Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

He Started Noticing

Chantal's POV

“Chantal.”

I looked up from my phone.

Mia was staring at me.

“What?”

She pointed at the faculty building.

“Why are you looking there?”

I immediately looked away.

“I wasn't.”

“You were.”

“No.”

“You've been staring at that building for three minutes.”

I sighed.

“I'm just waiting.”

“For what?”

I didn't answer.

Because I knew exactly what I was waiting for.

Professor Adrian Lister.

Ever since I realized that my first-ever crush was my professor, my daily routine had somehow changed.

I started arriving earlier.

I stayed a little longer after class.

I volunteered for things I normally wouldn't care about.

And sometimes—

I would simply find myself looking for him.

“You're hopeless,” Mia muttered.

“I am not.”

She laughed.

Before I could answer, the classroom door opened.

My heart immediately reacted before my brain could.

Professor Lister walked in.

And like an idiot—

I smiled.

He noticed.

Our eyes met.

His expression softened for half a second.

Then he looked away and placed his things on the desk.

“Good morning, everyone.”

“Good morning, Professor.”

I sat straighter.

Mia leaned toward me.

“Behave.”

“I am behaving.”

“Your face says otherwise.”

I ignored her.

---

The class started normally.

Until Professor Lister began collecting our group reports.

“Please submit your reports before the end of the period.”

Everyone started passing papers forward.

I gathered our group's papers.

Then I stood.

“I'll submit ours, Professor.”

He looked at me.

“You don't have to.”

“I know.”

I walked toward his desk anyway.

He accepted the papers.

“Thank you, Chantal.”

“You're welcome.”

I turned around.

But before I could return to my seat—

“Chantal.”

I looked back.

“Yes?”

“You've been doing this quite often.”

My heart skipped.

“Doing what?”

“Submitting everyone else's work.”

I smiled nervously.

“I don't mind.”

“I noticed.”

That single sentence made me freeze.

He noticed.

He actually noticed.

“Is there a reason?”

I swallowed.

“No reason.”

His eyes remained on me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he nodded.

“All right.”

I returned to my seat.

Mia immediately leaned closer.

“What did he say?”

“Nothing.”

“What did he say?”

“He noticed.”

Her eyes widened.

“He noticed what?”

“That I keep submitting things.”

She covered her mouth.

“Oh my gosh.”

“Stop.”

“He noticed you!”

“Mia.”

“You're blushing again.”

I buried my face in my notebook.

---

After class, everyone started leaving.

I was packing my things when I realized I had forgotten my pen.

I looked under my chair.

Nothing.

“Looking for this?”

I froze.

Professor Lister was standing beside the desk.

He was holding my pen.

“My pen.”

“You left it on my desk.”

“Oh.”

I reached for it.

Our fingers almost touched.

I immediately pulled my hand back.

“Thank you.”

He handed it to me.

“You're welcome.”

I placed it inside my bag.

Then I noticed something.

He was still looking at me.

“Is there something wrong, Professor?”

He shook his head.

“No.”

Then he smiled faintly.

“You just remind me of someone.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Someone?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

He looked away for a moment.

“Someone who used to be very determined.”

I smiled.

“Was she your student?”

He looked back at me.

“No.”

Something about his answer made me curious.

“Then who was she?”

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he picked up his folder.

“It's a long story.”

I smiled.

“Maybe I'll hear it someday.”

His eyes met mine again.

“Maybe.”

I walked out of the classroom with a strange feeling in my chest.

It wasn't just excitement anymore.

There was curiosity.

And something else.

Something I couldn't name.

---

Later That Afternoon

I was sitting in the studio with Mia when she suddenly grabbed my phone.

“Hey!”

She held it away from me.

“Give it back!”

She laughed.

“You're searching his name!”

My eyes widened.

“I was not!”

She turned the screen toward me.

There it was.

ADRIAN LISTER

I had searched him.

His name.

His achievements.

His academic background.

Everything I could find.

“Okay…”

I took my phone back.

“I was curious.”

“Curious?”

“Yes.”

“That's what people say before they fall.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You're dramatic.”

“I'm serious.”

I didn't answer.

Because somewhere inside me—

I was beginning to wonder the same thing.

Was this just a crush?

Or was I slowly becoming obsessed?

---

The Next Day

I arrived early.

As usual.

But this time, I wasn't alone.

Professor Lister was already inside the classroom.

He was standing near the window, reading something.

He looked up when I entered.

“Good morning, Chantal.”

“Good morning, Professor.”

I walked toward my seat.

But before I could sit—

“Early again.”

I smiled.

“I like being early.”

“I've noticed.”

There it was again.

That word.

Noticed.

I looked at him.

“Do you notice everything?”

He smiled.

“Only things that stand out.”

My heart suddenly beat faster.

I didn't know what to say.

So I looked away.

“See you later, Professor.”

I sat down.

He returned to his desk.

Neither of us said anything else.

But for the first time—

I wondered if I was the only one noticing.

Or if…

he had started noticing me, too.