Adored by Mr. Volkov

The rain outside matched the storm inside me, its rhythmic drumming offering little comfort. I slumped over my desk, pretending to sleep, hoping the world would just leave me alone. But when the break bell rang, the classroom erupted in noise-laughter, chatter, and scraping chairs that clawed at my mind. The chaos became unbearable, and the memories I'd tried to bury came rushing back-moments of pain and loneliness that left me feeling broken. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. I clenched my fists, silently screaming in my head, when suddenly, something hit the back of my head. Startled, I turned around, ready to lash out, only to see Suzie-my best friend-standing there with her usual grin. Her smile was like sunlight breaking through the rain, impossibly warm and beautiful. Despite myself, I smiled back at her. In that moment, the noise faded, and so did the weight of my memories. Suzie didn't need to say anything-her presence alone reminded me I wasn't as alone as I thought. Suzie's voice broke through the haze of my thoughts, soft yet laced with concern. "What happened, Lorenza?" she asked, her brow furrowed, her confused eyes locking onto mine. I froze for a moment, unable to speak, my tears giving me away. "Nothing..." I lied, forcing a faint smile that didn't reach my eyes. Before she could respond, I reached out and hugged her, clinging to her like she was the only thing keeping me from falling apart. She stood there, warm and steady, while I sat at my desk, trembling. "Lying to me isn't going to work," Suzie said firmly, her tone shifting to the serious one she always used when she wasn't going to let something go. Her arms wrapped around me, grounding me, as she gently wiped the tears from my face. "Just tell me what's wrong." Her words broke through my fragile defenses, and the floodgates opened. "The bad things," I whispered, my voice trembling. "They're coming back... all of it. The past I'll never forget." My chest ached as the words spilled out, my broken tone betraying the weight of everything I'd been holding in. My tears returned, heavier this time, and Suzie didn't say anything right away. She didn't need to. Her presence alone was enough to remind me that, no matter how heavy my past felt, I wasn't carrying it alone anymore. "Oh my... forget about the past, my dear," Suzie said softly, her voice tinged with sadness as she knelt beside me. She gently patted my back, her touch soothing, as if willing me to calm down. "Everything is going to be alright. I promise." "But how, Suzie?" I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. "I miss my dad every single day. I can't forget the things he said to me... the way he looked at me. It still echoes in my mind, like it just happened yesterday." My throat tightened, and I could feel myself breaking again, tears threatening to spill. "Don't cry, baby," Suzie said, her tone firm but kind. She cupped my face gently, forcing me to look into her eyes. "Everything is going to be alright and good. I know how much it hurts, Lorenza. I know how much you miss him. But we can't change the past, no matter how much we want to. It's been two years now... two years since he left. And you don't even know where he is." She paused, her own eyes glistening with unspoken sadness. I knew she was trying her best to be strong for me, to carry the weight of my pain alongside me. "You have to let go, my dear," she continued, her voice softer now. "Not for him, but for yourself. Holding on like this... it's tearing you apart." "How, Suzie? How?" I asked, my tone faint and broken. My expression mirrored the sadness I felt deep inside, the hopelessness of trying to move on when my heart refused to let go. Suzie's arms wrapped around me tightly. "One step at a time," she whispered. "I'll be here for every single one of them. You're not alone, Lorenza. You never were." "First, let's go to the washroom and wash your face," Suzie said gently, guiding me with a soft but reassuring tone. "Then I'll tell you how." She made me stand up, her hands steady on my arms as she helped me get to my feet. "Okay," I muttered, nodding, too exhausted to argue. I allowed her to lead me, walking beside her as we made our way toward the door. The noise from the hallway seemed far away, and I could feel my heart still heavy, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn't seem to escape. As we walked, my head still lost in the chaos of emotions, I suddenly bumped into someone. A tall, muscular figure blocked my path, and I stumbled back, nearly falling to the ground. But before I could hit the floor, a firm grip caught my arm, steadying me. I looked up, startled, meeting the intense gaze of the stranger in front of me. His eyes were a deep shade of something I couldn't place-intense, almost sorrowful, as if he, too, carried some weight hidden beneath the surface. We stood there for a brief moment, locked in silent understanding. And then, I saw it. A flicker of something in his eyes, something familiar. Pain. The kind of pain that I felt deep inside me every day. It was as if our souls connected in that split second, both of us carrying the same scars, the same burden, though unspoken. Neither of us said anything, but the silence between us felt heavy. A strange sense of recognition passed between us, a silent acknowledgment that we were not alone in our suffering. He finally released my arm, his expression unreadable. "Be careful," he muttered, his voice low and almost distant, as if the moment had already passed. He walked away without another word, leaving me to stand there, trying to make sense of the encounter. Suzie, still beside me, seemed to notice the shift in my demeanor. "You okay?