âBED.â
"I'll send you home," Archer said as he got out his keys from his pocket.
"It's fine. My car's right there." I gestured towards my car.
"Again, I wasn't asking. I don't want you driving alone. I'll send you to school tomorrow too. You can pick your car up then." Archer let out as he walked next to me, skilfully grabbing my sling bag in his hands, sliding it off of my shoulders. He slung it over his shoulder as he walked to his car, not passing me a glance.
"Whatâ?" I just stared at the back of his form as I stood there, mind boggled. Everything happened too fast, and the next thing I knew, I was walking up to his car. I got in and fish out my phone to inform Lina that I wouldn't be able to pick her up.
"Do I have to do everything for you?" I heard him groan right before he leaned over to me, his face inches apart from mine.
I felt his hot breath dance over my neck, causing goosebumps to prickle onto my skin.
I instantly pressed my back against the car seat, trying my best to avoid physical contact with him. I don't think my mind could take it.
He stretched his arm out and pulled onto the seatbelt and buckled it for me. My cheeks flushed red as I felt them go hot. "I could've done it," I said slightly over a whisper.
"But you didn't."
⢠⢠â¢
Most of the car ride was silent, there was a weird tension between us and I couldn't understand why.
I tried easing it with small talk but it somehow made it worse.
We had never been this tense with each other. I guess having my ex borderline on kidnap and drag me to his car in the middle of the day does call for some tension.
"You knowâ" Archer started, finally breaking the quiet atmosphere. "âyou don't have to stay quiet."
He said and I frowned. "Hm?" I looked at him, hoping he wasn't referring to the awkward silence around us because that would just make it worse.
"You should tell someone, about that guy." He continues and that's when I realise he's talking about Luca and not my inability to converse under the pressure of the situation.
"What's his name anyway? Who is he?" His voice progressively gets darker with each question, his grip on the steering wheel tightened as the veins on his arm became more prominent.
"His name is Luca andâ" I paused as I looked at Archer, wondering how my relationship with my professor came to this. "He's my ex." I let out, pressing my lips together, displaying a tight-lipped smile.
"Huh." He scoffed slightly, licking the corner of his lips. "You should tell someone. Preferably, the police." Archer tells me and a sigh leaves my lips.
"It's not that simple."
"I think it is. See?" He pulls out a phone from his pocket, one hand still on the steering wheel. A part of me tense. "Now all you do is pressâ"
"Eyes on the road," I snapped, snatching the phone out of his grasp and he glances at me with furrowed brows. "You're a professor. I would've expected you to know that you're not allowed to use your phone behind the wheel."
"Lookâ"
"I don't want to talk about this anymore." I place his phone in the centre console as I averted my gaze. I stared out the window, looking at the sun's set, hoping it'd bring me the calm I needed. The orange that had a pink hue was dotted with white clouds as the golden orb rested right above the horizon.
In a while, it'll sink below and darkness would spread.
"Well, you should."
"Why do you even care?" It came out harsher than I meant it to. I was curious but the question seemed aggressive. I look at him and he flinches like I had hit him. A pang of guilt slices through me. He's been nothing but help this past month and a half and here I was being an ungrateful bitch.
Without peeping another word, Archer simply raised a shoulder in a lazy shrug. He pulled over. "We're here."
I get out before him. Apart of me wants to apologise and also thank him for the ride but my legs carry me towards our apartment complex. I felt Archer shadowing me but he keeps the silence between us.
After what I said, the tension between us came back, making things awfully awkward. We entered the lift and it was silent. As we went up each level, I could almost hear my own heart beating. It was possibly the longest lift ride ever, with each second lingering on.
Finally, it came to a stop and the doors opened to the seventh floor.
I walked out first with Archer behind me again and we went to our own apartments, but right before I could enter mine, Archer spoke out.
"Be here at 9." He said and vanished behind his door.
"Waitâ" Before I could finish, he closed the door behind him.
My brows furrowed as I stared at my professor's door.
Why would I need to be here at 9?
⢠⢠â¢
I extended my arm as I stared at his door, reluctant to knock. I let out a deep breath as I glanced at my watch.
9.02 pm
"Please don't regret this," I said under my breath as my fist meets the wooden door, finally knocking.
Almost instantly, the door swung open, revealing Jace in sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt.
"Yes?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Um, Mr Kane said to be here at 9?" I said with uncertainty in my voice.
