Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Professor Wants Me and So Does My Bestfriend: Kabanata 261 - Kabanata 270

KaidenIf there’s one thing I hated more than being shirtless in a freezing studio or being plastered on billboards I never approved, it was walking into a building where everyone expected me to smile like I wasn’t bleeding behind the teeth.The modeling agency was a sleek, soulless thing, glass walls, chrome edges, minimalist furniture that screamed “artificial.” Every time I stepped inside, it reminded me I was a product first, person second.I hadn’t been here in months. Not since the whole mess started. Not since my name began trending for all the wrong reasons.Heads turned the moment I walked into the lobby. I didn’t miss the sudden hush or the subtle clicks of cameras. Of course. Some of these people probably had side hustles selling gossip to tabloids.I kept walking, straight-backed, expression carved from marble. If I paused to smile, they’d think I was fine. If I frowned, they’d think I was guilty.Let them think.The receptionist stood up, startled. “Kaiden—”“I need to se

KaidenSilence was never a good sign.When I pushed the door open to the house, I was greeted by that, absolute silence. No music humming from the speaker Professor always left on low, no kettle whistling from the kitchen, no clinking of glass from Sage raiding the fridge like he always did when he thought no one was watching.Just silence.And water running somewhere in the house.I furrowed my brows at that, was he in the shower? Is that why he wasn't taking my calls or answering my texts?I stepped inside, the soles of my boots soft against the polished wooden floors. I paused, listening. The water was distant, faint, coming from upstairs, like someone had left the shower running. But what pulled my attention wasn’t the water.It was the voice.Professor’s voice came from the other side of the house, toward the back, where his office was.So if his voice was there…Then who the hell was in our bathroom?I didn’t even bother calling out.Instead, I headed upstairs.My steps were ca

SageI sat there with both of them staring at me still, their eyes were filled with guilt as they paid attention to me but there was something else, something they were too proud to name, fear.Not fear of me.But fear of what they might lose.They were scared that I meant my words. I was truly furious with them for taking away my choice even if their heart was in the right place but I was more furious that they left me out of it because they thought I wouldn't be able to handle it.I couldn't help but wonder if this is what they thought of me, a weak, spineless idiot who couldn't do anything but get hurt all the time.The silence dragged, the only sound was the faint ticking of the clock on the wall and the buzz of the fridge motor humming behind the tension between us.“I said,” I repeated slowly, “I’m not ready to forgive either of you.”Kaiden looked away, jaw flexing, the arrogance he wore like skin beginning to crack.The Professor kept his eyes on me, unreadable now, his usual

RiverI walked into the apartment just after sunset, my briefcase heavier than usual, even though it only carried papers. The weight wasn’t from the documents. It was from the silence. That thick, dense silence that wraps itself around you like a noose when something is missing.I hated the silence, it was never anything good.I stepped out of my shoes, loosened my tie, and scanned the living room.Empty.The usual sound of him pacing while talking to himself or his favorite show playing in the background wasn’t there. No scent of takeout, no sarcastic remark from the hallway. The place felt… cold.I walked into the kitchen where Elias was sitting with his laptop and a glass of mint tea.“Did Kaiden come home today?” I asked casually, pretending the dread hadn’t started crawling beneath my skin.We hadn't seen each other after the little fight and sleeping in separate bedrooms didn't help. I knew how his brain worked, he was very stubborn and wouldn't want to listen to me.Elias looke

River He blinked like he hadn’t expected to be put in the spotlight. “I’m fine.” “You’re not,” I said, firmer now. “You’ve been closed off. Distant. And that’s not you.” Kaiden nodded, rubbing Sage’s back lightly. “Tell us.” He hesitated. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he finally spoke. “People at school found out about us… about me. They know I’m seeing you. And Kaiden.” My chest tightened. “They think I slept my way into grades. They think I’m…” he trailed off, voice cracking. “They think I’m the reason Malik got beat up. They’ve been calling me names. Sending me messages. Avoiding me.” I sat up straighter. “What?” Kaiden’s mouth parted. “Sage…” “I didn’t want to tell you,” he whispered, eyes downcast. “Because I knew what you’d do.” He was right. Every cell in my body screamed to retaliate. To show up at that school and burn every shred of their toxic rumors to ash. But I took a breath and swallowed the heat in my throat. “I get it,” I said quietly. “You didn’t