Chapter 4

Andrea

The images keep replaying as the man speaks. Distracted, I take the chance to admire his features. Angular jawline, hollow cheeks like a model's, perfectly carved eyebrows, and the straightest nose a man could bear. And his lips. Did I really have the privilege to kiss them?

Something flutters in my stomach as I recall the roughness he kissed me with. It was hot and right now, I’m hot. My breathing becomes harder and I clutch the desk-top in front of me to calm myself down.

Professor Christian Lambert is still speaking so I do my best to pay attention.

”You can call me Professor Lambert and I’ll be taking you all on international studies from now,” the girls giggle and the boys go “Ahh.” We’re all excited. I’m not.

I don’t know much about campus rules but I think fraternizing with a lecturer or a professor is not advised. Right?

I can only hope he doesn’t remember who I am. He disappeared after giving me one of my best pleasures and it’s already been two weeks. There’s no way he’ll remember who I am.

As if he heard my thoughts, his gaze fly past the girls in front and lands on mine. Our eyes lock and something passes between us. He remembers. My thoughts turn frantic. What should do? Will he rat me out? Should I confess to the school board before he does? Ahhh.

Meanwhile, Nicole is typing away on her phone, oblivious to my dilemma and the hunky professor in the classroom.

The professor’s still staring at me. A hiccup escapes my mouth nervously and his face splits into a mischievous grin. Then he goes back to speak to the class as if he was never looking my way.

I shake myself and turn to Nicole who’s still typing away on her phone.

“Hey, are you not seeing the new professor?” I whisper loudly enough for her to hear. There’s no one else sitting in our aisle.

Nicole doesn’t take her eyes off her phone but she responds.

“Yeah, I know. It’s the guy from your birthday party.” I feel my cheeks burn. She knew all this while and didn’t say anything. I look around like a thief who’s about to break into a house before I speak again, scooting closer to Nicole.

“You knew all this time?!” I shout low enough for her ears.

Nicole glances at me quickly with a sly smile.

“Of course, I saw when you guys went to that private room. I knew you’d be safe that’s why I didn’t barge in.” She shrugs and returns to the phone again.

I want to be angry at Nicole. I’m hurt she didn’t say anything about this but my brain catches on to something she said. "...I knew you’d be safe."

My brows rise in contemplation.

“How did you know I’d be safe?” I ask casually.

“Oh, he’s my cousin.” She replies casually.

“WHAT?!” I screech and the room goes silent.

I look up to see why there is no chatter or giggles anymore, only to find everyone’s eyes in my direction. They’re all staring at me like I escaped a mental hospital.

Oh lord, can the floor just open up and swallow me now?

Professor Lambert eyes me casually as if we had no connection before he came here.

“Is there anything you’d like to discuss with the class?” He asks coolly.

I shake my head and then bow it low, avoiding everyone’s judging gaze. Nicole is vibrating with laughter beside me. This is all her fault.

How can she drop such news like that? I still feel everyone’s eyes on me until Professor Lambert tells the class to resume orderliness.

I’m grateful but still can’t lift my head. I scoot closer and make sure my fingers are close enough to Nicole's exposed thighs. Then I put them together and pinch her skin.

I can tell she wants to scream but won’t because she doesn’t want to be embarrassed like me.

“Ouch, what’s that for?” She rubs the skin that’s already turning pink.

“We have a lot to discuss.” I glare at her. When I hear chatter and giggles and Professor Lambert’s deep voice droning on about the importance of understanding every part of a language when it comes to translating foreign films, I look up.

Sure enough, no one is paying attention to me. I quickly gather my notes and put them in my bag when I check the time. It’s almost time for my next class.

I still can’t get the fact that the Professor is Nicole's cousin. How could she leave this out? I turn to look at her again and she’s still busy on her phone. I’d feel betrayed but maybe she genuinely forgot to tell me about him. Either way, I’ll find out when we get back to our room.

Five minutes later, Professor Lambert finishes his lectures and the girls rise and rush to him on the platform. It’s an opportunity for me to escape him without being noticed. I pretend to be casual about it as I get up, throwing Nicole a “see you soon,” and then making a run for it.

When I leave the classroom, I exhale a deep breath. I’m safe, for now. Thank God. I have to plan my next course of action. I don’t want to bump into him anywhere on the college premises apart from international film studies.

As I make my way to my next class on the second floor of the academics building, someone grabs my shoulder from behind. I close my eyes and swallow hard.

The hard is large and hard so that means it belongs to a man. It’s probably Professor Lambert. I mentally smack myself for letting myself get into this mess.

I breathe deeply and open my mouth.

“Whatever happened between us is all my fault, please don’t report me for it. Please.” I rush out all at once.

“What?” Comes Killian’s confused voice. I open my eyes and turn around immediately. My anxiety disappears and gives way to rage.