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice. I nodded, though my mind was still lost in the stranger's gaze. The weight of that silent connection still hung in the air, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just a random encounter. He continued to stare at me, his ocean blue eyes pulling me in like a powerful current. I couldn't look away, transfixed by the intensity in his gaze. Everything about him seemed surreal-his lips, his sharp jawline, the way his expression remained unreadable yet held an unspoken depth. It was as if time had slowed, and in that moment, I completely forgot about the tears that had just stained my face. The ache in my chest was momentarily forgotten. "Are you good?" His voice cut through the haze, low and calm. I blinked, suddenly aware of everything again. "Yes, yes, I'm totally fine," I replied, almost too quickly, trying to gather myself. He nodded slightly, his eyes still on me. "But make sure to be more careful while walking." His tone was gentle, but there was a hint of something in his voice-concern, maybe. "I will, I'm really sorry," I muttered, my face flushed, not sure if it was from the lingering embarrassment or something else. Without another word, he gave me a brief nod, then flashed a small smirk-a smirk that sent a chill down my spine. It wasn't mocking; it was knowing. That smirk stayed with me, burning into my memory, as I watched him turn and walk away. I couldn't help it. I continued to stare at him until he was completely out of sight. I let out a long, shaky sigh and turned toward Suzie, who was standing nearby, unable to hide the grin on her face. "What are you giggling about?" I asked, my voice a little sharper than I intended. "Nothing," she said, her smile widening slyly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. I rolled my eyes, irritated. "God, you're so annoying." I huffed, walking away from her, knowing exactly what she was thinking. She had that look-the one that made me feel like I was the subject of some inside joke. Her laugh followed me as I made my way toward the restroom, but I ignored her teasing. She knew exactly how to get under my skin, and I hated her for it. She was always so sure of herself, always able to see right through me, and it drove me crazy. I stepped into the restroom, the cool air of the room feeling like a balm against the heat on my face. I washed my face, trying to rid myself of the lingering emotions, but all I could think about was him. His eyes, his presence... that strange connection. It was like I couldn't shake him from my mind. As I splashed water onto my face, my mind replayed the height difference between him and me-the way I had felt so small standing next to him. But I pushed the thought away, trying to focus on something else. I didn't know why I couldn't stop thinking about him. Minutes passed, or maybe hours, I wasn't sure. But then, suddenly, I heard a loud shout, a voice cutting through the silence of the restroom. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned, startled, wondering if it had anything to do with the strange encounter I just had. "Did you die in there?" Suzie's voice echoed through the restroom, loud and teasing. I rolled my eyes. Why couldn't she just leave me alone for once, to sit with my thoughts without interruption? I couldn't help but feel a little annoyed, though I knew she was just being her usual playful self. "Yes, I'm coming," I shouted back, stepping out of the restroom. She stood there, waiting for me with a knowing look. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, as if trying to see right through me. "What took you so long?