UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

EARLIER YESTERDAY

~NIGHT TIME~

Ethan's POV

I spent most nights juggling projects and assignments, but tonight was different. Tonight, I was stalking someone.

Professor Kai.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't stalking him specifically, maybe tailing, I was trying to get answers.

Answers to so many questions, that has being ringing in my head , many questions I'll like to get answers.

The crisp night air clung to my skin, sharp and unyielding, as I pressed myself against the rough brick wall of the teachers’ department building. The wind carried the faint scent of damp earth and something metallic—maybe the nearby construction site, along the Garbage way.

Professor Kai moved with an almost surreal grace. The sound of his leather shoes was rhythmic, deliberate, and far too confident for someone who should’ve been in bed hours ago.

His tailored coat swayed slightly with his stride, the fabric catching the dim glow of the streetlights.

His tall shadows stretched long and distorted across the ground, making him seem larger than life, like some mythic figure stepping out of a dream

He was elegance, and innocent, just like everyone thought.

But I had doubts!

I had doubts about him, he was too good, too handsome to be on earth, he should probably have a an immortal living off as a king.

I followed at a careful distance, my breath shallow, my fingers brushing against the cold, uneven surface of the wall for balance. My sneakers scuffed lightly against the floor, but it was drowned out by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant whir of a car engine.

I've seen how his female colleagues and female student glued around him, he was the admire of the school.

And I hated it.

I don't know why.

But I kinda feel intimated, and unsettled about the whole settings, but seeing how he easily smile at them, tells me he enjoys the fame he was getting.

Scratch—

fuck!, I stepped on a can, and it alerted him. I froze, my pulse quickened as Professor Kai stopped mid-step.

The beam of his flashlight cut through the darkness, sharp and searching, sweeping across the empty courtyard. I pressed myself tighter against the wall, my breath catching in my throat. The cold brick bit into my back, rough and unforgiving, as I willed myself to melt into the shadows.

The last thing I ever wanted, was for him to know, I followed him down here.

For a moment, the only sound was the soft whisper of the wind and the sound of my own heartbeat.

Then, mercifully, the light flicked off.

I waited.

Counting the seconds in my head, until I heard the soft click of his shoes moving again.

I exhaled slowly, my breath visible in the cold air.

Too close.

Pushing off the wall, I crept forward, my eyes locked on his shadows as it disappeared around the corner. The narrow alleyway ahead was darker, with no lights, the air thick with the smell of old rain and something faintly floral.

I quickened my steps, bit measured it, go avoid another Misstep.

But when I rounded the corner, he was gone.

I lost him again!

The alley stretched empty before me, nothing but a row of dumpsters and a flickering fluorescent light at the far end. I frowned, scanning the area, my chest tightening with frustration.

How?

The sound of his footsteps had vanished entirely, leaving only the low hum of the night. I stepped further into the alley, the gravel crunching softly underfoot, and paused by a cluster of trash bags.

“Looking for someone?”

The voice cut through the silence like a knife, smooth and low, sending a shiver down my spine. I spun around to find Professor Kai leaning casually against the wall just a few feet away, his hands in his coat pockets.

His expression was calm, but there was something in his eyes—a glint of amusement or curiosity—that made my stomach twist.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “Professor Kai,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “I… didn’t expect to see you here.”

His lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Funny,” he said softly, taking a step closer. “I could say the same about you.”

The air between us felt charged, electric, as if the night itself held its breath. His gaze lingered on me, heavy and unreadable, and for a moment, I thought he might call me out—accuse me of following him.

But instead, he tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “This isn’t exactly a safe place to wander alone at night.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. He was too close now, close enough that I could smell the faint scent of his cologne, something warm and spicy, like cedarwood and cloves.

It was distracting, disarming, and for a brief moment, I forgot why I was even here.

Professor Kai’s eyes flicked over my face, studying me with an intensity that made my cheeks burn. “You’re shaking,” he murmured, his tone almost gentle.

He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against my arm. The contact was fleeting but sent a jolt through me, my breath hitching in surprise.

“I’m fine,” I stammered, pulling back slightly. My voice sounded strange to my own ears—too high, too uncertain.

"Are you a student?, you look like one,"He said his expression unreadable.

"Yes I am, E..than,"I muttered, couldn't believe my own voice, u was stuttering.

He didn’t press further, but his gaze remained locked on mine, unyielding. “You should head back,” he said finally, his voice low but firm. “It’s late.”

I nodded quickly, my mind racing. What am I even doing? I took a step back, then another, my feet moving almost on their own. But as I turned to leave, I felt his eyes on me still, watching me with a quiet intensity that made my skin prickle.

“Ethan,” he called softly, just as I reached the end of the alley.

I froze, glancing back over my shoulder. Professor Kai stood where I’d left him, his hands still in his pockets, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

“Be careful,” he said, his voice carrying an edge of something I couldn’t quite place. “Not everything is as it seems.”

His words hung in the air like a challenge, or maybe a warning—as I turned and disappeared into the night.