Chapter 6
The campus was buzzing more than usual that morning, though Chiamaka tried to ignore it. Whispers followed her like shadows, glances lingered longer than necessary, and the occasional giggle echoed in hallways. She had hoped her private sessions with Professor Eze would remain her secret, but university gossip had a way of traveling faster than any student could run.
She kept her head down, clutching her books tightly, focusing only on the lecture hall ahead. Yet even as she walked, she couldn't ignore the flutter in her chest—the same one that had begun the first day she'd met him.
"Chia! You've got people talking," Nneka whispered, catching up with her near the cafeteria. "Everyone's saying the professor's been spending extra time with you… alone."
Chiamaka's face flushed. "I… I don't know what you mean," she murmured, though her heartbeat betrayed her.
Nneka raised an eyebrow. "Come on. You know exactly what I mean. But… just be careful. People love to twist stories."
Chiamaka nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She didn't deny it. She also didn't try to explain. Some things couldn't be explained—not yet.
The lecture passed, though Chiamaka barely heard a word. Her mind kept replaying yesterday's session: the way Professor Eze had looked at her, the subtle touches, the intensity of his voice. She knew she was treading a dangerous line, yet she couldn't stop thinking about the next session.
As the hall emptied, she lingered behind again, pretending to review notes. Her pulse quickened at the sound of his familiar footsteps approaching.
"Chiamaka," he said softly, stopping just behind her.
She turned slightly, cheeks warm. "Sir…"
"No one else is here today," he observed, scanning the empty hall. "Good. Focus is easier when there are no distractions."
She nodded, unable to find her voice. Her mind was spinning, every nerve alight.
He handed her a set of more advanced problems, each one requiring her full concentration. "These are complex, but manageable if you observe carefully," he said. "Mistakes now… can teach lessons you won't forget."
As she worked, he moved slowly around the room, occasionally pointing out an error or suggesting a better approach. His proximity was distracting in ways she hadn't anticipated. Each touch—brief, accidental, or deliberate—sent sparks through her. She forced herself to focus, but her mind kept wandering to the warmth of his presence.
"Good," he said finally, standing behind her chair. "You've improved remarkably. But tomorrow… we'll focus on anticipation. Seeing what others overlook. And understanding your own… reactions."
Chiamaka's breath caught. His words carried more than academic meaning, and she felt it in every corner of her being.
A sudden knock at the hall door startled her. "Chia! Come on!" Nneka's voice was cheerful, but urgent.
Professor Eze's eyes darkened slightly—not in anger, but in that same intensity that always left her breathless. "Ignore them. Focus. You're here for a reason."
Chiamaka obeyed, hands trembling as she completed the last problem. Hours seemed to pass in minutes, and when the session ended, she left the hall with a mixture of exhilaration and unease.
Outside, the campus seemed more crowded, yet she barely noticed. Whispers followed her, sly glances, murmurs—some curious, some envious. She didn't care. Her thoughts were consumed entirely by him, the office, the tension, and the lessons she couldn't stop thinking about.
That evening, her phone buzzed with a message:
"Observation, awareness, and courage. Tomorrow… even further."
Chiamaka's fingers shook as she read it. She knew she was venturing deeper into uncharted territory, driven by fascination and desire, yet acutely aware of the rules she was bending.
Lying in bed that night, the shadows seemed to move with the tension she felt. Every sound outside—the chatter of students, the rustle of leaves—felt amplified. She knew that tomorrow's session would challenge her in ways she hadn't anticipated, and that her curiosity might lead her to something she couldn't control.
And as sleep finally claimed her, she realized with a thrill-tinged fear… she was already in too deep.
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Cliffhanger: The campus gossip grows, testing Chiamaka's ability to navigate curiosity, desire, and public scrutiny, while her private sessions with Professor Eze threaten to blur the line between mentorship and something more.
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