By the second week of classes, everyone on campus had already formed an opinion about Professor Tobias Menzies.
Most of them were terrified of him. Students behaved well in his class. They spoke carefully, choosing their words like they were walking across thin ice. Even the usually loud ones kept their voices low.
Marcus leaned over one morning before class started and whispered, "I heard someone cried in his office yesterday."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Cried?"
Marcus nodded seriously. "Apparently he told a guy his essay was 'logically inconsistent.'"
Jason snorted. "That's not even an insult."
Marcus looked offended. "You clearly underestimate the emotional fragility of literature majors." Jason laughed quietly, leaning back in his chair.
Across the room, students were slowly filing in, filling the lecture hall with soft conversations when the door opened.
Professor Tobias Menzies walked in. Just like always, his presence seemed to change the air in the room.
He moved calmly to the front of the class, placing a thin stack of papers on the desk.
His regular dark suit was perfectly pressed.
Jason knew today was different, Tobias didn't look at anyone. Not even him, he went straight to the lecture.
The class lasted nearly an hour, as usual, Tobias's teaching style was direct and intense. He asked difficult questions.
He challenged weak answers and dismantled shallow interpretations without hesitation.
Several students avoided eye contact entirely. Jason, however, found himself enjoying it.
At one point Tobias asked a question about symbolism in the text they were reading.
Ten seconds passed when jason raised his hand lazily to answer the question.
Tobias looked at him. "Yes, Mr. Williams."
Jason leaned forward slightly. "The storm represents suppressed guilt."
Tobias tilted his head. "Explain."
Jason shrugged. "The main character keeps avoiding responsibility. The storm shows the pressure building up around him."
Tobias nodded once."Correct."
Marcus whispered beside him, stunned."Dude… you're the only person he hasn't destroyed yet."
Jason smirked. "Maybe I'm just smarter than you." Marcus glared fiercely at him and they both chuckles.
When class ended, students packed their things quickly. No one liked lingering in Professor Menzies' classroom.
Jason slung his bag over his shoulder and started toward the door.
Suddenly a voice spoke. "Professor Menzies?"
Everyone paused to look at the miserable fellow.
A female student stood near the front desk.
She was pretty, with long brown hair and confident posture. Jason recognized her.
Emily Carter.
One of the most popular girls in their year.
She rarely looked nervous, right now she looked slightly tense.
Tobias looked at her calmly. "Yes?"
Emily stepped closer to the desk. "I was wondering… if you might have time to talk later."
Students slowed down as they packed their bags. Marcus leaned toward Jason. "This is about to be interesting."
Emily smiled politely. "I mean outside of class."
Tobias stared at her saying nothing.
She took a breath. "Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?"
The silence in the room became suffocating.
Several students stared openly now. Emily was very bold to talk to this machine.
Tobias expression remained completely neutral. "No."
The word landed in the room like a stone dropping into water.
Emily blinked. "…No?"
Tobias's voice remained steady. "I do not socialize with students."
Emily looked embarrassed now. "I meant—just dinner."
Tobias's gaze was calm but firm. "My answer remains the same."
A few students quickly turned away, pretending not to watch.
Emily forced a small smile. "Right… of course." She grabbed her bag and left the room quickly.
Marcus leaned toward Jason again. "he is really bitter, huh" he whispered.
Jason shrugged slightly. It was harsh… but also very Tobias.
Soon the classroom emptied. Jason headed for the door again.
"Mr. Williams." Tobias stood at the front of the room again, watching him.
"Yes?"
Tobias gestured toward the desk. "Come here."
Marcus looked between them with wide eyes. "Am I allowed to witness this?" he whispered. Jason ignored him and walked back down the aisle. Marcus wisely fled the room.
When Jason reached the desk, Tobias picked up a paper from the stack. "Your last assignment."
Jason frowned slightly. "I thought it was due tomorrow."
"It is." Tobias handed him the paper.
Jason looked at it. His name was written at the top.
It wasn't his writing. "…You already graded it?"
Tobias's expression didn't change. "You submitted it early."
Jason remembered he had emailed it late at night. He glanced at the grade. A+
Jason looked up in surprise. "Seriously?"
Tobias watched him. "Yes."
Jason chuckled. "Well… I guess I'm doing something right."
Tobias turned toward the office door behind the classroom. "Come with me."
Jason blinked. "Your office?"
"Yes."
Jason hesitated. Everyone on campus knew one thing about Professor Menzies. No student entered his office. Ever.
Yet Tobias opened the door calmly and walked inside. Jason stared for a moment and curiosity won.
He followed him into the office. Bookshelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Stacks of papers covered the desk in neat piles. A faint scent of coffee lingered in the air. Jason stepped inside slowly. "Wow," he said.
"You actually live here?"
Tobias closed the door. "I work here."
Jason glanced around. "You know… people say no student has ever been allowed in here."
Tobias looked at him. "People say many things."
Jason leaned casually against a shelf. "So why am I special?"
For a moment Tobias wanted to tell him how he felt but he held back the world. He walked to the desk, setting down a folder.
Then he turned back toward Jason. "You ask lots of questions," Tobias said.
Jason laughed softly. "That's a weird reason."
Tobias continued. "You challenge ideas."
Jason shrugged. "That's called thinking."
Tobias stepped slightly closer. "And you are not intimidated by me."
Jason met his gaze directly. "Should I be?"
The air between them felt heavier now. Tobias said something that made Jason's heart skip. "You are… different from the others."
Jason folded his arms. "You said that at the wedding too."
For the first time, Tobias looked slightly surprised. "You remember."
Jason smirked. "Hard to forget someone who stares like you do."
"Jason."
Hearing his name like that felt strange again. "Yes?"
Tobias held his gaze. "You should be careful."
Jason frowned slightly. "About what?"
Tobias's voice was calm.
"People misunderstand things easily."
Jason tilted his head. "Are you saying people will misunderstand you talking to me?" Tobias didn't answer.
Jason smiled slowly. "Well, Professor… maybe you should stop staring at me so much."
Tobias's lips twitched.
Jason straightened. "Anyway… thanks for the grade." He started toward the door before leaving he paused. Looking back at Tobias. "You know something, Professor?" Jason grinned. "You're a lot more enticing than you pretend to be."
Then he left the office closing the door softly behind him.
Inside the quiet room, Tobias Menzies remained standing beside his desk. Thinking about what Jason said before leaving.
And for the first time in a very long time…
The silent professor found himself looking forward to the next class.