FOUR

Chapter’s Soundtrack Scared To Be Lonely By Martin Garrix ft. Dua Lipa

P E A R L

I returned to my room after a long day at school, tired and hungry. I needed a very cold shower and was craving some food. Going to college had to be life’s way of testing your patience because each day that ended stressful, I either wanted to drop out of school or continue through the torture it was creating for me. Now, an added torture spawned and it was in the form of my professor.

The room’s door opened and Amy walked in, singing out loud. She waved at me and I waved back. I watched her sit on her bed.

“Hey, are you hungry?”

“Yup. Was just about to head to the bathroom then eat out,” I replied and got up on my feet then walked over to the closet on the other end of the room.

“There's this new restaurant my boyfriend told me about. Let’s go eat there.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. Her boyfriend is rich, so it meant the place was expensive and my pocket had enough holes to know not to go with her.

“Don’t give me that look.” She got up and approached me, smiling from ear to ear. “My boyfriend gave me one of his debit cards and he told me to spend it anyway I want. So, we are going to eat plenty today.”

I smiled. “Now, you’re talking. I am so lucky to have a roommate with a filthy rich boyfriend. You better be in the same room with me next year.”

Amy laughed. “You have been saying this since our first year. Come on, let’s go take a shower then we can go.”

+=+=+

The place screamed expensive in every language possible. The designs and aura of the restaurant was fitting for billionaires and rich public figures, and I was glad I dressed in a moderate way other than the ugly dress I wanted to pick out before I decided on my jeans and shirt, which I saved on important occasions.

My mouth watered when I saw our waiter with a cart full of the food we ordered. When he got to our table, the aroma of the food made my mouth water. The waiter smiled at us and put our plates of food on the table for us then poured us some wine.

“Thank you,” I said to him and he nodded then walked away.

I looked at every dish on the table with Amy, wondering which one to start with. A rice dish caught my attention and I picked it up and placed it before me then scooped some and ate. The taste of the food burst on my tongue. The seasoning was just right but the quantity was small but it was fine, there was a lot to eat.

“This is delicious,” Amy said and dropped a piece of her filet on my plate.

I picked it up with my spoon and took a bite. Indeed, it was delicious. I continued to eat my food while taking small sips of my wine.

“So, my boyfriend told me he wants us to go for a vacation during the two week break.”

“Oh, wow. That sounds fun. Where are you two going this time?” I asked as I finished my rice dish then picked up what looked like a deliciously smoked fish.

“Hmm. He told me to pick a place so what do you think is the best place to go for a vacation now?”

I thought over it for some second before a place clicked in my head. I leaned forward to tell her about it but something caught my attention behind her, in the distance. The back of the man looked familair and when he turned around, my heart almost raced out of my chest. Professor Marison was walking toward a table and behind him was a woman who looked to be around his age. She was beautiful, with long blonde hair and a nice smile. I could not help but eye the way her white short dress fit her slim and curvy build.

My heart ached at her appearance. She was pretty and was probably his girlfriend or his date. The food suddenly didn’t matter anymore at the sight of them. When he pulled out a seat for her, I looked away and stared at my plate.

“Are you okay?” Amy asked and I nodded with my head bowed.

I dropped my spoon and glanced at them. The woman now had her hand over his and he allowed it. The sight left a sour feeling in my heart. But then again, why was I getting worked up over who he dated? We had a one time thing and I was not expecting anything from him.

“Is the food okay? You look weird.”

Great. My jealousy was plastered on my face.

I smiled at Amy and shook my head then picked up another dish. I smelled it then dropped it beside my soup and started to force the food into my mouth. Amy started rambling about something her boyfriend did for her yesterday and I realized just how lucky she was to have someone like him while I had no one but myself to help me through things.

“Oh… I will be going to that club we went to again tomorrow night. Wanna come with me?”

I thought over it. Maybe I needed to go, that way I would forget about everything and move on from Professor Marison. I nodded in acceptance and she beamed then continued eating her food. For the rest of my time, I did not look at the couple on the other side of where we were. I chose not to because I was not sure what I would feel if I did.

+=+=+

I was standing outside of Professor Marison’s class, feeling anxious to see him after what I saw yesterday. My hands were gripping onto my Data Analytic textbook so hard, it was bending even with how thick it was. I was agitated for no reason yet for a reason— Him.

“Pearl?”

I almost jumped so high in the air at the sound of my name. Knowing the owner of the voice, I turned around and glared at him.

“You scared me, Lee,” I said and he raised an eyebrow.

