Chapter 20

MICHAEL

They say the eyes tell the truth, but I’ve always believed it’s the smile. Today, I saw it for myself in the classroom. When Adam spoke to Betty, her lips curved upward, but her eyes stayed flat as glass.

I had studied her long enough to know when she was faking a smile and when she was being genuine, I don’t think she had ever smiled at me innocently. I'd seen her smile at her colleagues on rare occasions. This one I just experienced between her and Adam was surely fake.

It’s been barely ten minutes since my morning class ended and I’m still watching the classroom drama unfold. Students chatted amongst themselves, some slipped out slowly but I didn’t make a single movement.

For some reason, I was still glued to my seat, playing with my pen trying to focus on the lingering scent of Betty even though she wasn’t here but her voice still echoed in my head like my favourite music

Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about the whole lecture and her interaction with Professor Adam Lewandowski.

Matt and Link walked up to me shaking my hands roughly.

“Would you be attending practice?” Matt asked.

“I don’t think so.”

Of course, I had better things to do, so I looked around for Noah.

“Noah is hungover in case you are searching for him,” Link said, “that’s what happens when you party hard.”

Parties were overrated. I’d rather stare at Betty’s picture all day than go to one, or maybe this was my way of saying I was tired of them, I've attended so many already, it had the same old vibe, same old girls and people. It was tiring.

“I’m sure there would always be a next one!” I chortled.

“Of course man,” both of them said in unison, they shook my hands before jogging out of the classroom room leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. She seemed stunned to see me walk in with Adam although she tried to hide her uneasiness while teaching alongside with him, but it still found a way of showing especially to me who paid so much attention to her body language like the way she stood straight, being so overly stern with her words for no reason and covering it up with a smile.

That wasn’t all.

As soon as the lecture ended she practically bolted. No words, no small talk, she didn’t even spare anyone a glance she just gathered her books and bags. Just walked out like the room was suffocating. There had to be more to this. I’d never seen her act this way.

She would always wait at least ten minutes after class before leaving, what changed? Does this have anything to do with Adam?

Why was he even teaching alongside her?

Betty was capable of handling her class. She has been doing this perfectly for years now. And Adam, shouldn’t he be in his office? After all, he was the head of the literature department, so he shouldn't be sitting in her class observing her completing her sentences. I can tell that the mere act annoyed the heck outta her.

This all looked too good to be a coincidence, my father had a problem with Betty, he hosted Adam at the moment and now he was Betty’s co-teacher without any explanation. Something in my guts tells me this has to do with my father.

I drum my pen against the wooden table, my chest racing fast.

I’m debating on what to do next because this whole situation was absurd, completely absurd.

And get beneath the irritation on her strikingly beautiful face I can’t help but admit that she looked good torsag. Too good. Like she was looking forward to this day, like she wanted to be caught looking her very best, she always looks neat, elegant, even in a corporate way but today she seemed elegantly overdressed. That burgundy dress of hers hugged her curves, paired with her curly chest but hair falling around her neck, making her look like a queen, made me want to worship the ground she walked on.

I nearly choked on my spit lead as I tried to imagine me taking those dresses off, I caught sight of Adam still chatting with a couple of students, being extra friendly with them, his laughter almost scratching against my ears.

He seemed like he was out to achieve something, maybe Betty’s attention even though she was already out of sight.

He was so carried away in his conversation that he didn’t notice me slink out of the room.

I walked down the hallway, it’s much quieter now, not many students were around; some had left earlier. The peace was pleasant but not quite suitable for this situation. Betty was right in front of me walking briskly; she mustn’t have noticed I was following her. I have no idea why I was doing it, maybe it’s out of curiosity, a need to know what was going on in her life or her head, but still, I keep trailing behind her slowly.

She makes a U-turn towards the principal's office not even bothering to knock… hmmm, this was getting interesting. Oh no! This couldn't be good. She looked furious. Her face was stern.

Through the glazed glass, I saw her silhouette gesture sharply, she was walking around the office with her hands making gestures of anger. A few minutes later the door opens and I hide immediately, Betty strides out her face drained of color I knew something had happened in there and it had to do with Adam she barely looked fine like she was barely trying to hold herself from falling apart almost like at the coffee shop

I leaned my weight against the wall fighting the urge to swing in and save her but what right did I have? She's my professor and nothing more, plus she already thinks I was disrespectful and hated my father so following her would look like crossing a line.

Except I made it look like I wasn't.

As soon as I stepped outside the morning sun was scorching, bathing everything in gold. Even down to the green plants and flowers, I was out of the university standing in front of the streets. I knew what her next move would be, to flee, she never had any real reason to stay, especially not today. I scanned the street before my gaze finally landed on her.

Betty was by the pavement struggling between her heavy leather bag and the books balancing them awkwardly on her knees as she waited for her cab.

She appeared frustrated visibly with lines on her forehead, yet she smirked. She always does this when she is too stubborn to ask for help, always handling everything on her own, holding everything down.

Deep down I’d have loved to ease that stress because the only stress I want to put her through is when she is taking my six-inch down her throat.

I almost burst out in laughter at my thought but that would ruin the act, her legs stretched long and straight under the hem of that dress, looking like a damsel in distress. My heart raced.

This was my chance to swoop in like the knight in shining armour and save the day.

I rushed in making it look like a mere coincidence like I just happened to be innocently passing by.

“Hello professor,” I say, stepping in to catch the books before they fall to the ground. A grin flashed on my face, a teasing one. “ I can be more useful in more ways than you know.”

She slanted her eyes gazing at me for a moment, her lips pressed tight, couldn’t tell if she was grateful or annoyed I had shown up.

“Thanks.” She finally said blandly, her voice ice cold.

I nod, unshaken. “Funny how fate keeps bringing us together, don't you think?”

She lifts her brow, unimpressed. “Don't be ridiculous, Michael.”

Michael? This was the first time I was hearing her name from those plush lips. This made me chuckle a little.

“What's funny?”

“Nothing just shocked to hear you say my name.”

She looked at the road for a second breaking eye contact and there was silence for a while before I cleared my throat, “ I noticed you were uncomfortable during class, is everything alright?”

“What do you mean by uncomfortable?”

“Having an assistant teacher…”

“I'm fine,” she cut in too quickly. “Why would you even think that?”

I move close, close enough to catch the scent of her fruity perfume, without thinking I lift my hand brushing a stand of hair from her flushed cheek. Her cheeks felt so soft against my touch, then I tucked the chestnut behind her ear.

She doesn’t react.

She just stood there, her eyes shut tightly like she was trying to block me from her thoughts or trying not to feel the what of the moment, but she was bad at it, I knew her inner thigh was moist and longing for my touch.

The loud honks of a cab jerk us both back.

And she clears her throat, her coldness returning, as she forces a smile. “Thanks for the help,” she said, collecting the books from me as she hopped in the back seat.

But just as the car was about to speed off, I looked up

Adam was standing close to his car on the other side of the street. He had a smirk tugged on a stupid face and his eyes were locked on mine like he had just caught me committing the most hideous crime ever. I glanced over my shoulder hoping he was staring at someone else but I was wrong.

His eyes were on me, growing even more intense as if I was some kind of threat. This only confirmed my suspicion even more that it had to do with Betty.

It seems like I was in some kind of competition.