Chapter 2: Curse

All the way to the lecturer's room, Belinda kept sighing. It must have been the first time she was called to the lecturer's office with the tone of a lecturer who wanted to pounce on her, especially after causing trouble in their first meeting. 

Brandon changed the meeting location to the fire escape. For some reason Belinda felt the air temperature was quite cold even though there was no air conditioning, due to seeing this lecturer's face which initially still showed a sweet smile, now became a killer lecturer as cold as a refrigerator. 

“How did you feel when you found out I was your lecturer?” asked Brandon in a tone that was starting to get annoying. 

“Well ... of course I was a little surprised because it was the first time I was taught by a young lecturer.”

“Not surprised because you met the young man who fought with you in the parking lot, then you found out I was a lecturer?” Brandon's tone grew higher, making Belinda feel her legs trembling even more. 

“That's-”

Brandon stepped slowly closer to Belinda, while Belinda stepped back until her feet were pressed against the wall. Brandon pressed his right palm against the wall as he moved his head closer to the student's face. 

“I'm letting you be the class president in my class. But, I hate people who are rude to me the most, especially in our first meeting.”

Belinda's eyes began to glaze over. “I'm sorry, sir. I really didn't know you were a lecturer.”

Brandon laughed lightly. “Apologizing is not enough for me. I also don't like people who just talk. I'm sure that if your ethics aren't elite, you won't be able to marry anyone.”

“You're so presumptuous!” Belinda snapped, clenching her fists. 

“Any man wouldn't be interested in a girl who is frivolous and doesn't admit her mistakes. I hate you so much!”

“Is this a curse for me?” Belinda exhaled roughly. “Thank you, sir. People who curse can't get married.”

“Anyway, I will keep an eye on you. If you make me angry again, I will not forgive you and curse you for the rest of my life!”

*****

Despite pretending to be tough in front of the killer lecturer, Belinda's thoughts throughout the day were filled with all the curses spoken on the fire escape. She didn't focus on studying all day and was unusually reprimanded by the lecturer on the first day of class for daydreaming. 

To get rid of the negative thoughts, she usually went to a hospital. However, the hospital was not located in the city center, but on the coast of the city. The hospital contained all elderly patients who lived alone and needed volunteers to take care of them throughout their lives. 

Belinda was a volunteer at the hospital and always took care of a middle-aged woman who had been hospitalized for years due to an accident. Not only caring and feeding her, Belinda also often pours out her heart, whether she is going through bad or good things.

This time, however, she had a sullen look on her face as she recounted what she had experienced throughout the day. “I'm very unlucky this semester to meet a super fierce and ignorant lecturer.”

The middle-aged woman smiled slightly as she touched Belinda's shoulder. “But the lecturer has a point too.”

“After all, he was the one who started the fight in the parking lot.”

“Even though he is so rude, that doesn't mean you should add oil. If you fight with a lecturer, he'll hate you for the rest of your life.”

Belinda sighed weakly. “How can I make him not hate me anymore?”

The middle-aged woman stroked Belinda's hand gradually. “You have to win his heart. If you manage to make that refrigerator-cold lecturer smile in front of you, I'm sure he won't dare to mess with you.”

“But, he has a bad temper,” Belinda whispered. 

“I'm sure you can, Belinda. You just proved that you won my heart.”

Hearing this middle-aged woman's consolation, Belinda smiled again as she hugged this warm body tenderly. “You are the best. You should have adopted me.”

*****

Actually, it was not only Belinda who visited the hospital. A handsome killer lecturer also visited with a bouquet of flowers and a basket of fruits. Entering the middle-aged woman's hospital room, it was just that Belinda had not shown her nose. 

Brandon was greeted by the middle-aged woman's warm smile which made his face smile as he hugged her. “Am I late today, Mom?”

The middle-aged woman shook her head. “I know today is your first day working as a lecturer. How was your first day?”

“It's also quite fun to be a lecturer instead of working in a company. It reminds me of my college days.” Imagining the scene where he fought with a student in the parking lot and the fire escape, his lips turned down. “But this is the first time I've met a student who is so shameless and insolent.”

The middle-aged woman chuckled. For some reason, she felt that the story Belinda and her son were experiencing matched perfectly. She wondered if they had met without her knowledge. 

“This is also the first time I've heard you complain about a girl being mean to you. Usually you complain that they chase you around because you're handsome.”

“This one girl is a bit different, Mom. I couldn't even tolerate her attitude and I cursed her. It makes my blood rise in the morning.”

*****

The next day... 

Belinda did not dare to misbehave during class after hearing Mrs. Yenny's advice, although every time she looked at Brandon's face from a distance made her sick. However, she tried to focus in class so that her personal feelings would not be involved in the assessment of class activities and etiquette. 

“Belinda, did you understand what I explained earlier?” Brandon asked suddenly as he ended his presentation, giving Belinda a near heart attack. 

Belinda immediately nodded. “I understand, sir.”

Brandon laughed sarcastically as he opened the textbook. “Since you're the class president, I'll be asking you a lot of questions during class.” 

As the lecturer's words became more and more annoying, Belinda clenched her fists and felt like punching him. “I think he has a grudge against me for asking me all that time!”

Brandon suddenly had a nosy idea while looking at all the students in this class. “Since chapter 1 is over, I'll give you an assignment.”

All the students immediately complained. 

Brandon banged the table. “Don't complain so much! Your assignment is simple, just summarize what you learned in chapter 1 and answer the questions in the textbook.”

Yena nudged her best friend's arm. “I suspect he suddenly gave you the assignment because he's still upset with you.”

***** 

After class, Brandon went on a blind date with a conglomerate's daughter at a hotel. He was actually quite sick of going on blind dates every week which made him want to end it quickly, even though the woman looked hot to his eyes. 

Seeing her start to show some impudence by unbuttoning one button and pulling out the hotel room access card, Brandon got up from the chair with a cold stare. “I can't continue our conversation.”

“Why, don't hot guys like you like the look of a sexy woman like this?” the woman snapped, wanting to grope Brandon's chest. 

Brandon swiftly deflected her hand before her body was desecrated. “Don't judge me by my looks. Let me warn you first! I don't like cheap women like you who like to tease men in a cheap way! Besides, I have no interest in marrying you even if you are the daughter of Mr. Xavier. Go ahead if you want to complain. I'm not afraid!”

*****

This time Belinda accompanied Mrs. Yenny until late in the day, since Mrs. Yenny said that her son was running a little late today due to a blind date. Belinda had never met Mrs. Yenny's son and never wondered what he looked like. All that mattered was to focus on taking care of Mrs. Yenny and nursing her to happiness. 

“Your parents will be looking for you.”

Belinda shook her head. “I want to stay here so I can spend time with you.”

Suddenly, someone opened the door to the hospital room. Brandon's figure just appeared, surprised to see the student who had always been annoying in his eyes visiting his mother as well. 

Belinda was also surprised until her eyes bulged at the killer lecturer until her body stood up spontaneously. “How could you?”

“What are you doing here?”