Chapter 22: Exposed?

Professor James did not know why Lily stared at him that way, but Lily knew what she wanted. She knew exactly where she was targeting and what she wanted to get from Professor James as she continuously stared at him angrily, letting him know that she had her attention on him. Professor James looked away almost immediately, but he could still feel Lily's gaze on him, so fixed like she was waiting for him to utter a word, and then he would. She would attack him. 

Professor James started his class as usual, but Lily was still finding an excuse. She looked around and noticed one person had not yet come to the class yet. It was Tricia. This was her perfect opportunity. She could remember clearly that Isabella never came out early in the morning for any community service. Luckily for her, her hostel was not so far from that of Isabella, so if Isabella had come out, she would know instantly, which meant Isabella never came out to do her community service. It angered Lily thinking of the fact that he could actually be this dubious when it comes to someone he wants to sleep around with. 

Tricia came in 10 minutes late, just as Lily wanted. Professor James turned around as she tried to sneak in. Tricia stood up immediately, scratching the back of her head with an awkward smile on her face. 

"I am sorry for coming late, Professor James. I just had some things to do, and I just came back from traveling, so I had to tidy up my things and get ready for your class. I planned on skipping class, but I couldn't skip because I really, really love your lectures." 

Tricia lied as Isabella could not help but laugh silently from her seat. Lily turned to Isabella and then to Tricia, waiting to hear Professor James's words. Professor James, who did not even think about that aspect, faced Tricia with her punishment. His character did not change as he was always used to scolding every student that came late to his class.

He looked at Tricia from head to toe and shook his head sideways. 

"Then you are not a serious student. If you are a serious one, there was no means of you traveling if you did not have any holiday or any midterm break. And I don't care whether you traveled or not. You are meant to be in class on time. You are going to face your punishment for coming late, and you can't escape it. I told you, amongst all the professors in this university, I'm still going to remain the strictest when it comes to coming late to my class, and that won't change." 

He yelled at Tricia, who looked down, looking emotional as she never expected that he wouldn't even pity her despite the fact that she had just traveled and returned. She even collected permission from him to travel. 

"But sir, I told you that I was traveling, and I gave you my reasons. My family was in a tight position. I needed to go home immediately. I explained everything to you." 

She tried to talk, but Professor James raised his hand. 

"Don't tell me what I should believe and what I should not believe. Okay? I know what I am saying. You made a mistake by thinking I would just let you back and sit down crossing your legs while you receive lectures despite coming late and missing my classes yesterday. That alone is enough punishment." 

He yelled. But Lily wasn't ready to let it go. Professor James had fallen into her trap just as she wanted. She stood up and raised her hand. 

"Professor," she muttered as Professor James turned to her. He looked at her keenly. Why was she raising her hand again? Just then, he realized she had been staring at him for a while. 

"Does she have something she wants to say? Do you have any problems again? Because it seems as though anytime I am scolding a student, you always have a problem," Professor James said to her angrily, which made Lily even more furious. 

She was going to make sure that Professor James's secret would come out one way or the other. She would no longer listen to her friend anymore but instead do what was in her mind for him to yell at her like this, not knowing she was trying to do the right thing, trying to pity him, trying to give him a chance to redeem himself. 

"I am sorry if I'm sounding rude or if I'm always disturbing your scolding, Prof. I just want to pick a point just as I picked points yesterday. I thought you said everyone will be punished accordingly. And you told us Isabella here," Lily said, pointing to Isabella, who was shocked again and at the same time nervous because she did not know what Lily had in mind this time. 

"You told us she was giving community service, right? To take care of the community. To make it clean for coming late. Like very late. And you met her on the way and everything. Yeah, I understand. But she never did," Lily said. 

Oh my God. It seemed as if Isabella's world was crumbling just then. She recalled and calculated everything. Her hostel was just across Lily's hostel, and of course, Lily would have noticed if she did any community service. She was in huge trouble. 

"So what exactly are you trying to say?" 

"What I'm trying to say is I was always right, and you were wrong. Isabella is a special student to you," Lily uttered, even as Professor James knew at this moment that there was going to be an issue, and Lily looked like she had proved her point. 

"And so what exactly are you trying to say?" James asked, hoping Lily would just let this slide like it was nothing, or else there was no way to escape from this.