Owning My Professor

Unexpected Company

Chapter Six: Unexpected Company

Debbie’s Pov

We both stayed bent down for one second too long.

Then two.

Then suddenly I became very aware that normal people usually collect their books and moved on with life.

Instead, I was here staring.

Very mature.

His smile widened slightly.

I quickly collected my hand.

“Thank you.”

He stood up first and handed me the last book.

“You’re welcome.”

Then we both just stood there.

Smiling.

Why were we smiling?

I had no idea.

Then his eyes widened a little.

“Oh.”

He stepped aside.

I looked confused.

He smiled.

“I’ve been standing in front of the library door.”

I blinked.

Oh.

Right.

Because somehow I forgot where I was.

He pulled the door open and gestured inside.

“After you.”

Okay.

Why did that feel unnecessarily attractive?

I smiled politely.

“Thank you.”

We walked in together.

Now, naturally, a normal person would choose another seat.

Not me, apparently.

Not him either.

Because somehow we ended up sitting beside each other.

I opened my laptop.

Opened my documents.

Opened my research tabs.

Then immediately forgot what I was researching.

I could feel another human beside me.

Why.

Five minutes passed.

Ten.

Everything was normal.

Then he stood up.

I looked up.

Why did I look up?

He walked toward a bookshelf.

Normal.

I looked back down.

Then somehow he turned.

And caught me looking.

I immediately looked at my screen.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Ten minutes later, I got up to get a book.

As I turned around...

He looked up.

Again.

And again we looked away.

This happened four times.

FOUR.

At some point, I started suspecting this library had a strong disease.

Eventually he laughed softly.

I looked up.

He looked amused.

“We’re being weird.”

I stared.

Then immediately laughed.

Okay.

Fair.

He pushed his glasses slightly.

“I’m Damian, by the way.”

"Yeah, you said so earlier."

Damian.

A very important name.

I smiled.

“Debbie.”

His eyes widened.

“Oh.”

“What?”

He pointed.

“Literature major.”

I looked.

My notebook.

Again.

Okay.

I really needed to stop labeling all my belongings.

I shook my head.

“This is embarrassing.”

He laughed.

And unfortunately...

He looked even better laughing.

No.

Stop.

I came here to study.

Not admire strangers.

We talked a little.

Apparently he was also a business minor.

Third year. Younger than me

Liked games.

Read books occasionally.

Which translates to once every three months.

By the time I looked at the clock...

It was already late.

Very late.

I started packing immediately.

Damian looked surprised.

“You’re leaving?”

I nodded.

“Hostel closes access to outsiders early.”

He nodded and stood too.

Then casually asked.

“Do you want a ride?”

I blinked.

Oh.

My brain immediately started playing true-crime documentaries.

He noticed.

And laughed.

“I promise I’m not dangerous.”

I laughed awkwardly.

After several seconds...

I agreed.

The car ride started quiet.

But surprisingly comfortable.

Then my stomach betrayed me.

Loudly.

I froze.

Damian looked at me.

Then they started laughing.

I covered my face.

“This is embarrassing.”

He smiled.

“I’m hungry too.”

Ten minutes later, we were parked outside a small burger place.

We got burgers.

Fries.

And talked.

Mostly random things.

Apparently he hated morning classes.

Apparently, I hated group projects.

Apparently, neither of us trusted people, who replied with just “smiles."

By the time we reached my hostel...

We stayed in the car for another twenty minutes, finishing food.

Then conversation became easier.

I told him about literature.

He asked about writing.

I accidentally mentioned wanting to become an author.

His expression changed.

“That’s actually really cool.”

That one sentence warmed me more than expected.

Eventually we exchanged numbers.

I got down.

Turned back.

“Thank you for the ride.”

He smiled.

“And the food?”

I laughed.

“And the food.”

Then I walked in.

Still smiling.

Which I blamed entirely on burgers.

Marcus Pov:

I was halfway through reviewing course reports when the door opened.

I looked up.

Maggie.

She stood at the entrance of the boys’ quarters.

I sighed internally.

She looked around.

Then looked at me.

“How long are you planning to stay here?”

I looked back at my laptop.

No answer.

She entered.

“The boys are noticing.”

I paused.

She continued.

“They may still be little, but they can tell things aren’t okay.”

I looked up slowly.

My voice stayed calm.

“You should have thought about them before doing what you did.”

Her expression tightened.

Her arms crossed.

“So this is punishment?”

I looked at her.

“No.”

She scoffed.

“Then move back.”

I laughed once.

Not because anything was funny.

“You want normal?”

She looked away.

I stood.

“You want family dinners and school runs and pretending everything is okay?”

Her eyes met mine.

I continued quietly.

“I can’t do that.”

Her voice became sharper.

“So what, you’ll avoid me forever?”

I stared.

Then they answered honestly.

“I don’t know.”

Silence.

She looked frustrated.

Then left.

The door closed.

And suddenly the room felt even quieter.

Damian Pov:

When I got back to my hostel...

Chaos.

Patrick looked ready to fight me.

Two of our other friends looked offended.

Patrick pointed dramatically.

“WE COULD NOT REACH YOU.”

Another one added.

“The tournament did not hold.”

I blinked.

Oh.

Right.

Game night.

I laughed.

“Sorry.”

Patrick narrowed his eyes.

Too narrowed.

Suspicious narrowed.

I kept walking.

He followed.

I entered my room.

He entered too.

Then folded his arms.

“What’s up?”

I looked at him.

Then suddenly, laughed again.

His eyes widened.

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

He pointed.

“WHO IS SHE?”

I dropped onto my bed.

Stared at the ceiling.

And smiled.

“I just met the most beautiful girl on campus.”

Patrick gasped.

Then he immediately pulled a chair.

“Oh, this story is not ending tonight.”