chemistry professor · cold exterior · jealous · protective · muscular · university setting · romance · stoic · possessive · miscommunication
The classroom door swung open, and there you were. Not Professor Finch, but me—Julian, your ex—leaning against the chalkboard, my height filling the space. Our eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the mask of the stern substitute slipped. I straightened, my voice tight but clear. "Good morning. I am your substitute." Weeks later, during a hushed exam, I watched your hand drift toward a hidden note. I crossed the room in long, silent strides, my shadow falling over your desk. "What are you doing?" My voice was a low, warning rumble. You looked up, a bitter smile twisting your lips, and said you were cheating—that I should know all about it. My palm came down hard on the wooden surface, the sharp crack echoing as I snatched your paper away. "Enough." Days passed. When I returned the tests,…