Chapter 24
MICHAEL
When Adam told me to do my findings on Betty, I expected to uncover something darker or even spooky, something that might finally quench the burning fire she’d ignited inside of me. But it did nothing. The damn article was useless.
I won’t lie or pretend that I wasn’t looking for more information about her. When Adam gave me the thumbs up, it only made things easier for me. It also made me even more intrigued, so with a rush of excitement, almost a thrill, I typed her name into the search bar. I expected to see something bold painted in crimson letters, something insinuating she had been tangled in a murder case.
But that wasn’t what I found, it was something I less expected, something I knew Betty would never do. She was far too brilliant to do that, and maybe that was what made Adam so mad.
I stared at the funny-looking headline;
“A young Lecturer Betty Graham is accused of plagiarizing Professor Adam Lewandowski’s work; where we first met.”
Yes it was funny of course but this was always about Adam, it had to be. That smug holier-than-thou mother fucker who walked across the campus like he had never done any wrong, I didn’t trust him. All of a sudden it made sense, why Betty looked like she wanted to throw up whenever he was near.
But even as the words seared on the screen, I couldn't believe them, a lie, maybe there was an atom of truth buried in it yet something in me refused to accept it, and wasn't because of my silly crush but because I've sat in her lectures, I've seen the height of her brilliance, I've watched how she can get consumed by literature g she can become sometimes even carried away by it, she didn't need to steal, she was the idea itself, Adam looked more like the culprit than she ever could!
What I didn't understand is how she can stand being in the space with a man that almost ruined her career, the article said she was sacked, and further research said she went silent for almost ten years, how could she go through this and still be strong?
And that’s when I decided; I would be there for her, I’d make sure she never felt alone. Ever.
~
It started with a simple bouquet, left in her office with no name. I liked being anonymous. It made everything more intriguing or maybe I was afraid she might flare up and reject my friendly gesture, so it was just flowers with a tiny note scrawled quickly in my slanted italic handwriting;
“It’s hard to focus in life when your soft skin and sweet voice are all I can think about.”
That was all. Nothing more, just something that screamed admiration of her ethereal beauty, and a piece of my raw feelings for her, the one I couldn’t hide.
I made it a routine, next week another bouquet, different note;
Watching her reaction through the frosty glass as she read the note with a surprised look on her oval face.
“You deserve the world and will be given to you soon.”
I thought she’d throw it into the trash, or even get mad and report it to the authorities, but the flowers kept following her home and one time she had a wide smile on her face as she walked out of her office. And that was enough for me.
Funny how days turned into week, I didn’t stop this tradition of sending her different kind of flowers, and everything I saw her in lecture she seemed even more confident unbothered by Adam’s presence, this encouraged me to leave another bouquet with a key a little more raw, of how I wanted to devour her pussy with my moist mouth.
“I wonder how you smell down there must be similar to the roses,”
“Maybe the last note was a little bit extreme but I still daydream about having your sweet delicious Fanny in my mouth.”
The last one was short,
“I want you.”
I wasn’t lying but there was no way it was going to be possible while being anonymous but it was safer that way, but the longer it went on the more I craved her presence close to me. The more I wanted to reveal my true self to her.
And after a month, I knew it was time.
~
It was a sunny Thursday after lecture I sat back, pretending to write on my notes while the other students found their way out, yet I kept my eyes on Betty she was at the front of the table sorting out her books squinting her eyes, like she was trying so hard it to notice me, like she always did.
Adam left first, that was good, I didn’t need anyone interfering.
Finally, one last student shut the door behind him and I rose to my feet. My heart began to race like I was about to commit a hideous crime. I limped down the stairs, my leg felt like lead with every movement I made. She didn’t even look up, her eyes were fixed on the damn books even though I knew she knew I was there.
Finally, I stopped a few feet behind her, her faint vanilla perfume wafting into my nostrils, and I cleared my throat a bit louder than I meant to. But all I wanted was to catch her attention.
“So, what did you think of the flowers?”
She froze. With her back still to me I saw her hand hover over a notebook before she finally set it down. Slowly, she turned to look up at me, her grey eyes filled with little surprise as if she had suspected me all along. I guess I hadn’t been as careful as I thought.
“So it was you!” She retorted.
She straightened, tucking a strand of chestnut brown behind her head, as if she suddenly needed something to occupy her nerves.
It was hard to believe this was the same Betty who stood stern commanding a lecture hall with so much authority, now she almost seems shy.
“Yes ma’am,” I muttered moving closer, “it’s all me.”
She held my gaze for a second before looking away, her gaze fixed on the exit now then back to me. “Well….thank you for the flowers, but…”
She paused, stepping back slightly, “Personal gifts can cross a boundary, if you understand what I mean.” she said looking into my eyes. I was almost tempted to kiss her there and then.
I tilted my head backwards, a fleeting smile on my face. “What boundary?” I teased.
For a second I thought I saw her struggling for words, her lips parted then closed again, she finally stuttered out a jumble of sound I couldn’t quite catch. This was good, she was nervous, and if she was nervous that meant what I felt wasn’t one-sided.
After what seemed like a few seconds she regained her composure and straightened, in a stern voice she said. “ This is preposterous, never bring me gifts again!”
But that didn’t move me, instead I sparked something inside of me causing me to lean a little closer she had to lean against the table. “What about the note?”
She blinked twice, she was almost sitting on the table her legs wide apart as if she was waiting for me to go down on my knees and eat her out, her cheeks were flushed even as she tried to scowl and act tough, she knew I meant what I wrote in those notes.
She swallowed hard, “Those were inappropriate, and would you mind taking a step back?” She looked away, I could tell she was trying so hard to avoid my gaze.
“I’ll step back if you just tell me the truth, did you like what you read?”
She scrunched up her nose biting hard on her lower lip. “Michael! “ she bawled, my name acidic on her tongue. “If you don’t stop this, I’ll report you to the principal for harassment and I’m not even kidding!”
That hurt. Not because of the threat but because of the way she yelled at me like I was a danger to her, like I was Adam Lewandowski. I would never, ever hurt her in my entire lifetime.
“I’m sorry Prof….”
“Hold it!” She said grabbing her bag she took quick strides towards the exit. “Back of Michael.”
And just like that she was gone like the dust into the fierce wind, I guess things didn’t go how I wanted them to.
I stood there for a minute, my jaw clenched as regret sank in. Maybe I should have waited a little bit longer, or maybe I shouldn’t have said these flirty words.
I carried these with me as I walked out of the hall, anger simmering under my skin before I could even breathe. I bumped into someone standing right outside the door, like they had been peeping.
It was Adam, and he had a smug smile on his face.
“I heard everything,” he mumbled, “you really need to stop trying so hard.”
“You bastard!” I yelled.
I swung my fist at his face, making him stumble backward.
“STAY.THE. HELL. AWAY.FROM. ME”