EVA'S POV:

I officially hated mornings. Not because I was lazy. Because Kolkata mornings were disrespectfully humid. The second I stepped out of the car outside St. Xavier's Heritage University, warm air wrapped around me like an unwanted hug while students flooded the campus pathways carrying coffee cups and backpacks. 

At least the rain had stopped. The university looked prettier today under sunlight. Still dramatic. Still intimidating. Still looking like rich people secretly performed rituals here.

Rose jumped out beside me while fixing her hair in her phone camera. "You know what this campus needs?" she asked seriously. "Therapy?" "A smoking hot senior obsessed with me." I adjusted my tote bag over my shoulder. "Seek help immediately." She ignored me. Typical.

Unlike yesterday, the campus felt alive today. Students sat around the central garden laughing loudly while freshers took pictures near the fountain like tourists. Music echoed faintly from somewhere near the boys' wing. Someone was already flirting aggressively near the library. University behavior had begun. I looked down at my outfit while walking.

Black off-shoulder fitted top. Short black skirt. Silver waist chain peeking slightly whenever I moved. Black boots. Silver hoop earrings. Hair left open. Simple. But apparently enough to attract attention from half the male population around me. I noticed the stares. I simply didn't care.

Rose definitely cared though. "You look illegal," she announced. "You're dramatic." "You're distracting." I rolled my eyes. "You know what's distracting?" she continued. "Professor David D'Costa." And there it was. The problem.

Because annoyingly, my brain immediately pictured blue eyes and rolled-up sleeves. I hated that. "It's been one lecture," I muttered. "One lecture was enough." Unfortunately true. We entered the main building together, walking through giant hallways buzzing with voices. The university smelled like coffee, books, perfume, and stress. A very expensive combination.

Our first lecture of the day was taken by Sister Veronica. The moment she entered class, every student sat straight automatically. She looked terrifying. Not old exactly. Just intensely strict. Like she could detect sins through eye contact. Rose leaned toward me slightly. "I think she's capable of exorcisms."

I bit back a laugh. Sister Veronica adjusted her glasses before speaking. "St. Xavier's Heritage University values discipline above all else." The room became painfully quiet. She spent the next forty minutes lecturing us about morality, university reputation, proper conduct, and academic dedication. And then her eyes scanned the girls specifically.

"Distractions ruin futures faster than failure." Several girls immediately stopped whispering. I stared at my notebook innocently. But for some irritating reason, a certain professor appeared in my mind again. Dark hair. Cold blue eyes. Sharp jawline. I mentally slapped myself.

Rose scribbled in my notebook. 

She definitely hates romance.

I wrote back.

She would murder Wattpad writers publicly. 

Rose nearly laughed out loud. Sister Veronica looked toward us instantly. We sat straight immediately. Survival instincts. By the time the lecture finally ended, the entire class looked emotionally disciplined.

"Thirty-minute break before Professor D'Costa's lecture," Rose announced dramatically once we escaped the classroom. My stomach did something annoying at his name. I ignored it. "We're getting food," she declared. "Yes please." The cafeteria was chaos.

Students crowded around tables while loud conversations echoed everywhere. The smell of fries, coffee, and instant noodles filled the air. Rose somehow found us a table near the window. We ordered iced coffee and fries because university students apparently survived entirely on caffeine and bad decisions. Rose took one sip before sighing dreamily.

"What if Professor D'Costa comes here?" I stared at her. "You need hobbies." "He's literally the hottest professor I've ever seen." "You've seen one professor." "And he set impossible standards." I laughed quietly. Okay fine. She wasn't wrong.

There was something unfairly attractive about that man. Not just physically. His entire presence felt controlled. Sharp. Like he thought before every movement. Like he noticed things other people missed. Which was exactly why he made me nervous. Not scared nervous. Aware nervous. Dangerous difference.

Rose leaned forward suddenly. "Wait." "What?" "Do you think he's married?" I almost choked on my coffee. "Why are you investigating his personal life?" "Research purposes." "You're insane." She grinned proudly. We stayed there until students slowly started returning toward classrooms.

As we walked back through the stone pathways connecting the academic wings, sunlight filtered through giant trees overhead while humid wind moved through the campus. Then someone called my name. "Eva?" I turned immediately. "Oh my...God." Aarav smiled while approaching us casually.

Of course. Even in university, rich Bengali families somehow remained connected like a weird social cult. Aarav looked exactly the same as every family function ever. Expensive watch. Perfect hair. Confidence of a man raised with generational wealth. "You actually got into Xavier's," he said.

"Technically." He laughed. Rose looked between us curiously. "This is Aarav," I introduced. "Family friend." "Unfortunately," Aarav added dramatically. I rolled my eyes. We started walking together toward the Literature Wing while talking casually. Mostly harmless conversation.

How long had I been in Kolkata. Which department. How unbearable university rules were. Normal things. Rose whispered behind my back. "Rich people really do know each other." I elbowed her. When we finally reached the classroom entrance, I stopped slightly.

Because he was already inside. Professor David D'Costa stood near the board arranging lecture notes while students entered noisily around him. White shirt. Grey trousers. Glasses low on his nose again. Why did he always look like that? His eyes lifted toward the doorway absentmindedly.

Then landed on me. And immediately shifted toward Aarav beside me. Something changed. Tiny. But visible. His jaw tightened slightly. Not enough for anyone else to notice. I noticed. Then his gaze moved back toward me.

Specifically, my outfit. My exposed shoulders. My skirt. His expression remained calm. But his eyes darkened almost imperceptibly before he looked away again. Weird heat crawled up my neck instantly. What was that? Rose grabbed my wrist while dragging me toward our seats.

