His Forbidden Obsession

Too Close

(Clara’s POV)

I knew the moment I stepped into the hallway that I wasn’t alone.

It didn’t hear a sound or a movement. It was a feeling. The kind that settled at the back of your neck, make the hair on your skin stand and refuse to let go.

It was like someone was watching and waiting for me.

I tightened my grip on my bag and kept walking, trying to ignore it.

“Clara.” I heard someone say. The voice was familiar, one of the voices I had quickly come to dislike.

I stopped in my tracks to face the person who always made my day a lot worse.

I turned slowly to find Roxie leaning against the wall, her arms were crossed neatly over her chest like she had been there for a while……waiting for me.

“Were you waiting for me?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

Her lips curved into a small, polished smile which had mischief hidden in it. “You stayed back.”

I was smart enough to know that it wasn’t a question, she was making a statement.

My pulse didn’t change, I had nothing to fear. She was a student like me but something in my chest tightened.

“So did a lot of people,” I said lightly trying to put myself at ease.

Her brow lifted. “Not really.”

Silence fell between us for a second as neither of us wanted to be the conversation starter.

I shifted my bag higher on my shoulder. “Did you need something?”

Roxie pushed off the wall, taking a few slow steps toward me.

“I just think it’s interesting.” She started with a questioning look in her eyes.

“What is?” I asked trying to figure out why she was acting like a newly recruited spy.

“The way Professor Hart seems to… focus on you.” She replied.

There it was. She was subtle but not subtle enough.

“He focuses on everyone,” I replied. “That’s kind of his job.”

“Hmm.” Was all she said as she tilted her head slightly, studying me.

“Maybe he does,” she said. “But not like that.”

My jaw tightened in anger. Why wouldn’t she just….disappear?

“I don’t know what you’re implying,” I said, sharper than I intended but her smile didn’t waver.

“I’m not implying anything,” she said smoothly. “I’m just observing my classmate.”

Something about the way she said it made my skin crawl. It’s not like I was scared but she had been on my case since she got here. If I slip up, she might find out the truth.

“I should go,” I said, stepping past her as I was tired of the meaningless conversation.

“Of course,” she replied easily.

I quickly walked away from her, managing to keep my composure but as I walked away, I could feel it again.

She was watching me and this time, it didn’t feel harmless.

I found Ethan outside the building. He was leaning against the railing with his phone in hand and smiling at his screen.

“Texting your girlfriend?,” I teased making him look up as I approached him.

“No,” he chuckled. “Just a funny video,”

I hummed and nodded at this reply.

“Hey,” he said, pushing off the railing. “You okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

I didn’t want to start telling him about my encounter with Roxie. It might blow things out of proportion and raise his suspicion.

Roxie alone on my case was too much already, I didn’t need another person raising brows at me.

He didn’t look convinced at my reply.

“You don’t look okay.” He pressed with concern in his tone.

“I’m fine,” I repeated, a little more firmly.

He studied me for a second, then sighed lightly. “Alright. I’ll stop asking.”

Guilt flickered in my chest. He was my only friend at campus and the only person who brought me a sense of normalcy.

“I just… have a lot on my mind,” I admitted.

“Yeah,” he said. “I figured.”

We started walking, falling into step beside each other.

“Let me guess,” he added. “Hart.”

I didn’t respond immediately because that was answer enough.

Ethan let out a quiet breath. “He’s intense, yeah. But don’t let him get in your head.”

It was too late for that. He had gotten into my parts and not just my head.

“He’s just doing his job,” I said, trying to sound convincing.

“Sure,” Ethan shrugged. “But that doesn’t mean you have to let him mess with you.”

I glanced at him briefly before replying.

“You don’t think he’s a bit… extra?” I asked.

Ethan smirked. “Oh, he’s definitely extra. But I’ve seen worse.”

I huffed out a small laugh despite myself.

“Seriously,” he continued. “You’re one of the best in there. Don’t let one guy throw you off.”

One guy…….if only it was that simple.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’ll try.” I replied.

He nudged my arm lightly. “Hey. You already survived yesterday. That’s progress.”

