Chapter 42 WHERE DISTANCE HURTS.
Asher's POV:
A loud gasp rippled through the room the moment I stepped inside. It was followed by a wave of murmurs and whispers, rising like a tide around me.
“Professor Asher—welcome back!”
“Oh my God, sir, it’s been ages!”
“We missed you!”
“Please don’t leave us with that golden-haired lady again!”
That last one made half the class burst into laughter.
I couldn’t help it - I chuckled too.
Golden-haired lady. They obviously meant Elsie. And honestly… they weren’t wrong. Elsie was brilliant, yes, but she brought more chaos than order. Even I silently agreed with them.
I let the noise settle a little before speaking. “Alright, alright. I missed you all too. And don’t worry, I’m here today. Let’s make good use of it.”
Several students grinned at that, some clapped lightly, others still whispering excitedly.
It had truly been a while since I’d taught them myself, and their reaction made that very clear.
I turned to drop my bag on the desk when a voice called from behind me.
“Sir—what happened to your hand?”
My stomach tightened. I glanced down at the bandage on my palm, and the memory from yesterday hit me all at once.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Clara’s face. The slight frown. The way her gaze was fixed on my hand, as if she already knew something was off.
I forced a small, controlled smile. “It’s nothing,” I said lightly. “Just a small accident.”
Before anyone could ask more, I added, “Can we focus on the class, please?”
They all nodded and hurried to pull out their notebooks. The room shifted back into order, but my mind didn’t settle with it.
I faced the class again. “It’s time to submit your project - Forbidden Love and Moral Restraints.”
A ripple of panic swept through the room. Papers shuffled. Someone gasped.
Another whispered, “I thought it was next week—”
Their reaction told me everything. They weren’t done.
Under normal circumstances, I would have snapped. Today, I simply didn’t have the energy.
Especially not with Clara sitting right there.
Especially not with the way her presence tugged at every thought I tried to push away.
I kept my gaze trained above their heads, refusing to let my eyes drift toward her. I didn’t want to stay in that classroom longer than necessary.
Being around her felt like standing in a doorway I had no right to step through.
After all, if distance was what she wanted… Maybe it was better for both of us.
I cleared my throat. “I’ll come around to collect the projects later myself. I’m giving everyone a five-hour grace period to finalize it.”
A collective sigh of relief filled the room - clear evidence they hadn’t completed anything close to a final draft.
“Use the time well,” I added, lifting my bag again, ready to leave before the walls closed in on me. “I’ll expect nothing less than your best.”
I walked out of the classroom, letting the door click shut behind me. My mind was already exhausted, and I hadn’t even reached my office yet.
I twisted the doorknob and stepped inside—
—and halted.
What… is she doing here?
Elsie was seated comfortably in my chair, one arm draped over the armrest like she owned the entire space.
The moment she saw me; a wide grin stretched across her face.
“Well, hi there, Asher.”
But her smile dropped instantly when her eyes flicked down to my bandaged hand.
“Oh my God—what happened to you?”
Before I could even open my mouth, she shot up from the chair and practically rushed across the room, grabbing my hand without hesitation.
Her grip was too tight, too intrusive, too familiar.
I didn’t resist the urge to roll my eyes.
She looked up at me with wide concern, but I tilted my head back slightly and eased my hand out of her grip.
Then I walked past her toward my desk, placing my bag on it with more force than necessary.
Behind me, she spun around. “Asher, I asked you something. What happened?”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “It’s nothing, Elsie. I’m fine.”
She stepped forward again, blocking my space, her tone sharper now, edged with frustration.
“Seriously? This doesn’t look okay. Look at it!” She grabbed my wrist again. “Come with me - we’re going to the infirmary right now—”
I immediately took her hand and removed it from my wrist. More firmly this time.
“Elsie.”
She froze. Her shoulders stiffened at the tone I used.
I continued, slower but firm, “I’m fine. Seriously. It’s not as dramatic as you’re making it. Just… calm down.”
She blinked, thrown off for a second - her face flickering between offense, worry, and something else entirely.
But at least she stopped tugging at me.
