Chapter 6: Denial Game

Adriana's POV

"Thiago DiLaurentiis," I whispered, reading his name written on the whiteboard.

So, that's his name.

I didn't get to ask his name last night, and of all ways, I found out this way.

"They're right. He's hot," Molly whispered beside me. "But he's not my type. He looks dominant, and I'm more into femboys."

I laughed lowly at what Molly said, although I really didn't understand it because my mind was focused on the fact that the man who saved me and I vented out to last night was here inside my classroom, and it's not just that-- he is my professor!

"Our new professor is Mr. Thiago DiLaurentiis?" I heard the girl behind me whisper again. She sounds so surprised.

"Omg, you know him? Can you help me with him?" The other girl giggled.

"Girl, are you kidding? He's like a famous CEO, and he's a freaking billionaire!"

I sucked on my lower lip.

Is that true?

"I can't believe he's here right now. As far as I know, he's not from this city," I heard the girl add.

"But I hope he's staying long as our professor and not just here for a project or something."

They both giggled.

She hasn't graduated from business school, yet she already knows names in the industry. She's exactly the type of daughter my father wants. She could make some connections that will be good for their business.

I may have gone to some business parties with my parents, but I didn't really get to interact with businessmen because I chose to enjoy my life as a student and avoided business stress.

So, if it's really true that he is a CEO, it's a shame that I have no idea who he is and that I got to meet him and talk to him, and he witnessed one of the dark events in my life.

"Good afternoon, everyone." His deep baritone voice filled the four corners of our classroom.

My classmates greeted him back, and I could even hear the girls giggling except Molly and me, who couldn't bring myself to say anything.

Is it really him?

His tone is different.

He sounds so formal and intimidating right now, far different from the gentle and caring tone of the man I met last night.

But they do sound the same and look exactly the same.

I can't be wrong.

He's the same handsome man from last night. I couldn't forget his face.

My classmates groaned in unison when Mr. DiLaurentiis opened the book he had brought.

"Are we starting class right away, sir?" one of my classmates asked.

"That's why you're here," Mr. DiLaurentiis replied.

Hearing him talk like that kind of scared me. Not just because of the reason that he's really intimidating but because I saw how he was towards me last night.

I can't wrap my head around the fact that I cried in his arms like a baby, and the next thing I know, I need to address him as "professor" or "sir".

"Are you all graduating students here?" he asked.

My classmates answered "yes" in unison again.

One of my female classmates raised her hand.

"Yes?" Mr. DiLaurentiis pointed her.

"Can we ask a question too, sir?" she asked while smiling from ear to ear.

He nodded. "Go ahead."

"Are you single?"

Our classroom was filled with giggles as they all anticipated his answer. . . even me.

"Asking irrelevant questions is prohibited. This is a business class," Mr. DiLaurentiis answered, which made the whole class express disappointment in a loud sigh.

Mr. DiLaurentiis cleared his throat. "I'm not single."

And with that, the classroom was filled with noises, mostly from girls who seemed like their hearts had just been broken by our professor.

"Alright, everyone, silence." Mr. DiLaurentiis raised his finger. "You all are graduating students. Exactly the reason why you should not waste time."

My classmates were left with no choice. They stopped whining and kept quiet.

Mr. DiLaurentiis started with his lesson for today, but I couldn't bring myself to focus. I can hear him talking, but I can barely understand a thing that he is saying.

I subtly roamed my eyes and saw that all of the girls in our class were still staring at Mr. DiLaurentiis with dreamy eyes. They are even almost drooling over him, and I can't blame them.

I understand them all.

Even me is astonished by how handsome he is right now. I knew he was attractive from last night-- I even get to compliment him inside my mind even in the situation that I was in at that time and now that I am calmed and can see him crystal clear. . . darn.

But I should stop. Mr. DiLaurentiis already has a girlfriend, and it will be real disrespectful to his woman.

My heart hitched when our eyes met in the middle of his discussion.

He looked into my eyes, like staring deep into my soul, and as much as I wanted to break the eye contact, his gaze was so captivating that I failed to do so.

I bit the insides of my cheeks when I realized the possible reason why he was staring at me right now.

