THE GRADUATION STAKES

"This is my thesis manuscript, Sir. Everything has been revised," I said, my voice trembling with a quiver I could hardly hide.

I stood near Mr. Jefri, bowing my head. My fingers were clutched together behind my back. Cold sweat crawled over my skin, even though the blast from the air conditioner felt bone-chilling.

The atmosphere in Mr. Jefri’s office that afternoon was suffocating. It was only natural, considering this was the fifth time I had submitted revisions that ended in rejection. Every time that thesis was returned, it was covered in red marks—scars of my seemingly endless failure.

It didn't feel like a mere revision anymore; it felt like an interminable torture. I wasn't wrong to dub him the 'cruel professor.' I felt as though he held a personal grudge against me, constantly looking for any flaw to hinder my graduation.

Sure enough, today was no different. I glanced at Mr. Jefri, who merely flipped through the pages without actually reading them. My face darkened with resentment. Internally, I cursed, "This man is unbelievable! He doesn't even respect my hard work."

In a flash, he crossed out several pages. I instinctively looked up; my eyes widened in shock, my mouth agape.

"Sir... please, don't. I worked so hard to revise this. Why are you crossing it out again?" I cried out, trying to snatch the final project document back.

However, he pulled his hand away quickly, keeping it out of my reach.

"What kind of thesis is this?!" His tone was no longer just angry; it was an explosion. His voice thundered through the silent office, making me flinch.

"Everything is wrong!" He continued to strike through every page in the air, as if he wanted to tear them apart.

Frustrated and unwilling to give up, I kept jumping, trying to reach the manuscript. My leg accidentally buckled, causing me to lose my balance and fall right into his lap.

Our eyes met. A strange vibration hit my chest. My body felt warm, as if a fire had suddenly been ignited. Suddenly, Mr. Jefri’s lips crushed against mine roughly, and without realizing it, I kissed him back.

Without a shred of hesitation, I met his touch, inviting him to explore deeper. The kiss grew more feral. He began to trail down my neck, leaving a flushed mark there.

"Aahh..." A faint moan escaped my lips.

Until now, no man had ever touched me. Yet today, the cruel professor I loathed was the one who started it all. He tore down every defense I had built to avoid physical contact.

Mr. Jefri’s hands grew bolder. He wasn't satisfied with just my upper body. He began to explore my chest, slowly pulling at my lingerie strap while continuing to kiss me. The sensitive peaks of my chest, already taut, surfaced as he slid the garment and my bra down. With passion, he lingered there, his touch wild and uninhibited.

"Mmhhh... Sir..."

I couldn't stay silent, especially as his fingers began to wander toward my thighs, which felt damp. I could hear his ragged breath. I never imagined that the professor I considered a beast at revising was far more predatory than I had ever envisioned.

He lifted my small frame and sat me on his desk. The short skirt I wore made it easy for him to reach my most sensitive areas. Mr. Jefri lowered my underwear and spread my trembling thighs wide. He pulled the lever on his swivel chair to lower himself, allowing his touch to easily find my deepest folds.

"Aahhh... Sir..."

I moaned in pleasure. My hands gripped his hair as he worked. My hips moved instinctively, seeking the deepest sensation of his play.

Until, without realizing it, my grip on his hair slipped. My body felt like it was floating—not from pleasure—but because I was falling from a height.

Thud!

I jolted awake. My body had rolled off the bed and landed on the cold floor. Panting, my eyes swept around the room as I muttered, "Where am I?"

My brow furrowed as I saw thesis papers scattered everywhere. My laptop was still on, and books were strewn across the place. Seeing the chaos, I realized I was in my rented apartment, not Mr. Jefri’s office.

"Damn it! It was just a dream."

A few hours ago, I had been busy finishing revisions while cursing his name. Out of sheer frustration toward Mr. Jefri, I had fallen asleep and had a strange midday dream.

I felt my underwear, which was damp. And... sure enough, a trace of moisture remained.

"How stupid! How could I possibly dream that about that cruel man," I scolded myself.

Cling!

The sound of a notification from my phone on the bed rang out. I ignored it, still leaning weakly against the side of the bed.

My chest felt tight because of the dream. Beyond the disgust, I felt annoyed and indignant. I, who had never been touched by a man, was touched for the first time by the person I hated—even if it only happened in a dream.

I had never once imagined being touched by him; even seeing his face was enough to make my blood boil. I wondered how he could be the dream professor for other female students when his face was so stiff and devoid of emotion. His attitude was colder than the North Pole.

Though, I had to admit... he was indeed handsome.

Bzzzt!

The sound of my phone ringing accompanied by a vibration broke the silence.

"Who is this, anyway?"

Languidly, my hand fumbled across the bed, trying to reach the phone from the floor.

"Mr. Jefri?!"

My eyes instantly bulged seeing his name clearly displayed on the screen. I immediately pressed the green button and rushed to answer.

"Hello, Sir..."

Suddenly, my demeanor shifted completely. I spoke as softly as possible, as if I had never felt a shred of annoyance.

"If you aren't willing to finish your thesis, just say so! I don't want to waste my time waiting for you on campus!" Mr. Jefri’s voice sounded like he was suppressing a rage.

"W-what? You're waiting for me?!" My eyes widened in shock. My body froze, as if my lungs had stopped breathing.

"You didn't read the messages? I've sent several, Erika!"

Instantly, my heart felt like it wanted to leap out of my chest. My fingers moved quickly to check the screen.

And... there it was. Mr. Jefri had been messaging me since noon, asking me to come for a consultation at 3:00 PM.

And now?

I glanced at the alarm clock on my study shelf. The hands already showed 3:30 PM. Without a second thought, I scrambled up, holding the phone to my ear as I paced in a daze.

"Yes, Sir. I'll be there right away!" I answered hoarsely, then hung up.

Panicking, I ran back and forth looking for trousers and a shirt.

"Where did they go? They were just here."

It was as if they had vanished off the face of the earth. Typical—the things you need most always disappear in an emergency. I was certain those trousers were lying on the bed this morning.

My apartment wasn't large. There was only a bed, a shelf connected to a desk, a long sofa, and a cabinet wardrobe. The trousers shouldn't have moved far.

I ran to every corner, opening every cabinet. Empty. There were no trousers left. I slumped onto the floor, screaming while clutching my hair.

"Aarrrgghh.... Why is all my clothing dirty?!"