Chapter 12 The Explanation That Shouldn't Be
Throughout that day, Aveline could barely breathe properly.
Every time she looked at the whiteboard, what came to mind was Ezra's lips on hers. Every time she tried to explain the theory of color composition, what appeared instead was the warm presence of the young man's body when he hugged her.
The classroom atmosphere felt slow and vibrated at the edge of her consciousness. She mistakenly called out students' names several times, dropped the marker three times, and unconsciously sought Ezra with her eyes countless times. Just to make sure the young man was there.
Ezra played his part well. He didn't throw any glances or provocative smiles at Aveline. He just sat, listening to her like an ordinary student.
That should have been a relief, but for Aveline, it made her more restless. The emotional distance twisted inside her, making her question everything.
She kept asking herself. What have I done? How could I let that happen? What is Ezra thinking now? And why... does a part of me want it to happen again?
When class ended, she immediately grabbed her bag, turned off the studio lights, and left without looking at anyone. No waiting. No desire to meet anyone. Especially Ezra.
She went home with an unstable heartbeat, but when she arrived, she was slightly relieved. The house was quiet. Safe. As if today's incident was just a bad dream... or a beautiful, wrong dream.
She had just managed to hang up her work jacket when a knock on the door made her flinch.
Aveline held her breath. She didn't know who it was. Maybe a courier, or a neighbor. But the timing was wrong because her mind was a mess right now.
However, when she opened the door, the person standing there made her freeze instantly.
Ezra. Standing there. Wet from the rain that had started again, his jacket dripping water, his hair sticking to his forehead. But that wasn't what made Aveline lose her breath. It was his eyes. The intense eyes that made Aveline feel trapped with no way out.
"Ezra... what are you doing here?" Aveline asked, her voice choked. It was barely audible.
Ezra didn't answer, but he stepped inside without waiting to be invited. As if the house belonged to him, and he was supposed to be there.
Aveline backed away, afraid of the aura the young man carried. He was too calm and too bold. As if he didn't care if Aveline's husband would show up at any moment, like yesterday.
"I want to explain everything," he finally said, his voice low but steady.
"Ezra, you can't just come here as you please... What if Adri..."
"Please," Ezra interrupted with a tone Aveline had never heard before. Full of determination. "I want to tal."
He closed the door without waiting for Aveline to move. Aveline felt the entire walls of her house closing in. She wanted to move away, but also... couldn't. Her whole body felt too stiff to move. Aveline remained still as she watched Ezra enter and sit on her sofa, casting a look around the room. As if observing what kind of home Aveline had been living in all this time.
Aveline nervously rubbed her palms together. She walked and sat on the sofa opposite Ezra. She avoided the young man's gaze as much as possible.
"What do you want to say?" Aveline finally spoke, though there was a tremor in her voice.
Ezra took a deep breath. "I don't like you acting nervous and agitated all day."
Aveline glared, "What do you mean, Ezra?"
"That kiss..." Ezra looked deeply into Aveline's eyes, "We did it with full consciousness. I'm sure you felt it too. We both wanted it since the first time we met."
"You're crazy!" Aveline stood up. Ezra's words were deeply disrespectful to her—not just as a lecturer to a student, but as someone harboring secret feelings. She was angry, not only at his tone, but also because she inwardly accepted her desire for him and wanted that kiss.
Aveline walked towards the door, intending to harshly escort Ezra out. But the young man quickly gripped her arm and pushed Aveline until she was cornered against the wall.
"Don't deny it..." Ezra whispered. He caged Aveline with his arms, making Aveline unable to move. Their eyes met. Their breaths mingled. And the boundary between lecturer and student was now gone.
"I am your teacher, Ezra..." Aveline whispered.
"I know. But I can't lie about my feelings," Ezra replied. He reached out, touching Aveline's cheek gently, "I can't stop thinking about you. I can see your hurt, your pain, and your fragility. It makes me want to protect you so badly..."
Aveline closed her eyes, feeling Ezra's hand caressing her cheek. There was warmth there. Also, the feeling of pleasure, of being seen and desired, which she hadn't felt for a very long time.
Aveline shook her head, then opened her eyes and looked at Ezra again. Her eyes were misty when she said, "This shouldn't be happening, Ezra. This can't..."
"Why can't it?"
"Because I'm your teacher. I'm older than you. And I... am married!" Aveline's voice rose on her last sentence. Ezra's face tightened. His expression shifted slightly. Like unspoken resentment and hatred.
"That's not an obstacle to me," he said then. "You're not happy with him. He only hurts you."
Aveline sighed. She touched Ezra's chest and tried to push him away. However, that only became an opportunity for Ezra to hug Aveline closer. One arm embraced Aveline's waist, and the other held the back of Aveline's neck.
Aveline tensed, aware of what would happen next. But her body didn't resist. As much as her logic screamed that this was wrong, her heart said otherwise and actually desired it.
Finally, their lips met again. Deeper, more intense, and wilder. Aveline's hands, which had initially pushed Ezra's chest, now gripped his jacket. Pulling Ezra closer.
Ezra pressed Aveline further against the wall. In that position, he was free to do anything without resistance. But deep in Ezra's heart, he was already certain that Aveline would not fight him. He knew the woman had fallen into his arms since the first time they met.
And when it all ended, Ezra released Aveline. Giving the woman room to breathe. But he didn't move away. His embrace was still tight, and he pressed his forehead against Aveline's. Their breaths were equally heavy and immersed in passion.
"I like you, Miss... Your pain... makes me want to hold you..."
Aveline didn't answer. But she also didn't resist when Ezra briefly pecked her lips again, before finally moving away. Ezra backed up, his gaze never leaving Aveline's eyes. And when he reached the door, he smiled.
"I think a 10-year age gap isn't such a bad thing," he said before winking and opening the door. Leaving Aveline feeling breathless.
What happened? Aveline thought. I let him in. I let him kiss me again. And without conscience, I kissed him back. Am I... falling in love with him?