Chapter 11: Aurora
1049 Words
The next morning, Professor Michael Knight ignored me completely.
Not the controlled distance he usually forced between us.
Not the careful avoidance.
No.
This felt colder.
Sharper.
I saw him near the faculty hallway while students moved around us, talking loudly before morning lectures.
And despite everything—
Despite the confusion, the tension, the impossible feelings—
I still looked for him first.
Always him.
“Good morning, Professor.”
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Professor Michael didn’t even slow down.
Didn’t look at me.
Didn’t acknowledge me at all.
Like I never spoke.
Like I wasn’t there.
Something uncomfortable tightened in my chest instantly.
I stopped walking for a second, watching his broad figure disappear down the hallway without a single glance back.
Okay.
Fine.
Maybe I deserved that.
My grip tightened slightly around the stack of textbooks in my arms as I continued toward class.
Maybe asking him about the penthouse incident last night was a mistake.
Maybe I pushed too much.
But how was I supposed to ignore it?
How was I supposed to act normal after seeing shadows move behind someone like they were alive?
After hearing fear in Professor Michael’s voice?
I sighed quietly.
This entire situation was exhausting.
Trying to adjust the books in my arms, I turned the corner too quickly—
And slammed directly into someone.
“Oh—!”
Books slipped immediately from my hands, crashing loudly onto the floor.
Perfect.
“I’m so sorry,” a male voice said quickly.
I looked up to find Professor Hagset crouching beside me, already gathering the scattered textbooks.
Professor Elias Hagset.
One of the university’s senior physicians and lecturers.
Tall. Blond. Probably in his late thirties. Calm blue eyes behind thin glasses.
Well respected.
Intimidatingly intelligent.
“No, it was my fault,” I said quickly, kneeling down to help.
“You were carrying half the library,” he replied lightly.
A small smile tugged at my lips despite myself.
Within seconds, he had already stacked the books neatly in his arms before standing again.
“I’ll carry these.”
“You really don’t have to—”
“I insist.”
There was something gentle about him.
Easy.
Unlike the constant emotional chaos Professor Michael caused simply by existing.
We started walking down the hallway together quietly.
“You’re Aurora Whitmore, correct?”
I blinked in surprise.
“Yes.”
“I thought so.” He adjusted the books slightly in his arms. “You’re one of the best students in your year.”
Heat touched my cheeks instantly.
“Oh.”
“It’s true,” he continued calmly. “Your exam scores are exceptional.”
I looked down awkwardly.
Compliments always made me uncomfortable.
Professor Hagset glanced toward me briefly.
“Have you ever considered clinical shadowing?”
That caught my attention immediately.
“What?”
“I supervise a small clinical observation program for advanced students.” His expression remained calm. “Usually third or fourth years.”
My eyes widened slightly.
“But,” he continued, “you’re ahead of most students academically. I’m impressed by your work.”
I stared at him for a moment, genuinely shocked.
No professor had ever spoken to me like that before.
“You don’t need to answer immediately,” he added. “Think about it first.”
“I will,” I said softly.
And for the first time that morning—
I actually smiled a little.
That’s when I felt it.
A presence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Familiar.
My stomach tightened instantly.
Professor Michael walked down the opposite hallway toward us, dark coat draped over one arm.
And the moment his eyes landed on Professor Hagset carrying my books—
Something in his expression darkened immediately.
The air suddenly felt colder.
Michael’s gaze shifted to me briefly.
Cold.
Unreadable.
Then—
Without slowing down—
He walked directly past us.
His shoulder hitting mine hard enough to make me stumble slightly.
My breath caught in shock.
Professor Hagset frowned immediately.
“Professor Knight.”
Professor Michael didn’t stop walking.
Didn’t apologize.
Didn’t even look back.
My chest tightened painfully.
What the hell was that?
“You alright?” Professor Hagset asked quietly.
I nodded too quickly.
“I’m fine. Professor Hagset”
Lie.
The rest of the walk felt uncomfortable after that.
Because even though Michael disappeared down the hallway—
I could still feel the anger radiating off him.
By the time I entered Professor Michael’s lecture hall later that afternoon, tension had already sat heavily in my stomach.
And somehow—
The moment he looked at me—
I knew things were about to get worse.
“Miss Aurora Whitmore.”
His voice echoed sharply through the room barely ten minutes into class.
I looked up immediately.
“Since you seem distracted today,” he continued coolly, “perhaps you’d like to explain the entire cardiac cycle to the class.”
Heat flooded my face instantly.
Students turned toward me immediately.
I swallowed hard and stood slowly.
Normally, I knew this.
Normally, I could answer without problems.
But Professor Michael kept looking at me with that cold expression that made my thoughts unravel completely.
“I—”
“I— ummm”
"The cardiac cycle is the — ummm"
My voice caught embarrassingly.
Great.
A few students exchanged glances.
Someone laughed quietly near the back.
Professor Michael’s expression didn’t soften at all.
“If you spent half as much time focusing on coursework as you do wandering campus halls,” he said calmly, “you might actually answer correctly.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
My chest tightened painfully.
Because this wasn’t a correction.
This was humiliation.
“I’m sorry, Professor,” I whispered quietly.
Something flickered across his face then.
Brief.
Almost regretful.
But it vanished immediately.
“Sit down, Miss Whitmore.”
Cold again.
Distant.
I sat slowly, staring down at my notebook while embarrassment burned through me.
The room suddenly felt too hot.
Too quiet.
And the worst part?
I still looked at him when class ended.
Still waited for him to glance at me.
Still hoped he would explain why he was humiliating me on purpose.
But Professor Knight left the classroom without looking back once.
- Writer
