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1474 Words
As the traumatic morning felt like an excruciating drag through torture; especially given that absence of any lecture since they returned, Evara's mind had slowly started to go static.
With the roaming voices and piercings gazes of her condemning classmate, Evara's eyes dared not raise from her tablet as her stiffened finger continued to punch the key 'R' repeated, watching it appear in parallel lines on her screen.
The classroom door suddenly pushed open, seizing the gazes of all the seated students to the front of the class.
Evara finally looked up.
With the air now shrouded in silence, the tall figure standing in front with a slumped posture and lowered head, slowly dragged on his feet to walk to the desk in front before setting his single book to the surface.
His height was one to take note of, but despite his muscular features, his poor posture with an arched back made the man look somewhat cranky.
Dressed in plain black t-shirt and pants, his raven stranded hair was left disheveled and rough, seeming like he just rose from bed without glancing at a mirror. With the transparent frame set on the bridge of his nose, the man lazily flipped open his note book before taking in a sharp inhale and raising his gaze.
His hazel green eyes locked on the class. "Good afternoon, class..." His voice came out rasp and hoarse.
He cleared his throat softly, taking a moment to scratch the back of his head as he gazed back at his note book.
"Um... So..." He took a another pause as if trying to read his lines from his note.
Evara's brows knitted slightly.
She didn't know which professor he was, as they had just started most of their classes this week and already met three of their professors.
The professors of Fantasy, History, Mystery and sci-fi departments.
Her eyes narrowed at the man that stood in front of the class as if slightly confused as he continued to flip through his pages in a mild haste.
Trying to gauge from his appearance and demeanor, Evara began to conclude if he was a professor from Mystery or horror department.
He finally slammed his notebook shut against the desk, causing the students to flinch to his abrupt action.
The charged air remained silent as they all watched him in anticipation of what he would do next.
He let out a soft sigh, slowly forcing his gaze up. "U- Uh... Good mornin— I mean afternoon... Again".
His long fingers stretched the marker on the desk. "... So... This is our first interaction. I must apologize for coming in late..." His eyes and expression seemed already drained before the class. "I got caught up with some um... Discussion with the dean..."
The students all nodded in subtly understanding.
By the words, discussion with the Dean, everyone now understood why he looked so tired... He must have gotten the merciless verbal assault of his life in a summary of ten minutes from Ms May.
Their gazes softened in sympathy.
"Anyways, back to the class..." He uncapped the marker to take his back against the class as he stepped up to the white board.
"I am by name..." He began to write out his name. "Professor Asael Clinton". He underlined his name before turning back to the class.
"From the department of Romance".
"Romance!??" The class students couldn't hold their tongues as they recited simultaneously, in obviously disbelief.
Even Evara had her eyes slightly widened to the word he just said. Him? Romance?...
Compared to the other professors, who all seemed to dress like the main theme of their departments, this new professor standing before them didn't depict the theme of romance to her expectations...
Not to sound unrealistic, but she least expected someone who had a level of visible appeal and charisma to interpret the idea of attraction and charm in Romance.
But this was... Unexpected.
With the class still silent from bewilderment, the professor, who seemed the least effected nor insulted by their shock, stepped back to the desk to pick up his tablet.
"So... Let us begin", he tapped on his screen. "Turn on your tabs and search from the college's library, The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet".
Evara's brows quirked.
"P- Professor?" A student rose her hand, gaining his attention.
"Yes?" He crooked his head.
"This is our first class... And you want us to read a tragedy Romance?"
The professor stared at the young lady with dull eyes as if taking a longer time to process her question before nodding. "But of course. Love is a tragedy. It is the foundation information of this genre".
"But, Sir!" A male student raised his hand, forcing Professor Asael to move his heavy gaze as he invoked a strained response. "What?"
"I do not believe love is tragedy. It is a genuine fundamental emotion, and for what it worth, I believe it depicts hope far more than pain. It is just the the circumstances that surrounds certain tales that portray it to be more detrimental than beneficial to".
Again, Professor Asael took his sweet time to stare silently at the boy, picking the understanding of each word he said as he blinked boredly.
"Oh..." Was the only thing he voice before turning back to his pad. "Swipe to the first act", he swiped on his pad.
The students watched with quizzical expressions, wondering how he just dismissed their concern for his first choice of lesson.
Some even expected him to have at least defend why that was his first pick, but the only thing they got was the sight of Professor Asael yawning against the back of his hand, smacking his lips in boredom as he looked back at his tablet.
Evara felt the edge of her lips twitch into an involuntary smile, watching the nonchalant professor that seemed forced to do his job be so unbothered by the whispers from her condemning classmates about his poor first impression.
Along with his poor posture, messy appearance and weak conversation skills, his stand in front of the class was rather confident but dispassionate as the other professors that took the class along with just their outspoken teaching tactics...
And then there's him...
Keeping his eyes on his screen, Prof. Asael continued to tap on his tablet a bit longer before raising his hand to point out in the class.
"You there!"
His finger was pointed directly at Evara, causing the hair on her neck to erect in fright. She immediately dropped her head.
Her eyes widened, staring at her desk as the sound of her thudding chest was echoing in her own ears. He... He didn't just point her out on the first class? Right?... He most likely meant the person in front of her.
"Don't look down. I just pointed at you..."
Her shoulders flinched. It was really her?
Why!?...
She gulped, already feeling the cold sweat break on her forehead with the sudden weight of glares locked on her figure.
Her fingers clutched under the table. He made her classmates all turn to her.
"Stand up", his voice ordered.
Evara felt the boulder strain on her back, petrifying her mind from the terror of standing up in her classmates gazes.
"I said stand..." He repeated, even though his tone was unchanged by her delay.
Evara gulped softly before slowly rising from her seat with her eyes still glued down.
The sound of her rampaging heart trying to break from her sternum still bartered her eardrums as she began to panic over what she could have possibly done to attract his attention on the first class...
Was she in trouble? Was it because she smiled? Or was it because of the murder cases? Was he planning to mock her with the rumors? Was she—
"Read Act one".
Evara paused.
A crease formed above her brows before slowly raising her head.
Prof. Asael simply stared at her with the same tired expression he walked in with. "Please read Act one", he repeated calmly.
Evara stared at him in silence as her lips remained gapped.
That was it? Was the only thought in her head before she reminded herself to recollect her composure and look down at her tablet.
She picked it up and tapped on the campus liberty icon before searching for the book he asked her to read.
Taking in a deep breath to read the Act as instructed, Prof. Asael's voice interrupted.
"You can read as slow as you want", he leaned back on his desk, holding his tablet in one hand. "The slower you read, the less time I'll have to give an actual lesson", he mumbled the last sensation with an indifferent look, knowing that the whole class heard him.
Evara took a moment before bracing herself to read.
- Writer
