CAVING IN TO HIS SEDUCTION

Chapter Four

SUSAN

I was still wobbling from the realization that Aaron, the young man who had tried to comfort me at the restaurant the other night, was now one of my student. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of embarrassment and irritation. I tried the best I could to compose myself, not wanting to reveal my personal emotions in front of other students, so I decided to address the situation head-on.

“Class, I’d like to introduce a new student, Aaron. Why don’t you go ahead and tell us a bit about yourself?” I suggested, my tone very professional as I gestured for Aaron to speak.

Aaron had a sly grin on his face that intensified my irritation as he introduced himself to the class. “Hey, everyone. My name is Aaron Peterson and I’m here to learn from the most brilliant Professor in Hives University, Professor Campbell,” he said, his eyes looking onto me for a moment which was longer than necessary.

I kept my composure and continued my class, writing him off as a typical troublemaker. As my class came to an end, I briskly walked to my office, hoping to maintain a decent distance between me and Aaron. But to my dismay, he followed me.

“Professor Campbell, fancy meeting you again,” Aaron teased with a lighthearted tone.

“Mr. Peterson,” I snapped, shooting him with a stern look. “I expect you to maintain a respectful distance between us. Remember your place as a student in this university.”

Aaron chuckled, unbothered by my warning. “Come on, Professor, no need to be so uptight. We are all adults here,” he winked at me.

I sighed seeing that nothing I say would stop him, so I chose to ignore him as that might be the best course of action. Little did I know that Aaron had no intention of making things easy for me. Days passed by and he continued to find ways to taunt and annoy me, pushing the boundaries of our student-teacher relationship.

In no time, Aaron had become the talk of the school. His charm and mystery had piqued the attention of the students in the school and he had gained popularity in such a short time of being present at the school. The sight of him irritated me especially having had knowledge of his mischief at his previous school. I had been informed of his callous behaviour and the influence his family wielded.

Flashbacks of my meeting with the school board replayed in my mind. The school council had emphasized Aaron’s knack for causing disruptions and his tendency to use his family’s influence to escape the consequences. Despite the warnings, I had tried to give him a fair chance as a student, but seeing how mischievous he could be, I had to do everything in my power to stay away from me.

One sunny afternoon, after I had concluded a particularly challenging class, Aaron approached me with a smirk on his face. “Professor Campbell, how about we grab lunch together? I promise it won’t be as eventful as the other night.”

“Mr. Peterson, I…”

“It’s Aaron. Call me Aaron,” he interrupted with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I sighed. “Mr. Aaron Peterson, I have no interest in lunch with you. Please focus on your studies, that’s my candid advice to you.”

Undeterred, Aaron persisted. “I just want to talk. Clear the air, you know?”

“There’s nothing to talk about. It was merely a coincidence that we met at that restaurant. I don’t know you, neither do you know me,” I snapped. “And this will be the last time you will try to confront me again. The next time you do so, I’ll report you to the student board and your family’s influence won’t save you this time.”

I noticed an unexpected shift in his composure. The usual glint in his eyes and smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of sadness in his eyes. It was as if my words had struck a nerve deep within him. He didn’t retaliate or argue back; he simply walked away from me.

I felt a pang of guilt for a moment. I never intended to provoke such a reaction from him and as he distanced himself from me, I couldn’t help but wonder what might be hidden behind his mischievous veneer. I chose not to go after him and convinced myself that it was for the best and that the warning would be enough to keep him at bay.

Later that day, as I returned to my residence, I was surprised to find a bouquet of flowers by my doorstep. Attached to the flowers was a note that simply read, “I’m sorry.” I was confised for a while until I recognized the handwriting. It was from my boyfriend, Henry.

Anger flared within me as I recalled how he had failed to show up at the dinner date, leaving me waiting and vulnerable in the presence of everyone and particularly, Aaron my student who I was now tasked with teaching. The flowers and apology seemed like a feeble attempt to mend what felt like a widening detachment in our relationship.

With the bouquet in hand, I stormed into my residence as I grappled with a mixture of frustration and disappointment. I couldn’t understand why Henry seemed absentminded to the pain he was causing me, and I resented the fact that he had left with me in a vulnerable position with Aaron which gave Aaron the opportunity to taunt me. The sorry note did little to assuage the anger that brewed within me. It failed to address the deeper issues that loomed between us. It wasn’t just about the missed dinner; it was about the growing distance, the unspoken tensions that had strained our once solid connection.

I pondered the complexities of my relationship. I fought my thought oscillating between Aaron and Henry throughout the evening. The unexpected encounter with Aaron had unraveled something within me, while Henry’s action had left me questioning the foundation of our relationship. In the quiet of my home, I faced a crossroads, unsure of how to navigate the challenges that loomed ahead. Maybe it was time to call it quit with Henry and move on with my life, but it was too difficult to do so. I had thought of it before but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I loved Henry too much and wasn’t sure I would be able to find anyone that would ever make me feel this way again.

With an ambivalent heart, I picked up my phone, my fingers hesitating over the buttons as I thought of ending my relationship with Henry. At the second ring he answered. “Hello?”

As soon as he answered the call, my carefully planned words vanished, and all I managed to say was, “I miss you.”

I was surprised by my admission, this wasn’t how I had planned it. There was a moment of silence on his end, followed by his response, “I miss you too, Susan. I’m sorry about everything.”

He explained the demanding contract that had him consumed with work, taking his time and attention. He spoke with relief, carefully detailing the challenges he had faced and the ultimate success of securing the deal. I listened quietly, acknowledging his achievements in a low tone.

“Congratulations, Henry,” I said.

“Thank you,Susan. I promise I’ll make it up to you. We can plan something special, just the two of us,” he reassured.

I felt a growing sense of unease. The need to talk about our relationship weighed heavily on me, but the words remained trapped within. Sensing that the conversation was drawing to a close, my unease grew. “I should go, Henry. Take care,” I said, my voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

“Take care too, Susan. I love you,” he said before ending the call.

As the call ended, I lay on my bed, enveloped by the silence of my room. The tears I had tried to hold back now flowed freely. The unspoken challenges our relationship faced left me feeling vulnerable and alone.

In the quietness of my room, I allowed myself to sob.