Chapter 10: Part 10
With a sigh, I sat up in bed, the sheets twisted around my slumped body. My entire body ached, eyes feeling heavy as I blinked against the harsh light. It was far from an unusual occurrence, much to my displeasure. After those kinds of dreams, I rarely get any sleep, ruining the following day.
I slid out into the cool floor, shivering as my toes pressed into the ground. A curse slipped out of my mouth as I put on the flip flops. The cool gust of air flowed from the cracks of the balcony door. After a moment’s hesitation, I found myself heading outside.
Wrapping my arms around my frame, I stood there, basking in the sunlight and overlooking trees and tall concrete buildings. It was different. So unusual from the view back home where I witnessed packhouse.
Just then, a soft melody floated by. I closed my eyes and let the music soak into my mind and replace the ugly exhaustion, frustration, and hurt that’s festered inside.
There was a massive wall separating the balconies, so it’s almost impossible to tell who’s the one playing. The music never faltered for more than a second, the performer switching from song to song without any hesitance.
My eyes opened as the first haunting tone cut through, shocking and brutal. I dug my nails into the flesh of my arms, mouth falling open as the music continued to morph, growing darker and sombre with every note.
It’s every bit as achingly honest as the rest of it, but it’s also much more raw.
I found myself stuck, unable to move from the position, hardly paying attention to the bite of the wind and air on my shivering body. The music was undoubtedly new to my ears, yet listening to it was the most familiar thing I had ever experienced. An inexplicable rush of emotions floods my mind and body, rendering me speechless and hollow.
***
“Miss Emma, sit up straight; there is no sleeping in my classroom,” Abel’s voice echoed, startling me in my seat. I almost jumped, hastily adjusting the glasses on the tip of my nose, looking around. All eyes were on me, cheeks turning bright pink.
“Sorry.”
The remnants of sleep still clung to my eyes, my body feeling sluggish.
With a huff, Abel turned around and went back to writing on the board, my frown deepening.
“We already went over essay format last week; why do we have to go over it again?" I let out a whine, my arms crossing together, annoyed at being called out in front of the class.
“Get out.” Professor Abel locked his jaw, narrowing his eyes. “You dare to doze in my class, miss out on taking notes and now complain? I had enough of your childish tantrums. Please leave, Miss Emma.”
“But…”
He motioned towards the door, cutting me off, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Since you already know everything and don’t need a revision, I expect the essay to be submitted by tomorrow.”
“You know the topic, right?” He asked.
“Yes.”
Bree snickered as I walked out of the class, my head hung low. The grip on my bag was tight, breathing heavy and loud as I stormed down the hall, my other hand balled into a fist. My first thought about him turning into a prick was right. No wonder Professor Abel idolises Bukowski so much because he's exactly like him.
After leaving the class, I headed straight to the library in search of books that would help with my essay. In two hours or so, I managed to draft it and rushed to his office.
“Come in.”
Running a hand down my sweaty forehead, I composed myself. This is the time to show him! I thought while entering his office.
“Miss Emma?”
Abel appeared mildly surprised, his brows furrowed as I came to stand in front of him. There was a slight twitch in his lips, body stilling in the spot.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Abel raised his brow, hands resting on the desk and blinking at me. The chair creaked under his weight as he leaned back.
“I have the first draft of my essay and was hoping you could review it," I croaked, feeling my fingers strain from typing.
“The one that I assigned in the class? It would be impossible for you to have a draft already," He cleared his throat, sitting up straighter.
I handed him a small stack of papers, feeling a little smug as he accepted but hid it well. With my hands folded behind, I hovered by his desk, swiping my tongue over the bottom lip.
“Will you read it now? If you don't have time, I can email it to you instead.”
“That’s alright.” The Alpha let out a sigh, already grabbing a red pen as he begins reading the essay. I peered, watching as he circled a couple of comma splices, a sentence here and there, nothing too major.
“Interesting points, but…your conclusion is weak. Doesn’t support the thesis. You need to pay attention to the punctuation marks. It’s an amateur mistake, Miss Emma.”
“Yes, sir.” I cringed, not meeting his eyes instead of staring at the carpet.
“You wanted my advice, didn't you?"
I nodded, opening my mouth to respond, but the Alpha abruptly cut me off.
The frown on his face deepened, hands coming to clasp together on the desk, “You would have pulled this off Miss Emma if you paid enough attention, but that’s asking too much. One should be perfect enough to point out others mistakes, or they won’t have a ground to stand on. Understood?”
My stomach twisted at those words, but I bobbed my head, biting back a reply.
***
“Emma," Allie whispered as she came to stand next to me. I cast a glance at my friend.
"Hmm?" I prompted.
"Are you all right? I haven't done something, have I?"
I blinked at her, letting the knife clatter, jam splattering on the edges of the plate. Why would she think that? It only took me a second to realise that I had not emerged from my room for hours now. Ever since Abel asked me to work on my essay, I locked myself in the room and decided to create a definitive conclusion.
Turning around, I sank against the edge of the kitchen island, meeting her eyes. “No. I'm fine, but thank you for asking. How are you?"
Allie crossed her arms against her chest, pinning me with a glare.
“Not at all good," She answered with a pout, “because I'm being lied to.”
I couldn’t help but look, watching her staring at me wholly unimpressed, and I didn’t know what to say. What was there to admit? She must be tired of hearing me talk about Abel, and besides, after last night, I didn’t know how to talk with her.
“Is it about last night?”
“No”, I almost screamed, ducking my head and making myself smaller under her intense stare. “That’s not…No.”
“Then why did you lock yourself in your room? You know it worries me.”
“I am sorry.” I sighed. “It’s just my Professor…he thinks for someone who likes to point out others mistakes, I should be perfect. He also pointed out several errors in my essay today and threw me out of his class.”
“Oh.” Allie exhaled, her shoulders slumping. “Is that why you have been sulking?”
“Yes.”
“He’s an ass. Besides, there’s no such thing as perfection. It doesn’t exist in the real world; it’s a mere illusion which should not hold you back.”
“Wow.” I gaped at her.
“Forget about him.” She slung her arm on my shoulder, “Let’s go have a drink.”
I slid out of her arms, narrowing my eyes in slits. The last time we went to a club together, things didn’t end well. I shivered just at the thought of it.
“No, thank you! You get drunk, and I have to carry you back home.”
Allie huffed. “Such a spoilsport. Fine! We can drink at home.”
“Now?”
“Why not! Don’t worry; I got the best stuff from my bartender friend.”
***
The music blared in our living room, almost thumping against the walls and ringing in my ears. Allie insisted on using the speakers to have a feel of the club at home. She also made a few glasses of margaritas, my head feeling woozy and body instantly lax.
A sudden knock on the door startled us, making me hiccup and giggle. Who could it be at this time? From my peripheral view, I noticed that Allie was lost in her own world, humming to the song.
“I’ll get it!” I murmured, vision blurring around the edges as I gripped the couch and steadied. Dragging myself towards the main door, I pulled it open.
A gasp echoed around, face paling and knuckles turning white. My throat went dry, tongue feeling heavy as I tried to make sense, “Professor Abel?”
***