Chapter 53
**Sara**
I pushed open the door to our favorite campus café, and the rich aroma of coffee hit me like a warm hug. My friends Jessica, Mia, and Jake followed close behind, all eager for a caffeine fix after a long day of classes. The late afternoon sun streamed through the large windows, casting a golden glow on the wooden tables and mismatched chairs. Outside, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the old oak trees lining the sidewalk, their branches swaying lazily against the backdrop of a clear blue sky.
"Oh my God, I need coffee like I need air," Jessica groaned dramatically, making a beeline for the counter.
I trailed after her. "Careful, Jess. I think the barista heard you and is terrified for his life."
The poor guy behind the counter looked wide-eyed as Jessica approached. Can't blame him, really. Jess on a caffeine craving is a force to be reckoned with.
"Large triple shot latte, stat!" she demanded, then paused and added with a sheepish grin, "Please?"
I rolled my eyes and stepped up next to her. "I'll have a medium cappuccino, thanks. And maybe a tranquilizer dart for my friend here?"
The barista cracked a smile at that, visibly relaxing. "Sorry, fresh out of tranqs. How about a cookie instead?"
"Ooh, yes, please!" Jessica's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
Mia and Jake joined us and placed their orders—a chai latte for Mia and a black coffee for Jake because, apparently, he's too macho for milk and sugar.
"Really, dude? Black coffee?" I teased as we moved to wait for our drinks. "Are you trying to prove something, or do you actually enjoy the taste of liquid tar?"
Jake puffed out his chest. "It's an acquired taste, Sara. You wouldn't understand."
"Yeah, acquired like Stockholm syndrome," Mia quipped, earning a high-five from me.
We grabbed our drinks and found a cozy corner booth, squeezing in with Jessica and me on one side and Mia and Jake on the other. I noticed how close those two were sitting. Hmm, interesting.
"So," Jessica said, taking a long sip of her latte and sighing, "who's ready to dish about Professor Hottie?"
I nearly choked on my cappuccino. "Jess!" I hissed, feeling my cheeks heat up.
"What?" She blinked innocently. "I'm just saying what we're all thinking. Right, guys?"
Mia nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, absolutely. Did you see him in that blue shirt today? I swear I saw steam coming off some girls in the front row."
I sank lower in my seat, wishing I could disappear into the upholstery. If only they knew...
Jake rolled his eyes. "Come on, he's not that great. What's so special about him anyway?"
"Uh, have you seen his face?" Jessica retorted. "Or his arms? Or his... everything?"
"Okay, can we please talk about anything else?" I pleaded, desperate to change the subject before I spontaneously combusted from embarrassment.
Mia raised an eyebrow at me. "Why so shy, Sara? Don't tell me you're not into him too."
I busied myself by stirring my cappuccino and avoiding eye contact. "I just... I don't think it's appropriate to objectify our professor like that."
"Objectify?" Jessica snorted. "Please, we're appreciating art. Right, Sara?"
I felt like a deer caught in headlights as Jessica turned her expectant gaze on me. "I... uh..." I stammered, frantically searching for a way out of this conversation. I recalled that night with Tom, his strong hands and intense gaze. No! Focus, Sara!
Mia leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, come on, Sara. You can't tell me you don't find him attractive. I mean, I really like him. Like, really, really like him."
I squirmed in my seat, feeling the heat creep up my neck. "He's... not bad-looking, I guess," I mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant.
Jake let out an exaggerated groan. "Enough about Professor What's-His-Face already. Can we talk about something actually important?"
"Like what?" Jessica challenged, arching an eyebrow.
"Like our next MBA assignments," Jake replied, puffing out his chest. "You know, the stuff that'll help us in our careers?"
I could have kissed Jake right then and there for the subject change. "Yes! Assignments! Let's talk about those!"
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you're such a buzzkill, Jake."
"No, he's right," Mia said, surprising us all. "We should focus on our studies. That's why we're here, after all."
I nodded enthusiastically, grateful for the reprieve. "Exactly! So, what do you guys think about the case study for next week?"
We spent the next fifteen minutes discussing our upcoming projects and assignments.
Eventually, Mia glanced at her watch and nudged Jake. "We should get going. We've got that group project to work on, remember?"
Jake nodded, downing the last of his coffee. "Right, yeah. We better head out."
As they gathered their things, I couldn't help but notice how Mia's hand lingered on Jake's arm or how he held the door open for her as they left.
Jessica leaned in close, her eyes gleaming with gossip. "I'm telling you, those two are totally dating."
"What? No way. They're just friends."
"Oh, please," Jessica scoffed. "Did you see how close they were sitting? And the way they kept looking at each other? Trust me, something is going on there."
I thought back to the way Mia and Jake had interacted. Come to think of it, there had been a certain... spark between them. "Huh. Maybe you're right."
"Of course I'm right," Jessica said smugly. "I have a sixth sense for these things. It's like my superpower."
I laughed, grateful for the distraction from my own complicated love life. "Okay, Cupid. Whatever you say."
"Don't think I didn't notice how flustered you got when discussing Professor Hottie earlier."
My laughter died in my throat. "What? No, I wasn't-"
"Save it, honey," Jessica cut me off with a knowing smirk. "I know you better than that. There's something you're not telling me."
I fidgeted with my empty coffee cup, avoiding her gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Uh-huh," Jessica said, clearly unconvinced. "Well, whenever you're ready to spill the beans, I'm all ears."
I sighed, knowing I was fighting a losing battle. Jessica was like a dog with a bone when she sensed gossip. "There's nothing to spill, Jess. Really."
She held her hands in surrender, but the gleam in her eye told me this conversation was far from over. "If you say so. But remember, I'm here if you ever want to talk."
I managed a weak smile, guilt gnawing at my insides. What if Tom wasn't my professor? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Could we continue our passionate encounters without the looming threat of scandal? My mind raced with possibilities, imagining his strong hands on my body, his lips trailing kisses down my neck.
But was it more than just physical attraction? Did I have genuine feelings for Tom, or was it purely carnal desire? I couldn't deny how my heart raced when he entered the room or how I hung on to his every word during lectures. Was that love or simply infatuation born from forbidden lust?
Questions swirled in my head: What would it be like to date him openly? To walk hand in hand across campus without fear? Would the thrill fade if our relationship wasn't taboo? And God, the sex - how much more intense could it be if we didn't have to sneak around?
I bit my lip, remembering the way he'd made me cry out in ecstasy, my body arching against his. Was I addicted to the danger as much as his touch? Could any "normal" relationship compare to our shared electric chemistry?
My cheeks burned as I pondered these questions, torn between desire and doubt and something that felt dangerously close to love. The intensity of my feelings both thrilled and terrified me.
I'd never experienced such a potent mix of emotions before, and I found myself constantly oscillating between exhilaration and anxiety. Was I ready for the potential consequences of pursuing this relationship? Could I handle the secrecy, the stolen moments, and the constant fear of discovery? Yet, despite all the uncertainty, I couldn't deny the magnetic pull I felt towards him. It was as if my soul recognized something in his, calling for a connection that defied logic and societal norms.
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