Please, please don't ask me a question about your lesson.

I wasn't listening.

Oh gosh, please no.

I heaved a deep sigh of relief when Mr. DiLaurentiis went back to continue his discussion and broke eye contact with me.

Does he remember me?

I hope yes because I want to thank him for what he did for me. I owe him big time, and he deserves at least a formal thank you from me.

An hour and a half passed, and Mr. DiLaurentiis's discussion finally ended.

"I hope you all learned something today," he said.

My gaze fell down to my notebook above my armchair. The whole two pages of my notebook are full of taken-down notes. I had a hard time trying to focus on his class because our eyes would meet, for I caught him looking at me, but at the same time, I'm thankful that I managed to learn not just something but a lot about his lesson.

Mr. DiLaurentiis is so good. It's like he's not teaching but having a business meeting with us which is so effective because we got so invested in his discussion. Plus, he's so good-looking, that he got my classmates to listen and focus their attention on him.

"Hey, do we have the same next class?" Molly asked, snapping me back to reality.

I shook my head. "I don't have class after this. I have an hour vacant."

She groaned as she stood up from her chair and gathered all of her things. "Lucky."

I chuckled. "Bye. See you later."

Molly waved her hand at me before she went out of our classroom together with my other classmates. I can see some girls who don't want to leave the classroom yet, obviously because of Mr. DiLaurentiis, but they have no choice because they have their next class.

I waited for a few more minutes, and finally, I was left alone with Mr. DiLaurentiis.

I mustered all my courage, stood up from my chair, and walked towards his desk.

He was busy doing something on his laptop, so I cleared my throat to get his attention.

Mr. DiLaurentiis looked up at me. "Yes? Can I help you?"

"U-uhm, I--" I trailed off, unable to form the right words to say.

"Mhm?" Mr. DiLaurentiis closed his laptop and focused his attention on me.

Fudge. I find it more difficult to talk to him now that he's looking at me intently. He's got me tongue-tied!

"Is there something wrong?" he questioned.

I quickly shook my head. "I- I just-- t-thank you."

Mr. DiLaurentiis didn't answer and just stared at me.

Oh gosh.

15 seconds. . . I counted. 15 seconds had passed before Mr. DiLaurentiis spoke.

"May I know what you're thankful for?"

What?

I cleared my throat and smiled away from the awkwardness that I was feeling right now.

"For what you did last night. Thank you for saving me and helping me calm down afterward. And also for treating my bruises and scratches." I rolled my long sleeves up to show Mr. DiLaurentiis the bandage on my arm where my bruises are-- the one he treated last night, although I already changed the bandage with a fresh one.

Once again, there was silence after I finished what I was saying.

Mr. DiLaurentiis looked at me for a brief moment.

I sucked on my lower lip.

"I'm sorry, miss—?" he trailed off as if asking for my name.

"Adriana Litmann," I told him.

"—miss Litmann. But this is the first encounter we have. I have no idea about the certain happening that you are referring to."

So, he doesn't remember me?

But it only happened last night. How can he forget me so quickly?

Or am I wrong? Is this him? Is he the same man from last night?

They both looked exactly the same. From the perfect manly jaw, luscious lips, beautiful nose, and captivating eyes.

I couldn't be wrong. He's the man who saved me from Nate.

"Is there something else you need?" he asked, snapping me from my trail of thoughts.

Well, maybe I'm wrong. Because the man in front of me right now talks the exact opposite of the man I met last night.

Mr. DiLaurantiis seemed stern, strict, and intimidating. Just like Molly's term, "dominant". While the man from last night was so gentle. He talked to me and held me like I was a priceless porcelain vase that he was scared to break. Maybe that was the reason why he's living in my mind rent-free right now.

I shook my hand and flashed a small smile. "Sorry for taking much of your time. Thank you."

I didn't wait for Mr. DiLaurentiis to say something anymore. I quickly turned my back to him and walked towards the door.

But, before I was out of the classroom completely, I took one more glance at him, and my heart leaped when I saw his watch.

It's the same silver wristwatch that the man from last night has.

Why would he deny it? Why would he lie?