The morning sun filtered through the trees as Elena stepped onto the university campus beside Adrian, her steps automatically matching his long stride. The air felt thick with whispers, and Elena’s stomach twisted with anxiety. As they walked across the cobblestone path, she could feel the eyes of students boring into them. She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone, but there was no hiding the reactions they were getting.
“Did you see that?” one student whispered, eyes wide as they gazed at Elena and Adrian. “What’s she doing with him?”
“I bet she’s getting special treatment,” another girl snickered. “Must be some sort of affair.”
Elena’s cheeks flushed at the comments. She wanted to snap back, to tell them off, but Adrian remained unbothered by their gossip, his focus solely on getting them both to their destination. Elena hated how their whispers stung, but at the same time, something in her felt strangely protected by Adrian’s presence. No one dared to approach them.
“Look at her walking with the Professor…” a voice sneered behind her, and Elena felt her pulse race. She didn’t dare look back at the source of the taunts, but her heart beat faster, her body tense. She hated it.
Ignoring them, she turned her attention back to Adrian, her mind trying to shake off the bitter taste of the whispers following them. They reached the classroom, and as Elena stepped inside, she immediately spotted Andrew and Gabriel sitting together, talking. Andrew gave her a lazy smile, though Gabriel looked as if he had been waiting for a response.
“Wow, Elena. You really walked in with the Professor today?” Andrew said, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Don’t start with me,” she muttered, trying to ignore his teasing tone. “It’s not what you think, okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” Gabriel added, a sly grin crossing his face. “I bet you two have some serious talking going on.”
She rolled her eyes. “Stop it, you guys.”
She was about to sit down when she heard the faint sound of a chair scraping behind her. Elena paused, glancing over her shoulder. A new face, a tall guy with messy brown hair, was setting his books down on the desk right behind hers. His eyes locked onto hers immediately, a lazy smile playing on his lips.
“Hey, Elena. I’m new here. Thought I’d sit behind you,” he said, his voice low and smooth, sending an uncomfortable shiver down her spine.
She couldn’t help but feel something unsettling in his tone. But she nodded, offering a polite smile. “Nice to meet you. I’m Elena.”
He raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward as if to inspect her. “Well, if you ever need a partner for study sessions, let me know.”
Before she could respond, the door to the classroom opened with a quiet creak. Adrian stepped in. The air immediately shifted, his presence commanding attention. His dark eyes scanned the room with authority, but when they landed on Elena, there was a flicker a sharp, almost possessive glance.
He didn’t acknowledge anyone else. His gaze swept over the class, but it lingered on the new guy behind Elena, who was still staring at her.
The tension in the air was thick, and Elena could feel it. Adrian’s voice rang out, cutting through the whispers in the room. “New face,” he said, his tone icy. “Stand up, please.”
The new guy froze. His eyes widened slightly, but he complied, standing up awkwardly. The room grew quiet. The new student looked from Adrian to Elena and back again, but Adrian remained still, his eyes hard.
“Do I look like someone who tolerates unnecessary distractions?” Adrian’s voice was colder now, laced with irritation.
The new guy quickly sat down again, his confidence faltering as Adrian’s sharp gaze lingered on him for just a moment longer. Elena could feel her heart pounding as Adrian returned to the front of the class, completely unphased by what had just happened. She felt her nerves settle somewhat, but the unease still crawled under her skin.
The rest of the class passed in a blur, the new guy occasionally glancing in her direction. Elena tried to focus on the lesson, but the discomfort didn’t dissipate.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture, Elena quickly gathered her things, eager to leave and get away from the prying eyes. But before she could move, she felt a firm grip on her wrist.
She froze.
Turning around, she was met with Adrian’s intense gaze. He wasn’t smiling. His hand on her wrist felt like a silent command. His voice, when it came, was low and filled with authority.
“Stay back,” he said, not giving her a chance to argue.
She opened her mouth to protest, but the words died on her tongue as he led her towards the door. His grip on her wrist was firm but not painful, guiding her like she was meant to follow. Every student in the room watched silently, but no one said a word. They were all too afraid.
Once they were out of the classroom and down the hall, Elena yanked her wrist from his grip, glaring at him. “What was that?”
Adrian stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “You’re attracting attention, Miss Harper,” he said, his voice cold and almost dismissive. “It’s becoming a problem.”
Elena blinked, her frustration growing. “I’m not the one causing the problem here, Adrian. You don’t own me.”
He chuckled, his tone dark. “Don’t I?” He didn’t wait for her to respond. Instead, he led her toward his office, his posture rigid.
Once inside, he closed the door behind them and leaned against the desk, watching her with cold amusement. Elena could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as she crossed her arms in frustration. The silence stretched between them until finally, Adrian spoke again, his voice softer this time, though still carrying an edge.
“You really don’t see it, do you? How much attention you’re getting?” He took a step closer, his eyes searching hers. “You’re oblivious to it.”
Elena’s chest tightened, and she found herself at a loss for words. Adrian wasn’t wrong-she could feel the eyes on her every time she stepped into class, the whispered comments behind her back, the stares. But there was something about the way Adrian said it that made her feel small, like she had somehow let something slip out of her control.
Before she could respond, there was a knock at the door. It swung open, and Elena froze.
It was the new guy from class again. He stood in the doorway, looking sheepish but determined.
“Professor,” he said, his voice hesitant. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”
Adrian’s expression immediately turned cold, his gaze sharpening as he looked at the guy. Elena stood there, caught between them, feeling the tension grow in the air. The new guy stepped back slightly, noticing the change in atmosphere.
Adrian’s voice was low and commanding as he spoke, his eyes never leaving the new student. “No. I’m busy. Come back later.”
The new guy hesitated for a second, but then he nodded and left the office, the door closing behind him with a soft click. Adrian’s eyes turned to Elena, his gaze now intense, as if he were silently daring her to speak.