“Why were you even standing there like that? Class has already started.” He came closer to me to look past me through the small window on the door. “Well, it started alright.” He stood back and grinned at me. “Come on, let’s go in together.”

Before I could say no, he grabbed my wrist and was pushing the door open. I gritted my teeth and glared at the back of his head as he walked into the class with me behind. All eyes were on us, including that of Professor Marison. I suddenly felt small under their gaze and Lee was not acting small at all, instead he waved at the class then tugged me with him.

As we walked past the professor, I sensed his eyes on me and I wondered why he was staring. Lee stopped and I noticed we were going to sit in the front row. Lee stood aside then motioned for me to sit. The class had not gone back to what they were doing so I quickly sat down to divert attention and Lee took his place beside me.

I was sure they were shocked at the way Lee held me when we walked in. Lee was hot, tall, and handsome. Our class called him the department’s kpop idol which inflated his ego. Girls always wanted him so I was probably going to be the gossip topic for them. Lee was my friend but was not that chatty.

“As I was saying…” Professor Marison started to teach.

I opened my bag and pulled out my laptop and books. Lee grabbed one of my notes and I glared at him. He never brought any type of writing materials to class and I wondered how he ever passed exams and tests. He even passed professor Marison’s test.

“Give it,” I said and he smirked then leaned toward me, almost in my space. He was so close I could smell his scent.

I became aware of professor Marison and looked at him. He was staring… no, glaring at us with a very deep and dark look in his eyes. His eyes were particularly on Lee before it shifted to me. I could see his jaw clench before he switched his gaze onto someone else.

I was stunned at the reaction. Was he… jealous?

If he was, this was perfect. I would show him that I could also move on from what we did.

+=+=+

“Time to party!” Amy said at the top of her voice and pulled me to the dance floor.

I laughed happily and moved my body, and took a sip out of my drink. Tonight, I wanted to just have fun without thinking of him.

“Hey, Pearl?!”

I turned around at the sound of my name and beamed in more happiness when I saw Lee. He waved at me then walked to where I was. I had asked him to come with us to the club since I would be alone when Amy ended up clinging to her boyfriend.

“You’re late,” I said when he was close enough to be within earshot over the loud music.

Lee smiled at me and wrapped his arms around my body. I placed my free hand on his shoulder and started to dance to the song playing. The beats and tunes ran through my body and before I knew it, I was dancing like never before, smiling with Lee who danced together with me, never missing a beat. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he held my waist, pulling me closer to him.

I threw my head back and he put his face between my neck and shoulder. When he kissed my neck, I waited for that shiver, the heated sensation that Marison ignited within me but it did not happen. It made me open my eyes as reality dawned on me. I looked to the side and I made eye contact with him, the devil himself— Professor Marison.

He was staring, with a sly smirk on his lips as he twirled the drink in his cup. I swallowed and took in his attire. He was only in a dark red dress shirt, a few buttons undone. The little light made me see his skin, those hard pecs that I remembered touching. With his legs parted, sitting like a king, I felt a shiver run through my body with the power he had.

Professor Marison brought his drink to his lips and moved his eyes up and down my body, the movement so sensual that I could feel it in my core. He took a sip from his glass cup and lowered it. I paid attention to his lips and bit the inside of my cheek when he licked his lips. Flashes of his tongue going down on me filled my head and I cursed him.

The devil of a man smirked again then rose to his feet. Disappointment suddenly filled me. Was he leaving?

He put one hand in his pocket and raised his left hand in my direction then curled his index and middle finger thrice. I stopped dancing to understand what he was trying to say. I looked at his face and he mouthed ‘come here.’

I looked back at Lee and saw him staring down at me with confusion in his eyes. I looked back at Professor Marison but frowned. He was gone and I panicked. I handed my drink to Lee then jogged through the people dancing on the dance floor. Once I was in the clear zone, I looked at the seat he had been on, he was not there either. I started making my way toward the left side where the bar was, searching for him. I stopped at the bar when I realized how desperate I was.

“Turn around,” a deep voice filled my ears.

I spun around and I was face to face with him and my heart did a flip. Up close he looked even more good looking and dominating as he stared down at me.

“You’re coming home with me.”

Was all he said before I knew it, I was at the back of his car, in a liplock with him while I straddled him. His hands were tight on my ass, pulling up my dress. I was grinding into his hard cock and my body was on fire.

“Are you trying to drive me fucking crazy?” He asked in my mouth. “Dancing with that boy, flirting with him before me.”

A dark and low chuckle left his lips, sending a quake through me.

“You’re in so much trouble the moment you are on my bed, sweetheart.”