"Ohâ" Jace let out as he gave an unintentional smirk. "Come in. He's in the washroom now but he'll be out soon." He said as he moved aside, motioning for me to enter.
Without thinking much of it, I enter their apartment. I made my way to their couch where I sat down. My back was as straight as an iron board and my muscles tense. This was my first time in their apartment and I was nervous.
"Do you want anything to drink?" Jace asked as he ran his fingers through his chestnut hair absentmindedly.
His soft brown hair falls over his forehead gracefully. Without the gel he'd have on at school, it's bouncy and all over the place but in an admirable way.
"It's okay, I'm good," I said as I looked at my feet, not really sure how to behave in such a situation. I stared at my toes, watching them tap on the marble flooring.
Seconds later, I hear a door click open and my eyes dart up only to see Archer's shirtless self.
A towel wrapped around his waist with his hair damp and flopped over his forehead. I feel my cheeks heat up as it burned red. My eyes spot a droplet of water dangling from a strand of his hair. With a slight shake of his head, it drips landing on his chest and it slides down. Holy heck. He was toned and lean. The burning is no longer on my cheeks but everywhere.
"Oh, Red." He chimes, almost unbothered with the fact that he was half naked.
"Give me a second." He said as he disappeared into his bedroom.
I nibbled onto my bottom lip, trying to get rid of the images in my head but nothing helps. He was an Adonis. His entire being was sculpted meticulously to perfection. I started to regret stepping foot into his apartment.
"Red!" He called out from his room.
I stood up hesitantly, making my way to his bedroom. I stood at the doorframe, only to see Archer sitting at his desk with two books opened in front of him.
"You called?" I frowned slightly, waiting for him to speak.
"Yes, come here." He tapped onto a seat next to him, gesturing for me to sit.
"What's this?" I asked as I stared at the notebook that laid on his table. I slowly placed myself next to him, making sure there was enough space in between us.
"Your notes." He looked at me, handing me the book and smiled. The warm smile that reached his eyes and made them glow. "I know you've been having trouble in class recently so that'll help." He said with a nod.
"T-thank you?" I cocked my head to the side as I looked at the notes. Handwritten and by him. It was so kind of him to go out of his way and do something for me. And the guilt is back. "About what I said in the carâ"
"It's okay. I shouldn't have overstepped." He cuts me off before I can apologise. Knowing him, it'd be better to drop it than to argue so I changed the subject.
"Is this why you called me here?" I asked, trying my best not to come off as rude because that's the last thing I want.
"Not really, wanted to go through Vintage Love personally with you too." He said as he opened up the book in front of us.
"Maybe start briefing you on the upcoming event too," he doesn't look at me as he fiddles with the pages of the book. I stared at him, completely taken aback.
Considering how much he's been helping me over the course of 2 months, I probably shouldn't be as shocked but it all just hit me. My professor has been taking time out of his day to help me. If this was his way of atoning for my cracked phone screen, he's already overpaid.
"Why are you doing this?" The question blurts out of me as I look at him with confusion. I couldn't begin to understand why he was being so nice to me.
"Doing what?" Archer's eyes finally meet mine. With the lamp on his desk, his eyes are illuminated and the greens of it are more prominent. I wondered if he realises his right eye had more green than his left, or this little fact was something only I was aware of. That thought made the heat in my chest spread.
"This," I motioned between us, "helping me with school and even the break-in. I know we got off on the wrong foot but you've already paid off that debt by giving me your book soâ"
"I'm not helping you because I feel like I need to repay my debt." He cuts me off with the shake of his head.
"Then why are you helping me?"
His gaze flickers over my face, lingering on my temple longer than I'd like right before landing on my eyes again. It could've been my imagination, but I was sure there was a brief flash of remorse in his hazel eyes. It vanishes almost instantly, though and he regains his composure. "Because it's the neighbourly thing to do so will you stop with the 20 questions and sit your butt down?" His eyes fall back to the book.
I felt like I was missing a vital piece of the conversation but I didn't probe further. Instead, I sat my butt down next to him. He started with the material and like always, there's that dull ache in my head.
After an hour, my eyelids had difficulty staying open while I kept slipping in and out of reality and before I knew it, the night had consumed me.
My eyelids had difficulty staying open while I kept slipping in and out of reality and before I knew it, the night had consumed me.
⢠⢠â¢
"Shit." I cussed under my breath as I woke up in my professor's bedroom.
...