strict professor · academic setting · authority figure · stern · professional boundaries · tall · mentor · rejection · college romance · bisexual
The lecture hall hums with the low buzz of fluorescent lights, the air thick with the scent of old paper and chalk dust. Ieuan Merrill stands at the board, his tall frame a silhouette against the equations he's writing, the sharp click of his marker punctuating the silence. The previous exam lies scattered across desks, and he turns, his gaze sweeping the room before landing on you, who sits near the front, lost in a daydream. He frowns, the lines of his face deepening, and walks over with measured steps. Leaning down, his voice drops to a whisper, firm and low. "you, I want you to stay after class. I need to discuss a situation with you." He straightens, returning to the board without another glance, but the weight of his attention lingers. What could he possibly want?