The lecture hall was abuzz with quiet murmurs as students trickled in, shuffling papers and settling into their seats. Adrian Blackwood stood at the front, his usual commanding presence amplified by the sharp lines of his tailored suit. His eyes scanned the room, but his focus inevitably landed on Elena Harper as she walked in, her head down, clutching her books tightly to her chest.
Adrian’s gaze hardened as he noticed Gabriel and Andrew trailing behind her. Andrew nudged her shoulder playfully, eliciting a small, shy smile from her. Gabriel leaned in, whispering something that made her blush and shake her head.
Adrian’s grip on the book tightened.
She took her seat toward the middle of the room, her usual spot. Gabriel and Andrew sat on either side of her, and Adrian felt a pang of irritation he couldn’t quite justify. They were always there, always hovering.
Clearing his throat, he began the lecture. His tone was sharp and authoritative, demanding full attention from the class.
“Today, we’ll discuss the thematic complexities of modern literature and how subtle symbolism can alter a narrative’s meaning,” he announced, his voice carrying through the hall.
As he launched into the topic, his sharp eyes never strayed far from Elena. She was taking notes diligently, but every so often, he noticed her glancing sideways at Gabriel, who seemed to be scribbling something onto her notebook.
Adrian stopped mid-sentence, his gaze narrowing. The class fell silent.
“Ms. Harper,” he said coldly, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade.
Elena froze, her pen hovering over her notebook. Slowly, she looked up, her wide eyes meeting his.
“Yes, Professor?”
Adrian tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Perhaps your boyfriend can help you understand the basics of today’s lecture since you seem more interested in him than in paying attention to lecture”
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Students exchanged looks, some smirking, others whispering behind their hands.
Elena’s cheeks flamed, her hands trembling as she clutched her pen. “I… I wasn’t….” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gabriel shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his jaw tightening as he shot Adrian a glare. Andrew leaned forward, his playful expression replaced with a frown.
“Sir, that’s not…” Gabriel began, but Adrian cut him off with a raised hand.
“Enough,” Adrian snapped, his tone icy. “I suggest you both focus on your own work instead of distracting Ms. Harper. Or is this a group effort I’m unaware of?”
The room was dead silent now, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Elena’s hands curled into fists on the desk, her mortification evident. She wanted to disappear, to melt into the chair and never come back. Adrian’s words stung, not just because they were uncalled for, but because of the way he’d said them-so deliberately cruel, as if he wanted to hurt her.
For the rest of the lecture, Adrian’s attention seemed to zero in on her, every question he asked aimed in her direction.
“Ms. Harper, can you explain the symbolism in the passage we just discussed?”
Elena blinked, her mind racing. She’d been so flustered that she hadn’t processed anything he’d said in the past five minutes.
“I…. I think it represents….”
“You think?” Adrian interrupted, his brow arched. “Ms. Harper, I expect precise answers, not vague guesses. Perhaps you should pay more attention during lectures instead of daydreaming.”
A few students snickered, and Elena’s shoulders hunched further.
By the end of the class, she was gripping her notebook so tightly her knuckles had turned white. As Adrian dismissed the students, she bolted for the door, but his voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Ms. Harper. A word.”
Her heart sank. She turned slowly, her eyes darting nervously toward Gabriel and Andrew, who both lingered by the doorway, their expressions protective.
“I’ll be fine,” she murmured to them, though her voice lacked conviction.
They hesitated before leaving, shooting Adrian cold looks as they exited.
Once they were alone, Adrian leaned against the desk, his arms crossed over his chest.
“You’ve been distracted lately,” he said, his voice devoid of the earlier mockery but still firm.
Elena swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Professor. I’ll do better.”
“See that you do,” he replied, his piercing gaze holding hers. “You’re capable of more than this… but I can’t say the same for the company you keep.”
Her lips parted in shock. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Adrian shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Nothing you don’t already know. Now go. You’re already late for your next class.”
Elena didn’t need to be told twice. She turned and hurried out, her heart pounding.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Adrian let out a slow breath, raking a hand through his hair. He didn’t know why he’d said those things, why he felt the need to push her away.
But the image of her with those two boys burned in his mind, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t shake the frustration it stirred.
The hallway buzzed with the usual midday chatter as students streamed out of their classrooms, eager for the lunch break. Gabriel and Andrew leaned casually against the wall outside Adrian’s lecture hall, their eyes scanning the door impatiently.
“She’s taking too long,” Andrew muttered, crossing his arms.
Gabriel shot him a glance, his jaw tightening. “You think he’s giving her a hard time?”
“Of course, he is,” Andrew replied, his tone edged with annoyance. “You saw how he singled her out during class. The guy’s on some kind of power trip.”
Gabriel didn’t respond, his attention fixed on the door. A moment later, it swung open, and Elena stepped out, her head down, her face pale.
“There she is,” Andrew said, immediately straightening up.
“Elena!” Gabriel called softly, stepping forward.
She looked up at them, her eyes wide and glassy, but the sight of her friends brought a flicker of relief. Andrew was by her side in an instant, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
“What did he say to you?” Andrew asked, his voice gentle but firm. “Did he make you cry?”
Gabriel moved to her other side, taking her bag from her without asking. “Elena, are you okay? You don’t look so good.”
Elena shook her head quickly, forcing a weak smile. “I’m fine. It’s nothing. He just…wanted to talk about my performance in class.”
Andrew snorted. “Performance? More like nitpicking you to death. That guy has a serious problem.”
Gabriel frowned, his gaze searching her face. “Did he say anything else? You can tell us, you know.”
“I’m fine,” she repeated, her voice firmer this time. “Really. Can we just go? I’m starving.”
The two boys exchanged a look but didn’t press further.
“Fine,” Andrew said, ruffling her hair lightly. “But if he says something like that again, you tell us, okay?”
Gabriel nodded, his hand brushing against hers as they started walking. “We’ve got your back, Star.”
Elena’s heart squeezed at the nickname. She managed a small laugh, her shoulders relaxing just a bit.
As they walked down the hallway, Adrian stood by the window of the lecture hall, watching them. His expression was unreadable, but his hands were clenched tightly at his sides.
The sight of Gabriel and Andrew flanking Elena, their casual touches and easy smiles, only deepened the scowl on his face. His jaw tightened, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.
He didn’t understand why it irritated him so much. She was just a student. Nothing more.
And yet, as the trio disappeared down the corridor, laughing together, Adrian felt an inexplicable urge to storm after them and pull her away.
Instead, he turned around and strode back into the classroom, the echo of their laughter ringing in his ears like a challenge he couldn’t ignore.