His Forbidden Obsession

Not a Stranger anymore.

(Clara’s POV)

The moment I stepped into the apartment, I kicked off my shoes like they had personally offended me.

My bag slid off my shoulder and landed on the floor with a thud with my iPad barely peeking out. I didn’t even bother picking it up.

The house was silent as there were no voices, no pressure and no grey eyes watching my every move.

It was just me and my thoughts.

I dragged a hand through my hair, pacing slowly across the living room like I was trying to outrun something that had already caught me.

This was supposed to be simple.

I was just supposed to school, study and become a doctor.

Not… this.

Not him.

“Okay,” I muttered to myself. “You’re fine. It’s just a coincidence. A very unfortunate, borderline ridiculous coincidence.”

The front door swung open before I could spiral any further.

Anna walked in like she owned the place, sunglasses perched on her head, a smoothie in one hand and her heels dangling from the other.

She stopped mid-step the second she saw me.

“Oh,” she said slowly. “You look like you just got dumped, failed an exam, and got arrested in the same day.”

I let out a breath. “That obvious?”

“Clara,” she dropped her things on the counter, fully alert now. “What happened?”

I hesitated.

For a second, I considered brushing it off. Saying it was just first-day nerves.

But the words were already fighting their way out of my mouth.

“The guy from the club,” I said.

Anna froze.

“The hot Australian?” she asked carefully.

I nodded once.

“He’s my professor.”

We both fell silent and then…

“I’m sorry, what?”

I let out a dry laugh, running my hands over my face. “Yeah. That was my exact reaction too.”

Anna blinked at me like she was trying to process it in real time.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No, that’s not real. That’s… that’s literally the plot of a bad Netflix movie.”

“Well, congratulations,” I muttered. “I’m living it.”

She stared at me for another second, then dropped onto the couch.

“Start from the beginning,” she said. “And don’t skip anything.”

I sank down beside her, my body finally giving in to the exhaustion I’d been holding back all day.

“He walked into the lecture hall,” I began. “Like nothing happened. Introduced himself as Professor Callum Hart. Didn’t even look at me twice.”

Anna’s brows shot up. “He didn’t recognize you?”

“Oh, he recognized me,” I said quietly. “I’m sure of it.”

“Then why act like that?”

“That’s what I don’t understand.”

I stared at my hands, replaying every moment.

“The way he looked at me…” I paused. “It wasn’t confusion. It wasn’t surprise. It was… controlled.”

Anna leaned forward slightly. “Controlled how?”

“Like he decided, right then and there, that whatever happened didn’t matter.”

The words tasted bitter in my mouth.

Anna studied my face carefully. “And that bothered you?”

I hesitated.

“It shouldn’t,” I said.

“But it does,” she countered immediately.

I exhaled sharply. “Of course it does. I mean…what was that then? Just… nothing? One night and I’m erased?”

Anna tilted her head. “Clara… you said it yourself. It was a one-night thing.”

“I know that,” I snapped, then softened. “I know. That’s not the point.”

“Then what is?”

I opened my mouth… then closed it again.

Because I didn’t have a clean answer.

“It’s just…” I shook my head. “He acts like I’m invisible. But when he’s close…”

I stopped myself.

Anna’s eyes narrowed. “When he’s close… what?”

My grip tightened on the edge of the couch.

“My body reacts,” I admitted quietly. “Like nothing changed. Like I’m still… there.”

Anna leaned back slowly. “Okay. That’s a problem.”

“I know.”

“No, like a real problem,” she emphasized. “Because this isn’t just some random guy anymore. He grades you. He teaches you. He has power over your future.”

“I know,” I repeated, frustration creeping into my voice.

“Does anyone else know?”

“No.”

“Good. Keep it that way.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Trust me, that wasn’t part of my morning plan.”

Anna went quiet for a moment, thinking.

“Alright,” she said finally. “So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

Avoid him? Impossible.

Ignore him? Not working.

Pretend it never happened? He’s already doing that… and somehow, I hate it.

“I’ll just focus on my work,” I said after a pause. “That’s why I’m there anyway.”

Anna gave me a look.

“That’s your plan?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a terrible plan.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because you’re already affected,” she said bluntly. “You can’t even sit through a lecture without spiraling. What happens when it gets harder? When he pushes you? When you’re alone with him?”

My stomach tightened at that.

“I won’t be alone with him,” I said quickly.

Anna raised a brow. “You sure about that?”

I didn’t answer.

Because the truth was… I wasn’t.

She sighed, softer this time. “Look, I’m not saying drop out or anything dramatic. I’m just saying to be careful.”

“I will.” I replied sincerely.

“And Clara?”

“Yeah?”

“If this starts affecting your grades… or your head…”

“I’ll handle it,” I cut in.

She held my gaze for a second longer, like she wasn’t entirely convinced.

Then she nodded.

“Okay.”

Silence settled between us again, heavier this time.

I leaned back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling.

Tomorrow.

I had to go back tomorrow.

Sit in that lecture hall again.

Watch him stand there like he didn’t know exactly how I sounded when I lost control.

Like he didn’t remember every inch of me.

My chest tightened.

“I can do this,” I whispered, more to myself than to Anna.

I’ll ignore him.

Focus on school.

Move on.

Simple.

Right?

But even as I closed my eyes…

All I could see were grey eyes that refused to let me go.

And for the first time since this all started…

I wasn’t sure I wanted them to.