I smiled faintly. “I barely survived,”

“It still counts.” He replied.

For a moment, everything felt easy and simple again……like yesterday but it didn’t last because no matter how much I tried to stay present, something kept pulling me back.

Ethan and I made our way into the lab. We sat side by side on the stools and waited for the session to begin.

The moment he stepped inside, I could feel it. The tension, the awareness

Professor Hart stood at the front. His sleeves were rolled up and his dirty blonde hair was slicked back. His expression calm but sharper than before.

“Gloves on,” he said. “We’re continuing from where we left off.”

I moved automatically, slipping on my gloves, forcing my breathing to stay steady.

All I needed to do was focus.

“You good?” Ethan asked quietly.

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“Okay,” he said, but his eyes lingered for a second before he turned back to the table.

We immediately began the session. Scalpel in hand, near perfect precision and control. This was everything I had trained for and everything I was good at.

And yet……..

“Stone.” Callum called.

My pulse began to race. What was it this time?

I looked up to find him watching me already.

“Identify the layer.” He said rather calmly.

My mind worked quickly this time.

“This is the deep fascia,” I said with confidence.

“Correct.” He replied almost immediately.

Relief flickered in me and I calmed down a bit. Maybe this wasn’t so bad but I spoke too soon.

“Continue.” He added.

Everyone’s attention was now back to our specimen.

I exhaled slowly, adjusting my grip.

“You’re getting better,” Ethan murmured beside me.

“Trying to,” I replied.

He leaned slightly closer again, pointing at a section.

“You might want to angle it more………”

His hand brushed mine and that was when…….

“Mr Hayes,” Callum said.

We both froze.

His voice cut through the room, calm but edged like a sword.

“Yes, sir,” Ethan said, stepping back immediately.

“Observe first,” Callum said. “Assist when necessary.”

“Yes, sir.” He replied.

I didn’t look up, i didn’t want to but I could feel it.

I could feel his presence. It was much closer now.

“Again.” He commanded.

My breath hitched slightly.

He was right behind me. I could feel the heat of him and the shift in the air.

My grip tightened on the scalpel.

“Relax your wrist,” he said.

His fingers brushed mine again but this time, they lingered but not for long.

Not enough for anyone else to notice but enough.

A sharp pulse shot up my arm.

“Steady,” he added.

“I am,” I said quietly.

“Then show it.” He replied sternly.

Something in his tone made my chest tighten. I adjusted my hand, forcing myself to focus on the task…on the incision.

On anything but the way my body reacted to him.

A second passed and he stepped back……just like that.

He became distant and went cold like nothing had happened.

“Better,” he said before moving away.

I exhaled slowly, my heart racing in a way that had nothing to do with nerves.

“Okay…” Ethan muttered under his breath. “That was… intense.”

“You have no idea,” I whispered.

The rest of the session passed in a blur but the feeling didn’t leave.

That tension, that awareness stayed and grew.

By the time the session ended, I was more than ready to leave.

I pulled off my gloves quickly, reaching for my bag.

“Clara.”

I froze. It wasn’t him, it was Ethan.

“Hey,” he said. “You’re rushing again.”

“I just need some air,” I replied quickly.

He studied me for a second before replying.

“Did I do something?” he asked.

“What? No,” I said quickly. “Of course not.”

“Then what is it?” He asked again.

I hesitated for a while because I didn’t have an answer I could give him.

“Nothing,” I said finally. “I just need a minute.”

He didn’t look convinced but he nodded anyway.

“Alright,” he said. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Yeah.” I replied weakly with a smile.

I turned and walked out before he could say anything else.

The hallway felt quieter this time……too quiet,

And then……………..

I felt it again,That same feeling of being watched.

I slightly turned my back and there she was.

Roxie.

She was standing at the end of the hall with her eyes fixed on me and she wasn’t smiling this time or pretending.

She was just watching.

Her gaze shifted briefly past me

I didn’t need to turn to know why because I could feel him behind me.

Professor Callum Hart.

It wasn’t just tension anymore. It was something dangerous.

Because this time, she wasn’t guessing.

She was starting to see it.