Professor’s Little Pet

One

CHAPTER ONE

HAILEY SUMMERS

My eyes drifted to my watch. Again.

2 minutes left to 12:00pm. 2 minutes left to determine my fate.

I nervously chewed on my fingernails as I waited for the result to be uploaded on the portal. 2 minutes began to feel like 2 hours.

My watch seemed to be the only thing I could focus on as I glanced at it yet again, my mind numb from lack of sleep. I can’t remember the last time I had six hours of sleep. Ever since my mom fell ill, my life had been far from normal. I’ve been juggling many part time jobs and hardly had time for myself.

‘This has to be good.’ I muttered to myself for the hundredth time. I can’t apply for the scholarship with the rate at which my GPA has dropped as a result of having little to no time to study.

I need this one to be perfect, to qualify me for the scholarship. I really need the scholarship to relieve myself of the burden of all the expenses and focus on my mom’s hospital bills.

I do not think I’ll be able to endure the pain of being disqualified again.

I looked at my watch again. I started getting more nervous. It was finally 10.

‘This better be good.’ I said with shaky hands as I reloaded the student’s portal and filled in my details once again.

Why is it taking so much time to load? I could already hear several people exhaling and silently muttering somethings to themselves. I guess they’ve seen theirs. Will it be good? What the hell is wrong with my phone?

It finally loaded and I started to scan every row so fast like my life depends on it. Actually it does. I could finally take a breather after six long years. I could finally apply for the scholarship again. I could begin a proper life, not so proper, but at least, it could count as something.

Hold on. An F? Where? How? I quickly scrolled back to it. I got an F. I got an F. Means I failed a course?

“Does that mean fail?” I said out loud, earning some stares.

Did I fail a key course? My heart started to race faster. What am I going to do?

I reloaded it just to be sure. Read my details again , letter to letter, to avoid any mix up.

It was still there.

My hands started getting really sweaty and I started finding it hard to view the screen as my eyes began to tear up. What am I going to do?

‘Hold yourself together.’ I said internally.

I finally gathered all the energy I needed to get up from where I was seated in the library, packed my bags and headed out.

I didn’t know where I was headed, I just knew I needed to get out of here and find a solution.

I started walking towards the office of the professor like he had the solution. He should. He’s the professor. Right? I know I didn’t really do well, cause I hardly had the time to study for the course, but it shouldn’t have been this bad. There was probably a mix up somewhere. I guess?

My phone suddenly began to ring. It was my best friend, Valerie. I couldn’t speak with her now. Not in this state. I locked my phone and put it back in my bag.

In no time, I was at the professor’s office, waiting for his secretary to be done typing away on the system in front of her.

“Good afternoon ma’am,” I said, trying to get her attention.

“One sec,” she replied without looking up. When she was finally done with whatever, she looked up smiling.

“Good afternoon. What can I do for you?”

“I’m here to see the professor in charge of Literary Theory,” I tried to force a polite smile.

“Oh, he is no longer in charge of Literary Theory. A different instructor has been assigned to that,” she said like she had been practicing that line for a while now.

Oh wow.

“Could you please confirm?” I was hoping she was wrong.

“Yes. I’m certain of it,” she responded, going through her system.

I stopped paying attention the moment she mentioned where I could find the new professor in charge.

“…you should probably check in there.”

“Oh. Ok. Thank you,” I nodded and turned around, hastening my steps.

As I sat and waited for my turn to see the professor, I began to wonder who he could be. Will he be nice and understanding enough to let me retake the exam? Who am I kidding? How is that going to happen?

Hold on. What in God’s Name am I going to say when I get in?

I checked my phone that had been vibrating nonstop. Valerie and Liam have been blasting it with series of calls.

Just in time, a lady walks out of his office.

“You can go in now,” she tilted her head towards the door as if showing me where to go through.

“Thanks,” I put my phone back in my bag. I’ll deal with you guys later.

I silently said a prayer as I walked in.

Oh God. No. I froze on the spot. This is not a prayer. This is a problem. What is my high school teacher doing here?

This should be a good thing right? Yes, if I wasn’t crushing on him for the whole semester he was in my school. Please, it cannot be him. Although I doubt he recognizes me, considering I wasn’t the only one drooling over his looks.

He suddenly raised his head, confirming my suspicions. His face was a masterpiece, I could never miss that. His jawline was sharp and well defined, with rough patches of his beards that looked rather steamy than messy. His lips were full and inviting. His eyes were screaming sin and oh God, don’t let me get started about his dark hair, curled into perfection. He was sitting, so I couldn’t get a glimpse of his chest down, but damn…those shoulders were broad. I could see his muscles budging from underneath his white shirt, begging to be in full display with three loose bottons, showing his masculine chest.

Oh God. It was him. Can today get any better?

“You can have your sit. How may I help you?” he asked in his deep masculine voice that almost made me forget why I was here.

I quickly shook my head trying to shake myself back to present as I moved to sit.

“Good day sir,” I wasn’t sure he heard me with how low and shaky my voice sounded.

“I’m here because of my result,” I tried to sound more audible.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Literary Theory. Sophomore year,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

“And?” he looked at me like I was stupid.

“I failed,” I finally mustered the courage.

“Hmm,” he nodded, finally understanding why I was here.

“Your name is?” he asked without looking up.

“Hailey. Hailey Summers sir.”

What’s with everyone going through their systems today. He doesn’t respond for a while as if he was searching for my name on the database, before finally speaking.

“Well… as you now know, there has been a change in the staff, hence the change in the marking guide. Just put in more effort next year to ensure you scale through,” He looked at me with a bright smile before going back to his system. He must be enjoying this.

“Is there anything you can do for me sir? Like change my grade. It doesn’t need to be so good, just not an F,” he wasn’t even looking at me so I took that as my queue to continue.

“I can write assignments, review theses, or anything to help boost my grade. Anything sir.”

“Sorry about that, but my marking guide remains the same. I cannot change that. You just have to sit up. Don’t worry, you have plenty of time,” he said, his attention still on his system. What the f**k?

“No sir!” I was suddenly getting mad.

“I do not have time. I need this. I really need this. I cannot wait another year. I really need your help sir,” I went on my knees pleading. My life was on the line here. Without this I couldn’t get the scholarship, I was stuck with shuffling part time jobs for the rest of my college years. I was basically back to square one.

He suddenly stopped what he was doing and looked at me.

“Well..” he smirked. How was this a joke?

He looked at me like he was boring holes into my body. For a second, I swear I could see him look at my boobs. Then he finally looked into my eyes one last time before taking out a sheet of paper from one of his books and scribbling something in it.

What do I do from here? Will this ever work out? Will I ever be able to live a regular life? I was about to let the tears that have been welling in my eyes pour, when he stretched the paper to me.

I quickly collected it and read it briefly. I didn’t understand. Is this meant to be an assignment? What am I going to do with this? I looked at him, not understanding what he wrote. It looked like an address.

Finally understanding why I was still staring at him, he spoke.

“Meet me there later tonight, let me see what I can do to help you,” and with that he stood up and carried the pile of books on his table towards the corner of his office.

Taking that as a hint to the end of the conversation, I quickly stood up, straightened my dress and walked out of his office, saying a silent prayer that this works out.