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on me. "I was thinking about something," I muttered, trying to brush it off. But Suzie, of course, wasn't going to let it go that easily. Her curiosity got the best of her. "Come on, tell me already. It's about the guy you bumped into, isn't it?" she asked, her voice full of confusion but also that hint of mischief. My heart skipped a beat. How did she know? Was I really that obvious? I froze in place, staring at her for a few moments, trying to piece it together. She couldn't have... could she? Was she reading my mind? "No, no, why would I think about him?" I protested, my voice a little too defensive. I could feel my cheeks flush. It was like I was giving myself away. A smirk appeared on Suzie's face-one I knew all too well. The kind that told me she was enjoying every second of my discomfort. Before she could say anything else, we were interrupted by the ringing of the bell. I sighed, giving in. "You're so cheeky and mad," I muttered, irritated by how she always seemed to know exactly how to get under my skin. "Oh, come on, girl, just chill! It's not like I'm going to bite you if you're thinking about him," she teased in that cheesy tone she always used. I rolled my eyes again, but despite myself, I couldn't shake the thoughts of him. His height had been like the Eiffel Tower, towering over me, and God, he was so handsome. But then, I reminded myself: he looked older than me. I shouldn't be thinking about him like that. Suzie's smirk stayed in place as she turned to walk away, talking to one of her so-called friends. I couldn't even look at her anymore, knowing she was still laughing at me. Annoyed, I walked back to the bathroom, needing a moment to clear my head. I stepped inside and immediately felt a rush of discomfort-then realized what was happening. I checked, and to my dismay, I was on my period. "Ugh, f**k, I hate periods," I muttered under my breath, feeling the frustration grow. I quickly walked out and began searching for Suzie, needing to vent some of my irritation. I found her still chatting away with her friend, and I couldn't take it anymore. "Suzie!" I shouted, my voice full of annoyance. How long was she going to talk to them? Was I just supposed to stand around waiting for her to finish. I walked into the classroom, and instantly, every set of eyes turned toward me. It felt like I had just committed the worst crime imaginable. The stares were piercing, and the tension in the room was suffocating. I hated it. Being the center of attention made me want to disappear. Could they just stop? Why were they all looking at me like I was some sort of freak? But, I kept my head down, trying to ignore them as I made my way to my desk, sitting down with my legs awkwardly sprawled out like some nervous teenage boy. Suzie was still eyeing me, her gaze sharp and calculating. What was going on in that head of hers? Was she suspicious? Concerned? Or just enjoying my discomfort? I sighed, not bothering to hide my irritation. "What?" I snapped, my tone more annoyed than I meant it to be. She smirked, not at all intimidated. "What took you so long? What the f**k were you doing?" Her voice was direct, almost rude, but I didn't mind. That's just how she was. Sweet one minute, sharp the next. And that's why she was my best friend. "f*****g with your boyfriend?" I shot back with a sly grin, teasing her relentlessly. I loved pushing her buttons, especially because it was so easy. Suzie didn't have a boyfriend, and honestly, she was worse than a guy-she could be brutally honest and totally weird, but I wouldn't change her for the world. Her face froze for a second, and then she rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, really? Cool, keep it up," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. I chuckled at her reaction. She was so cute when she was annoyed. "Yeah, I will. Forever," I teased, still laughing, as we went back and forth, making fun of each other in our usual silly way. Everything was normal, the chatter around us blending into the background, until suddenly, the room fell dead silent. It wasn't unusual-people always went quiet when the teacher walked in-but this felt different. I didn't think much of it at first. Suzie was still looking at me with some weird, exaggerated expression, like she wanted to tell me something but didn't know how. "What's up with you now?" I muttered, confused. But before I could get an answer, a voice sliced through the silence. "Excuse me, Miss?" My body went stiff. The air left my lungs as I froze in place. My heart skipped a beat. Was this really happening? Was I really about to-? Slowly, almost as if my legs weren't listening to me, I stood up. I looked up, dreading what I might see. And there he was. The guy. The one I had bumped into earlier. The one whose ocean-blue eyes had made me feel like I was drowning in them. The one whose presence still haunted me. But now, standing in front of me, he looked entirely different. Gone was the quiet, almost gentle stranger. In his place was a man with a stern, calculating expression, his eyes hard and judging. He looked like he could see right through me. "Wait... no way," I thought, panic rising in my chest. My mind was racing. Was this a joke? Was this guy... my professor? I blinked, trying to process it. I had no idea how to react. It was like a twisted version of déjà vu. The guy I couldn't stop thinking about, the one I'd almost knocked over in the hallway, was now standing in front of me with a look that could freeze me in my tracks. What the hell was going on? And before I could get my bearings, his voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Miss?" His tone was sharp, laced with authority, but it had that same quiet