4: Tangled Connections

“You’re the only student I’ve ever asked out,” Ray said, his tone suggesting that this fact alone should sway her decision.

Arda met his gaze, knowing he was probably telling the truth. Most students were careful around him, treating him like a walking minefield.

“I’m not interested in that kind of arrangement,” she replied, keeping her voice firm.

“If you change your mind, let me know,” Ray responded calmly.

“I won’t,” Arda said quietly, and she doubted she’d ever reconsider. Still, she was worried he might victimize her for refusing him. But she told herself she would cross that bridge if she ever got there.

He smiled, unfazed by her rejection. “Refusing me won’t affect your grades or my commitment to helping you with your project.”

“Thank you,” she said, relieved that he wasn’t pushing it further.

Ray pulled out her file, stamped “Approved” on her project topic, and handed her a copy. He slid the original back into the folder.

“Let’s go over what I expect from your first chapter,” he said, shifting into a more professional tone.

Arda nodded and took notes as he spoke, relieved that the conversation had taken a more academic turn. Fifteen minutes later, she gathered her materials, zipped her bag, and rose to leave.

“See you next week, Arda. Have a good day,” Ray said.

“You too, Sir,” she responded, turning towards the door.

“Ray,” he corrected.

She hesitated, then smiled. “See you, Ray.”

The moment Arda closed the door behind her, her phone buzzed inside her bag. She retrieved it and smiled when she saw Luke’s name on the screen.

“Hi, Luke. Good morning.”

“Good morning, my dear. How are you?” His voice was warm, and Arda could already picture him smiling.

“I’m good. How about you?”

“Still on cloud nine after you said yes.” He chuckled, and Arda found herself smiling back.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“I can’t wait to see you. Are you done with your supervisor?”

“Yeah, I just finished.”

“How did it go?”

“It was good,” Arda replied, already enjoying how easily conversation flowed with Luke.

“Great! Do you have plans for the rest of the day? I’d love to steal you away for a bit.”

“You sound greedy,” Arda teased.

Luke laughed. “Didn’t know you had a sense of humor.”

“Maybe I do.”

“I like that. Should I come pick you up?”

“Oh, I drove.”

Luke sighed. “We talked about this. Today I’m supposed to take you everywhere, remember?”

“I forgot. Sorry.”

“No worries. How about we meet at Landmark instead?”

“Sounds good.”

“Perfect. See you soon, baby.”

Luke was expressive, she would give him that. She didn't think he would be using endearments so soon. She blushed. Baby. The word felt foreign but... nice.

“See you,” she replied, feeling a flutter in her chest as she hung up.

As Arda tucked her phone away, she spotted a familiar figure approaching. Tracy, a coursemate from History class, walked toward her, chewing nervously on her lower lip.

“Hey, Arda,” Tracy said, her voice shaky.

“Hi, Tracy,” Arda replied, studying the girl’s anxious expression. Tracy looked like a classic bookworm—oversized glasses, curly hair pulled into a messy ponytail, and a red checkered skirt paired with a simple white tee. Despite her nervous demeanor, Arda thought the girl’s black wedge sandals added a touch of flair.

“Is he your supervisor too?” Tracy asked, nodding toward Ray’s door.

“Yeah. How about you? Are you meeting him now?”

“Yes he is and I’m so nervous,” Tracy admitted, wringing her hands. “I heard he’s really tough on project students.”

Arda knew about the rumors. She shrugged. “Honestly, he’s fine. Just go in with an open mind.”

Tracy hesitated before adding, “Some people are saying... you know, that he’s sweet on you. That’s why you might get a special treatment, so do you mind talking to him for me?”

Arda laughed, her voice laced with sarcasm. “I wish I had that kind of influence.”

“Well, if it’s true... could you, I don’t know, ask him to be easy on me?”

“I’m not seeing him, Tracy,” Arda said, her smile fading.

Tracy nodded, seeming embarrassed. “Okay. See you around.”

As Tracy nervously brushed the back of her hand over her forehead, Arda noticed something. Just under her thin- strapped bracelet on her inner wrist, a small sun-shaped mark caught her eye.

“That’s an interesting tattoo,” Arda remarked, pointing at it.

Tracy glanced down at her wrist and quickly covered the mark with her hand. “Oh, yeah. It’s just a tattoo.”

Arda thought she sounded defensive.

“Is it a birthmark?” she pressed.

“No, no,” Tracy said quickly, her discomfort evident. “It’s just a tattoo of the sun. If it were a birthmark, that’d be weird, right?”

Arda’s mind lingered on the mark. It reminded her too much of her own. Her moon-shaped birthmark. She met Tracy's eyes.

“Weird? I don’t think so,” she said, her curiosity growing.

Tracy forced a smile. “Well, it is." She said quite dismissively. "Anyway, I’d better go in. See you later.”

“Good luck,” Arda called, watching as Tracy knocked on Professor Ray’s door. As the door closed behind her, Arda couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the marks than either of them were willing to admit.

As Arda walked away from Ray’s office, her thoughts drifted to Luke. But despite the flutter of excitement he brought, something else tugged at her mind—Tracy’s mark.

It looked too much like her own. It was even on thesame position. A sun and a moon. Was it just a coincidence, or was there something deeper at play? She remembered the letter and the mysterious gift from the anonymous man. Was this connected somehow?

She sighed. Whatever it was, time would tell. For now, she’d focus on Luke. Maybe he’d be the distraction she needed from the growing questions swirling around her life. But she knew, deep down, that ignoring the marks wouldn’t make the mystery go away.