She nodded slowly, finally loosening her grip. I let go of her arm and stepped back, giving myself a little space to breathe.
For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.
I turned away from her and placed my documents gently on the desk, trying to settle my thoughts. But I could still feel her presence behind me — restless, lingering, waiting.
I exhaled and reminded myself why she was even here.
Right. I didn’t know.
I turned back toward her and found her staring at the floor, her fingers nervously twisting together.
She looked deep in thought — almost too deep for someone like Elsie.
“So,” I said slowly, “Are you going to tell me your reason for being here?”
And just like that, the grin exploded across her face again. It was almost startling how fast she could switch.
She clapped her hands once, excitedly.
“Isn’t it such a coincidence, Asher?”
I frowned. “Coincidence?”
“You know my family always sponsors one college every year for an all-expense trip, right?”
I nodded, admittedly confused. “Yes… I’m aware of that. But how exactly is this a coincidence, Elsie?”
She rolled her eyes dramatically and nudged my arm as if I were missing something obvious.
“Oh, silly you, Asher!”
I pressed my lips together. I already regretted asking.
“What do you think? It’s been Cleveland College all this while!” she announced proudly, her eyes sparkling. “And you’re here. Meaning it’s going to be so much fun!”
She clapped again, bouncing slightly on her feet.
My lips parted, caught completely off guard.
Of all colleges in the region…
Of all places her family could have sponsored…
It had to be this one.
Her family was known for philanthropy, yes - but I hadn’t expected their spotlight to land right here, right now, with her in my office practically vibrating with excitement.
Elsie kept grinning, her face glowing as she stepped closer.
“Just imagine it, Asher! We’ll be on the same trip - the meetings, the tours, everything! Oh, it’s going to be perfect. And the students adore you already, so the energy will be amazing, and then we can—”
I blinked, brows knitting deeper as she rambled on, painting scenarios I had absolutely never volunteered to be part of.
She continued breathlessly, “—and then we’ll get to sit together most of the time, and the committee usually gives me special passes so of course I’ll be attached to your team, and oh! I can even—”
“Elsie,” I cut in, my voice low but firm, “Don’t you think you’re being… a little too excited about all this?”
She paused mid-sentence, blinking.
I continued, trying not to sound harsher than necessary,
“I mean… you don’t have to make it sound like we’re in a relationship.”
Her face fell immediately.
Her smile dropped.
Her shoulders stiffened.
The excitement drained out of her like someone pulled a plug.
She looked at me - hurt flickering in her eyes, mixed with disbelief and annoyance.
“Asher…” she whispered, almost offended, “That’s not what I meant—”
But I could tell from the shine in her eyes, from the way she always hovered too close, from the way she said we as if it meant something more…
I knew exactly what she meant.
And that was what unsettled me the most.
I thought she had strictly wanted us to be friends from now onwards?
I didn’t get a chance to say anything else.
Because something - someone - moved just outside my office door, catching the edge of my vision.
My gaze shifted instinctively.
And the moment I turned, my eyes collided with Clara’s.
She was standing in the hallway, right outside the glass panel — frozen, wide-eyed, like she’d walked straight into a scene she wasn’t supposed to witness.
Her hands were clasped together, fingers fidgeting nervously, and the moment our eyes met, her posture straightened—too quickly, too stiffly.
She looked… startled. Confused. Almost guilty for even being there.
My stomach clenched.
She must’ve seen Elsie standing far too close to me. Her hand still halfway lifted from where she’d been gesturing.
Elsie noticed my silence and followed my line of sight.
I felt her entire body go tense beside me.
For a second, the room was painfully still.
Me.
Elsie.
Clara.
Three people caught in one messy pause none of us wanted.
Clara blinked, then, with that small composed way she always carried herself, she dipped her head slightly.
A curt, polite nod.
She stepped past the doorframe without a word, hugging her books to her chest, her steps quickening like she couldn’t get out of the hallway fast enough.
I had the sudden, ridiculous urge to call her name.
To explain the distance between Elsie and me.
To tell her it wasn’t what it looked like.
But I didn’t move.
My jaw tightened instead.