CHAPTER FOUR
1108 Words
NADIA'S POV
The classroom felt smaller that morning. The air pressed down on me as I stepped inside.
Loud whispers echoed from the lips of almost all my classmates. Their eyes filled with judgement.
I knew why without even making an attempt. David must have informed everyone of how he rejected me.
He was there, and so was Lana.
They sat in the back row, inches away from each other. Anger welled in me, my hands tightening into fists.
Her head leaned towards his shoulder, his arm draped around her like a trophy he wanted everyone to see.
The silver mate mark gleamed at her neck, as bold as their display.
My stomach violently, a hiss trailing from my lips. I slid into a seat near the middle, my eyes on my notebook.
If I didn't look much, maybe it wouldn't hurt as much. I was wrong.
“Good morning,” Professor Theodore’s voice cut through the room, calm and commanding.
My spine stiffened instantly, bile rising to my throat. This was going to be tough, especially after what I did to him.
He stood at the front, immaculate as always. A black shirt with his sleeves rolled. His glasses perched perfectly on his nose.
Then his eyes suddenly swept through the class, then they landed on me. The contact was brief and controlled.
But it burned.
“Today,” he began, his voice even fiercer. “We're discussing love and hate, two emotions often mistaken for opposites. They're not.”
A few nods flew around.
My fingers tightened around my pen. “Miss Nadia,” he called.
The sound of my name felt like a snap of a whip.
“Yes sir?” My voice came out smaller than I wanted. He leveled his gaze against mine.
“Explain the difference between both,” he said, his voice smooth. “In your own words.
My heart pounded as I slowly raised my head. Again, his eyes locked on mine. The world seemed to narrow around me.
I forgot the classroom, the students and even how to breathe.
Love and hate. Right now, they felt the same thing. Funny how my feelings had transcended down the same path in just a few days.
“Love,” I began, swallowing hard. “Is when you give someone power over you.”
A few murmurs spread. I ignored them like plagues.
“And hate?” He pressed on, not breaking eye contact.
“It's when they use that power against you.” I finished quietly and took my seat.
Silence fell. Then I heard it. From the back. Laughter and mockery. It was soft, yet cruel.
I didn't need to look to know who it was. David, then Lana joined in a second later, her giggle sharp and deliberate.
My face burned with fury.
Professor Theodore turned slightly, just enough. “Is something amusing back there?”
David leaned back lazily, a smirk on his lips. “Just enjoying the lesson sir.”
Theo's jaws tightened. “Well,” Theo replied coolly, “some lessons are best learnt through experience.”
Silence descended upon the classroom.
I couldn't do this. I just couldn't. Abruptly, I stood, my chair scraping against the floor.
“May I be excused?”
Theo's gaze snapped back to me. For a moment, I noticed something dark flash in his eyes.
“Yes. You may go.”
I didn't wait. Quickly, I rushed out, my vision blurring. My chest tightened like it was collapsing against itself.
I barely made it down the hall before I collided with someone solid.
“Oof,” a male voice laughed. “Easy there, angel.’
Adrien— the vampire flirt. Too handsome, too confident, and he came a bit too close to me.
“Sorry,” I muttered, trying to step around. He wouldn't let me, his huge body blocking the way.
“Hey,” he said, his voice light. His fingers brushed against my arm. “You're okay?”
I nodded. “I'm fine. I just need some space.”
He leaned in, his voice lowering. “You know, I've always thought you were —”
Boom! His breath brushed my neck. I stiffened, dumbstruck. Before I realized it, he kissed me.
A growl echoed down the hall. It was deep and reek of danger. Adrien froze.
I turned, and there stood Professor Theodore a few feet away. His eyes weren't just dark. They were feral.
“Step away from her,” he said, his voice quiet.
Adrien laughed nervously. “Take a chill pill, Professor. We were just talking.”
Theo took a step forward, the hallway shrinking before my eyes. “I said you should step away from her.”
His voice was firmer this time, though still soft. I could feel the rage in it.
Adrien backed off immediately, his hands raised. “Whoa! No problem.”
Theo averted his gaze from him, resting them wholly on me. Anger burned in them as he drew closer.
It was terrifying, and though a smile was starting to form on his face, it didn't rule out this fear.
“Get back to class,” he ordered.
“I-”
“Now!”
I nodded and turned, my legs shaking like it would give way in seconds. Re-entering the class, every eye swung in my direction.
Theo followed, the door closing behind him with a sharp click.
“Change of plans guys!” He announced, his voice still filled with annoyance. I couldn't understand the reason for his anger though.
I tried. I just couldn't.
“We'll be assigning semester partners today.”
Loud groans erupted as everyone adjusted to their seats, eyes fixed on Theo.
He began reading names while I remained still, trying to make myself invisible.
“Nadia!” He got to my turn. My heart dropped.
“Adrien.”
The room exploded with whispers. I snapped my head up, shocked to the marrow. “What?”
Professor Theo looked directly at me, his eyes cold.
“For the sake of academic balance,” he said unflinchingly, “you'll be working together.”
“No! This isn't fair. It's not,” I cried, my voice raising slightly.
“I'll assume you're not impaired in the ear, and you heard what I said just now. Again, I'm the lecturer here and I'll decide what's fair or not.”
David laughed loudly, accompanied by a smirk by Lana. Slowly, Theo adjusted his glasses.
“And for the sake of professionalism, no kissing your partners,” he added, his voice cutting clean through the noise.
The class went dead silent.
- Writer
