005

I sat on my bed staring at the dark fabric draped over my chair, Professor Howard’s cologne clinging to every thread. It had been almost twenty-four hours since the cafeteria incident, and the campus gossip group was still exploding. My phone wouldn’t stop vibrating with new notifications.

I had three missed calls from Ela (who was currently in a morning lecture) and one very passive-aggressive text from an unknown number that I suspected was Selena.

But the worst part? I had to return the jacket today.

Our next tutoring session was scheduled for 4 PM sharp, and I had no choice but to face him again.

I spent way too long picking an outfit….something professional but not trying too hard. Black jeans and a simple cream blouse. I brushed my hair until it shone, then immediately felt stupid for caring so much. This man had seen me naked. He had heard the sounds I made when…

“Stop it, Aurora,” I muttered to myself, pressing my hands to my burning cheeks.

By 3:50 PM, I was standing outside his office holding the neatly folded jacket. My heart was beating so loudly I was sure people walking past could hear it.

I knocked.

“Come in.”

His voice was as calm and commanding as ever. I pushed the door open.

Professor Howard sat behind his desk, reviewing papers. He was wearing a charcoal button-down today, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. The moment I stepped inside, his eyes lifted and landed on the jacket in my hands.

“Miss Finland,” he said neutrally.

“Close the door.”

I did as I was told and approached his desk, placing the jacket carefully on the corner.

“Thank you for… yesterday. I had it dry-cleaned.”

He glanced at the jacket, then back at me.

“That wasn’t necessary. Sit. We’re starting immediately.”

For the first hour, he drilled me mercilessly. We covered cognitive dissonance, attribution theory, and moved into advanced research methods. Every time I hesitated on an answer, he made me explain my reasoning out loud until I got it right. His standards were brutal, but I couldn’t deny I was learning faster than I ever had.

“You’re capable of excellence, Miss Finland,” he said at one point, leaning back.

“But you get distracted too easily. Focus.”

I was copying down notes when my pen slipped from my fingers and rolled under his desk.

Without thinking, I bent down to grab it. When I straightened up, my face was suddenly much closer to his than I intended and our eyes locked.

For a split second, His gaze dropped to my lips for the briefest moment before he looked away.

I sat back quickly, cheeks flaming.

“Sorry.”

“Pay attention,” he said, voice slightly rougher than before.

The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. Every time our fingers accidentally brushed while exchanging papers, electricity shot up my arm. I kept remembering his hands on my waist in that hotel room. The way he had pinned me against the wall. The filthy praise he’d whispered in my ear.

I crossed my legs tighter under the desk.

Halfway through the session, he stood up and walked to the whiteboard to draw a diagram. I couldn’t stop my eyes from tracing the broad line of his shoulders, the way his shirt stretched across his back when he raised his arm.

“You’re staring, Miss Finland.”

I jerked my gaze down.

“I was looking at the diagram.”

He turned around, one eyebrow raised.

“Of course you were.”

The corner of his mouth twitched….almost a smirk.

We continued for another forty minutes. By the end of the session, my brain felt fried but satisfied. I had actually made progress.

As I packed my things, he spoke again.

“About the gossip.”

I froze.

“I’ve seen the posts,” he continued, voice low and controlled.

“Ignore them. People love creating stories where none exist. If it escalates or affects your studies, tell me immediately. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

He nodded once.

“Good. You’re dismissed.”

I stood up and headed for the door, but his voice stopped me again.

“Aurora.”

I turned, surprised he used my first name.

His expression was serious.

“You’re doing well. Keep it up.”

The small praise hit me harder than it should have. I mumbled a thank you and slipped out, legs unsteady.

---

My mind was a complete mess; equal parts terrified and stupidly excited. This man was dangerous. One minute ice-cold professional, the next giving me tiny glimpses of the person who had rocked my world in Texas.

Ela was waiting in our room when I got back, practically bouncing.

“So? How was it? Did he say anything about the jacket? Did the tension almost kill you? Tell me everything!”

I collapsed face-first onto my bed and screamed into the pillow for a few seconds before rolling over.

“It was intense. He acted completely normal— but there were moments…” I trailed off, biting my lip.

“Ela, I don’t know how I’m going to survive three tutoring sessions a week with him. Every time he looks at me I remember that night.”

Ela grinned.

“This is the most entertaining thing that’s happened since we got to this campus. The gossip is still going crazy by the way. Someone even started a poll

‘Are Professor Howard and Aurora dating?’ It’s at 38% yes.”

I groaned.

“I’m going to die.”

Before Ela could respond, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

I answered cautiously. “Hello?”

“Aurora.” Ethan’s voice made my stomach turn.

“We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Come on, babe. I saw the pictures. You and the new professor? That’s low, even for you. Moving on that fast?”

The audacity made me laugh bitterly.

“Says the guy who cheated on me. You're filthy Ethan.”

Ethan’s tone turned nasty.

“Selena told me what happened in the cafeteria. You really got your new boyfriend to fight your battles? Pathetic.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I snapped.

“And unlike you, he actually knows how to treat people with respect.”

Ethan laughed.

“Keep telling yourself that. Just know everyone on campus is talking about how you’re probably sleeping with him for grades. Careful, Aurora. Wouldn’t want your precious reputation ruined.”

He hung up before I could reply.

I threw my phone on the bed, frustrated tears stinging my eyes. Ela hugged me immediately.

“Don’t let that idiot get to you. He’s just jealous because you’re glowing up without him.”

I nodded absently, still replaying Ethan’s cruel words in my head.

My phone buzzed on the bed.

I picked it up, expecting another gossip notification. Instead, the message was from Professor Howard.

Prof Howard- Hi

My heart jumped. I stared at the single word like it was written in a foreign language. What was I supposed to say to that?

‘Hi? Good evening, Professor? Can't stop thinking about me too?’..... That was ridiculous.

Before I could even type anything, the message disappeared.

He deleted it.

I blinked.

“He just unsent it.”

Ela, who was sprawled on her bed painting her nails, immediately perked up.

“Wait, what? Show me!”

We both stared at the screen. The typing bubble appeared again. It stayed there. And stayed. For almost thirty minutes, the three little dots kept bouncing while Ela and I refreshed the chat like it was the Super Bowl.

“Maybe he’s writing a whole confession,” Ela teased, grinning.

“Like Aurora, I can’t stop thinking about that night in Texas. I need to see you again.’”

I rolled my eyes, even as my stomach fluttered.

“That can’t be possible. He’s the one who drew the line. He’s probably just sending me more study materials or scolding me about the new gossip.”

The typing finally stopped.

Then the message appeared.

Prof Howard- Free on Saturday?