After class, I wait for everyone to leave, and I walk to Leo’s desk.
“How could you do this to me? Do you know how many people are going to hate me because of what you did? Did you do this because I made you to leave last night?” I glare at him.
“Which question should I answer first?” He asks calmly.
“This is not a joke, Professor Brown.”
“I told you to call me Leo.”
“But we are in class, and a student might walk in. Please answer me.”
“I didn’t know you thought so highly of yourself. I don’t have that much free time to change my teaching schedule because of you. Especially someone who is blinded by infatuation.” He says that while organizing his papers, without looking at me.
“Why are you insulting me? Unless you are really bitter because of last night.”
“No. I wanted to teach Paris a lesson, along with those who think they will be able to seduce me.”
“I get that, but what about me? Why did you put me on the spot like that?”
“You don’t like to talk. I want you to connect other the students and to get out of your shell a little.” He gets up from behind his desk and we walk out of class together.
“So, should I thank you for making my university experience more unbearable?” I motion with my eyes towards students who are looking at us as if I stole something from them.
“Thanking me is not enough. I want my name in the book of world records.”
I wince at his echo of my words, and he laughs.
“Willow.” He gazes at me, his eyes gentle, and my heart pounds immediately. “Willow, I want you…” His words get cut off, and his eyes avert to a different direction and he frowns.
I follow his gaze, although I know the reason for his frown. This is the reason I can’t let Liam go. I feel like he is my soul mate, and I feel his presence whenever he is around.
I turn to look and I see Liam holding hands with Lucy. I swallow to get rid of the lump in my throat. Lucy really won this time.
“Do you think you deserve this?” Leo glances at me.
“Deserve what?” I give him a stern look, hoping to stop him from saying what he is thinking.
“A guy who would treat you like that?” He looks at Liam and Lucy, who are a few feet away, and walking in our direction.
“What do you think I deserve, Mr Love Expert?” My voice gets laced with sarcasm.
“Someone who wouldn’t treat you like a second option.”
“If you say the person is you. I might not respond nicely to that.”
“I know this might shock you, but that person is not me.” He grins.
“I’m shocked.”
He laughs so loud, more people stare daggers at me.
“Wow! So, in some modules, he is your professor, and in others, you are his assistant? You really want Leo. Don’t bother, he only loves himself.” Lucy says when they reach us.
“Who gives you this information, Lucy? Is that your pillow talk topics with your man? Do you run out of things to say and then you end up discussing us?” I give Lucy a fake smile. I see Liam’s scowl at the corner of my eye, but I ignore him.
Leo laughs so much, tears start coming out of his eyes, and the three of us stare at him, waiting for him to finish. Liam continues stealing glances at me.
Leo suddenly turns and gives Liam and Lucy a murderous look, as if they had just said something to him.
The three of them stare at each other, and their facial expressions changes from frowns to smirks and a lot of glaring. Then, there are also growls and chuckling, as if they are having a secret conversation.
“Guys, do you have a secret language?” I wave my hands in their faces.
They all turn to me, as if they completely forgot about me.
“Let’s go to my office, Willow. I need to give you some papers.” Leo holds my hand and walks away. He walks in effortless strides, but I take five steps with each stride, and I end up running.
“Stop!” I say breathlessly. “Leo, you are making me run, and you are mad about something I don’t know of.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What will people say when they see us holding hands?” I yank my hand out of his grip.
“I couldn’t care less!” He walks faster than before, leaving me behind.
“Dude, what’s with the mood swings? And was that?” I finally catch up, and trying to catch my breath.
“What was what?” He asks without looking at me.
“The coded conversation.”
“We don’t have a coded language. Why do you think we do?”
I stop walking, and I feel anger build up within me.
He is acting like I’m a newborn baby who is not aware of what is happening around.
He turns and gazes at me “Are you coming?”
I glower at him in disbelief, it would have been best if he just told me it's a secret, instead of making me feel crazy. “Don’t you dare make me feel like something is wrong with me. Leo, I can notice things. Just email the documents you want me to look at.”
“But, Willow, I have to explain the info on some stuff on the documents.”
“Email.” I walk away from him while trying my best not to look back.
“I hope you are ready to teach again.”
I stop in my tracks, and I turn with my best smile. “Is that supposed to scare me? Make me teach if it makes you sleep peacefully.”
His eyes widen, but I notice a suppressed smile, which confuses me. I leave him standing there, and I rush to genetics class, a class which I attend with Liam.