and threw a pillow at her.

“You’re not helping.”