Line we shouldn't cross

Episode 9

The college corridors buzzed with a nervous energy. Final exams were around the corner, and the tension in the air felt thick enough to cut. Students clustered near lecture halls, clutching notes, flipping flashcards, whispering mnemonics. Karla walked through the chaos with her headphones in, but the lyrics of the song playing barely registered .

He was back .

Christopher .

After weeks of silence, digital distance, and unspoken hurt, he’d returned like nothing happened—resuming his OB-GYN lectures with that same calm, confident voice. Except now, it felt different. Colder .

Professional. Polite. Distant .

Karla had known this would happen. She’d braced herself for it. She told herself to focus—her final exams were near. Her career depended on this. And she wanted to care only about her books .

But there he was .

Standing in front of the projector, answering a student’s question, his sleeves rolled up, one hand in his coat pocket. Casual as ever .

And he hadn’t even glanced at her .

Not once .

Karla bit the inside of her cheek, gripping her pen tighter as she pretended to be absorbed in her notes. But her stomach churned every time he addressed someone across the room, especially when it was another girl .

Worse, he was being too nice. Offering detailed clarifications, leaning over to explain a diagram on someone's tablet, even cracking small jokes like before—but not with her .

It stung .

Especially when Maya, a girl from their batch, giggled a little too much at something he said near the whiteboard. And Christopher didn’t stop her .

Karla's pen froze mid-sentence .

Seriously?

He could act like nothing ever happened?

He could be warm and casual with everyone but her?

Fine.

If he wanted distance, he’d get it .

She’d give him a reason to feel it too .

That evening in the library, Karla made her move. She sat beside Rayan, one of the more charming interns known for his wit and subtle flirting. He’d always hovered in that harmless crush territory, and tonight, she let the conversation flow freely .

Laughter came easily when you forced it. She smiled at his jokes, leaned in slightly, even brushed his arm once as she passed a highlighter. All subtle. All innocent .

Except Christopher was there too .

Sitting a few tables across, headphones on, a clinical handbook open in front of him .

And his eyes lifted the moment he heard her laugh .

Their gazes locked—for just a second. Long enough to register that he saw. And for Karla, that second held a strange thrill of satisfaction and pain .

She turned back to Rayan quickly, flipping a page and saying something just loud enough to keep the attention on her .

Later, as Karla walked out of the library alone, the guilt hit her in slow waves. She hated games. This wasn’t who she was .

But damn it, he was the one who’d pulled away. She had only ever been honest. She tried to text, to talk, to bridge the gap. He left her standing in silence—wondering, second-guessing, deleting words she wanted to send .

If this little stunt made him feel even an ounce of what she felt… maybe it was fair .

The next morning’s lecture was quieter than usual. Christopher’s energy was subdued. He taught with precision, kept his interactions brief .

But something was different .

Karla noticed it when he handed her group’s answer sheets back .

“Your group did well,” he said, handing the paper to Anya, standing right beside Karla .

Then—almost as an afterthought—he added, eyes not quite meeting hers, “Good work, Karla .”

No smile. No warmth .

Just acknowledgment .

Still , it made her heart twist .

During lunch break , Karla sat with Jenna near the courtyard steps . The sun filtered through the trees , and Karla was unusually quiet .

Jenna nudged her . “So... what’s the deal ? You and the doctor still dancing around each other ? ”

Karla sighed , stirring her juice with the straw . “ He’s back to being Professor Hale . Full-on clinical mode. Like I never existed beyond the classroom .”

“ And you flirting with Rayan last night ?”

“ I wasn’t flirting ,” Karla muttered. “I was just being nice .”

Jenna raised an eyebrow .

“Okay fine . Maybe a little . Just to see if he still cared .”

“Did he ?”

Karla glanced across the courtyard , where Christopher now stood under the shade , speaking with another PG mate .

“I think so. But he’s too good at hiding it .”

Jenna leaned forward . “ Look . Maybe he’s dealing with more than you know. Or maybe he’s just emotionally constipated . Either way, you’ve got an exam to clear. Don’t let your mind spiral .”

Karla nodded . “ I know. I just wish I knew what he was thinking .”

Christopher , elsewhere

He hadn’t meant to look jealous . He didn’t even have the right to .

But watching Karla laugh with someone else—someone else who didn’t know her the way he did—had sent an unexpected ache straight to his chest .

She was different . Always had been .

He missed her .

He’d liked her post because he couldn’t bring himself to text her .

He’d avoided eye contact because looking at her too long made it hard to pretend he was just her teacher .

But seeing her with Rayan ?

That reminded him that Karla didn’t belong to him . She never had .

Still , he couldn’t help the thought that looped in his mind :

Please don’t move on . Not yet .