19.

-HER-

I only had one class left to attend today. I did it with a straight face. Due to today’s event, everyone’s curiosity had grown for us. I felt more and more eyes on me. It overwhelmed me but I was starting to get used to it.

I was somewhat relieved when the class finally ended but at the same time, I was anxious to know that I’d have to go to his office and work with him. It made me groan internally.

I had a long day today and I wanted to go home and collapse on my bed but I couldn’t. Lisa bids me goodbye when we finally climb downstairs. From there, we go our separate ways.

My heart drums in my chest as I near his office again. I had replied to his message previously. I told him the time when my class was ending. He didn’t text me back but I knew that he must be already waiting for me.

The thought that he was there, waiting for me made my stomach clench. No, I shouldn’t be thinking anything dirty. I was simply going there to work. That’s it, right?

He was doing me a favor by not expelling me. I should be grateful to him but I couldn’t ignore the weird feeling that he gave me every time he was around. I don’t know what it was. I couldn’t put a finger on it. Sometimes, it overwhelmed me and right now, it wasn’t anything different.

I find him in his office when I enter. He seems to be busy with some files but as soon as he feels my presence, he looks up. I feel butterflies in my stomach when our eyes meet but I look away, focusing on the mess that I’d have to help clean.

This place looks terrible. We should’ve thought before doing anything like this. This is a lot of work. I chew on my bottom lip nervously and look around while I still feel his eyes on me.

“Where do we start from, Cybele?” He asks. I shiver lightly, hearing him say my name. It gives me those weird feelings that I am trying so hard to get rid of. My eyebrows come together as I force my brain to think.

I cannot concentrate on anything but him. His presence has such a tremendous effect on me. I look back at him to find him already looking at me. His black eyes are focused on me. The way he looks at me, I find it even harder to think straight.

“I don’t know…” I mutter, examining the papers lying on the floor. “I think, I’ll pick them first and sort them out?” I suggest and he nods lightly, not blinking at all.

I start working without uttering anything. While I work, I have my back to him but I could still feel his eyes on me. I am aware of the tension that’s slowly building. It’s slowly starting to bother me.

“Where should I keep these?” I ask, finally looking at him. He is leaning back in his chair, watching me work. His body looks tensed even though he is laying back in the chair. He seems to be ready to leap off the chair at any given moment... like a predator. It sends a shiver down my spine.

His eyes don’t waver from me once. It makes the blood rush to my cheeks. If anything, my reaction makes his eyes darken at me.

“Bring them to me,” He mutters heatedly. It makes my stomach clench. There’s so much possessiveness in his eyes, it’s as if he is branding me. I gulp silently before I step in front of his table and keep the stack of papers in front of him.

All the while he is looking at me. The tips of his lisp are turned up slightly. It’s as if he is amused internally.

“Let’s sort these first,” He said pointing to the stacks that were collected on the table. He motioned me to have a seat near him. I hesitantly take the seat near him, aware of our closeness. I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

His musky scent plays with my nose and leaves a tinge of the sweetness of my tongue. I force myself to concentrate on the papers rather than his presence just beside me.

“These are some records of the funds collected by the student union,” He mutters showing me a paper, “I’ll hand you more of these. You need to arrange them according to this number,” He points at a serial number at the top corner.

I nod before taking the paper from him. I am careful not to touch him. Through my peripheral vision, I see a frown climb on his face. He noticed it and I was too alert to not be subtle about this.

“Ok,” I mutter, taking the other papers from him.

“Are you done with them?” He asks me after sorting the fund papers and handing me. I arrange those papers numerically. Meanwhile, he is looking at other papers.

“Yeah,” I mutter and turn to find him leaning towards me. My sudden move makes our nose brush subtly. I almost jump back from the contact. I couldn’t describe what it really was but I swear I felt something different.

Sparks.