IN LOVE WITH THE COLD BLOODED PROFESSOR

Anne's pov It had been a while since I felt this alive in my bones. Breathing without a care in the world, no sense of time and not a single hint of anxiety. I had just started college as a freshman in Coventry, a quiet city in the West Midlands, central England, close to Birmingham and ninety-five miles northwest of London. Choosing this college was probably the best decision I had ever made in my entire life. A truly life-changing one. The air here was different. Colder, fresher, and somehow full of possibilities. For the first time in ages, I felt like I could actually be myself. "Fancy going out for lunch? You know, just a little bite before we settle in properly for the real deal," Myra's voice called out from the other side of the room. with a little gamble in my head , what do I have to loose , "sure let's hit it " "yes ! I would go get ready , be out in five" Myra Kim is my assigned college roommate. She's Asian, as her surname suggests. I reckon one of her parents is Asian and the other is white. She told me all about it when we first started chatting online over the summer, but it had completely slipped my mind, perhaps because she said too many things at once to remember. She was a 5ft 5in girl with a round, soft face and a thick amount of dark hair. It flowed all the way down to her waist, almost like silk. Her fringe framed her face perfectly and suited everything she had going on.She was more of a girly type, if I'm being honest. Since we moved in, I haven't seen her once without a full face of makeup. Weird, innit? We literally share a tiny room. I suppose she isn't comfortable around me yet, or she has plenty to hide. Not that it matters, really. Either way, I simply do not care. I have my own life to sort out. We were already in the city centre, you know, that part of Coventry where everything actually feels alive.We didn't want the uni cafeteria food. Too depressing for our first proper day out. So Myra dragged me down to Broadgate, right in the heart of town. The big Lady Godiva statue was watching us as usual. "There," Myra pointed. "Let's go to The Botanist. It's cute and not too pricey. Or we could do Wagamama if you want something Asian? Coventry city centre on a weekend is buzzing. Students everywhere with their tote bags, the market stalls shouting about fresh pasties, and that cold Midlands wind trying to mess up Myra's perfect fringe. We ended up settling for a little independent cafe just off High Street, called Bean & Bryn. It had those fairy lights outside and a chalkboard that said 'Best flat white in Coventry' - which is a bold claim, but we went for it anyway. I ordered a chicken and pesto panini with chips and a latte. Myra got the avocado on sourdough toast and a pink iced tea that cost way more than it should have. £14.50 for avocado, honestly, daylight robbery.We sat outside, even though it was freezing. Everyone does in England. Pretending it's not cold. "So," Myra said, wrapping her hands around her glass, "have you seen who our tutor is?"I hadn't.She turned her phone to me. On the screen was a name: Professor A. Harrington - Introduction to English Literature ."Check the student forum," she whispered. "They say he's gorgeous but absolutely cold-blooded. Like, never smiles. Ever."I stared at the name. The cold-blooded professor. His name definitely gave me chills .And we hadn't even started lectures yet." " I need to go to restroom " The cafe bathroom was down a narrow corridor at the back, past the kitchen. The door was already slightly ajar when I got there. I pushed it and froze. Two people were just stepping out of the single cubicle. A man what's was he doing here , this is a women bathroom for crying out loud He was tall. Really tall, like six-two at least. And there was a women , scarp that , a young lady . She would be older than me but not soo much .The Lady with him was blonde. Proper blonde, long wavy hair down to her chest, tiny waist, red lipstick half smudged. Mini skirt, knee-high boots. She was giggling and fixing her top, her cheeks flushed.And him? Nothing. Not a flicker of shame. Not a hint of embarrassment. His face was completely blank, cold, like we were invisible. Like being caught coming out of a tiny bathroom cubicle with a girl half his age was the most normal thing in the world. He just looked straight through me, adjusted his coat sleeve calmly, and walked past. The blonde followed, still grinning, winking at me as she went. The corridor smelled faintly of her perfume. Something sweet and expensive.I stood there, hand still on the door handle, my stomach twitching and memothere, ries of the past flooded me. I wasn't okay. Not even a little bit. I stood in that narrow corridor for a good few seconds after they'd gone, staring at the empty cubicle door. I couldn't even remember why I'd come down here in the first place.The toilet. Right.But I didn't go. My chest felt tight and weird, like I'd just walked in on something I was never supposed to see. That blank look on his face - it threw me off more than anything else. I stumbled back to our table, trying to fix my face.Myra was no longer alone. She was laughing, properly laughing, with her hand on her chin. Opposite her sat a guy. Dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin. The kind of dark handsome that doesn't need to try too hard. He wore a black crew neck jumper, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, a silver chain just peeking out, and he had that easy, confident smile. A second-year look. Or third-year. Someone who knew his way around. "Oh my god, you're back," Myra beamed. "This is Jayden. He is in History. Jayden, this is -" I forced a smile. My best 'I'm fine' smile. "Sorry, I have to go. I just remembered I have to be somewhere." "Wait, your panini -" Myra started. "I'm full. You can have it," I said quickly, already grabbing my tote bag from the chair. My hands were shaking slightly. I didn't go back to the dorms.I don't know why, but my feet just carried me back towards campus, to the library. The Lanchester Library.And God, it was beautiful.From the outside, it looks old. Most buildings here do. Coventry University isn't all glass and new builds like people think. The library is a mix of old red brick and newer stone extensions, but somehow it works. The windows are huge, tall arches that let light pour in, and the ivy has started to climb up one side. It looks like it has seen decades of students panic before their deadlines. Inside, it was a different world. Quiet. Subtle. So pretty it almost hurt. The ground floor was open plan, with warm wooden floors that creaked softly, rows and rows of oak shelves filled with old books that smelled like dust and stories. The upper floors had those little private study pods with green lamps, like something out of Oxford. The ceiling was high, with exposed beams, and in the centre there was a glass atrium that let the grey Coventry sky light up the whole place. I found a corner on the third floor, by the English Literature section. Away from everyone. I sat down. And finally, I let out a breath.