"HE LOOKED JEALOUS." "No he didn't." "He absolutely did." I ignored her because my heartbeat felt strangely loud again. Professor D'Costa adjusted papers calmly before speaking. "Before we begin today's lecture, I have a few announcements." The room quieted immediately.

God his voice was unfair. "Students are expected to return to lectures on time after breaks." His eyes flicked briefly toward our side of the classroom. "Repeated delays will affect disciplinary records." Several students groaned softly. He ignored them. "The university fresher's party has officially been announced."

Instant chaos. Girls started whispering excitedly. Boys suddenly looked interested in life again. Rose nearly screamed beside me. Professor D'Costa continued smoothly. "Participation is mandatory for all first-year students." More reactions. "Further details are available on the notice boards."

Then the lecture began. Today's topic involved psychological attachment theories. Ironically. I tried focusing. Really. But every few minutes, I caught him looking at me. Not obviously. Not inappropriately. Just occasionally. Briefly.

Like he checked whether I was paying attention. Yet somehow every glance felt too intense. Especially because whenever I looked back, he returned to teaching immediately. Professional. Controlled. And somehow worse because of it. I crossed one leg over the other beneath the desk while writing notes absentmindedly.

At the front of class, Professor D'Costa explained emotional dependency using the board behind him. Then his gaze shifted toward me again. This time lingering one second too long on my shoulder before he looked away. My pulse skipped annoyingly. What was wrong with me?

He was literally my professor. A terrifyingly attractive professor. Still inappropriate. Rose scribbled in my notebook without permission.

The sexual tension is insane. 

I stared at her in horror. She looked delighted. I ripped the notebook back immediately.

Middle of the lecture, my phone vibrated silently against the desk. I glanced down. Dad calling. I frowned. He usually never called repeatedly unless something important happened. I ignored it once. Then again. Then messages appeared. 

Pick up. Urgent.

I sighed quietly before unlocking my phone beneath the desk. I'm in lecture. Immediate reply. Important. Typical. I typed back. Can it wait 5 mins? Another message instantly. If it could wait, I wouldn't call repeatedly.

I rolled my eyes slightly. Parents always believed urgency meant emotional terrorism. I typed. I'll call back in 20. And suddenly, the air around me changed. Presence. My fingers froze. Slowly, I looked up. Professor D'Costa stood beside my bench.

Jesus. The entire class went silent. But somehow, he continued the lecture normally. Didn't pause. Didn't even fully look at me. In one smooth motion, he took my phone directly from my hand. Placed it calmly on his desk at the front. And continued speaking as if nothing happened.

The room stayed dead silent for approximately three horrifying seconds. Then lecture resumed. My face burned. Rose looked moments away from cardiac arrest. I wanted the ground to swallow me alive. Professor D'Costa never acknowledged the situation again.

Which somehow made it more humiliating. Because now everyone knew. And he clearly did not care. I sat there for the rest of the lecture pretending to take notes while internally dying. At the front, he continued teaching flawlessly like confiscating phones from emotionally unstable girls was part of his daily routine.

I hated how attractive he looked while doing it. That felt psychologically concerning. The lecture finally ended after what felt like seven business years. Students immediately started packing bags loudly. I hoped maybe, maybe, he forgot about the phone.

Then he picked it up calmly from his desk. My soul left my body. "Miss Roy." The room quieted instantly again. Every single student looked toward me. His blue eyes met mine directly. "In my cabin. Now."

Dead silence. Rose whispered. "I'm not coming." Traitor. I glared at her while packing my bag slowly. She leaned closer dramatically. "That hot devil will eat us alive." "Helpful." "Tell my family I loved them."

I ignored her and walked out of the classroom alone. The hallways suddenly felt colder. Why was I nervous? It was just a phone. Still my heartbeat kept acting stupid while I walked toward the Staff Wing offices. The staff section of campus felt completely different from student areas.

Quieter. More isolated. Elegant dark corridors lined with wooden office doors. The atmosphere itself felt strict. I stopped outside his cabin for one second before knocking softly. "Come in." Deep voice. Calm. I entered slowly.

And immediately understood why students feared this place. Dark wood interior. Tall bookshelves. Soft lamp lighting instead of harsh white lights. Rain smell drifting through slightly open windows. Psychology books everywhere. His office felt too personal. Too quiet.

Professor D'Costa stood near the desk removing his glasses slowly when I entered. The sight nearly destroyed my remaining sanity. He placed them down carefully before looking at me. Then closed the door behind me. Not loudly. Still intimidating somehow.

I swallowed. He leaned lightly against the desk. "You didn't read the rules, Miss Roy?" Calm tone. Controlled. Which honestly felt scarier than yelling. "I did," I said quickly. "My father called." His expression didn't change immediately.

Then. "Oh." Just one word. Still something strange flickered behind his eyes briefly. He picked up my phone from the desk and looked at it once before sliding it toward me. "If I see this phone on during my lecture again," pause, blue eyes holding mine steadily, "I won't give it back."

I grabbed the phone quickly. "Sorry, sir." Silence stretched. Then unexpectedly, he asked. "You haven't applied for hostel accommodation yet?" I blinked. Random question. "No. I'll join after a month."

Another pause. He looked at me strangely for one second. Like mentally storing that information somewhere. Then he nodded once. "Fine." Dismissal. I should have left immediately. Instead my stupid brain noticed details again.

His rolled sleeves. The veins near his wrist. The silver cross chain beneath his collar. The way his office smelled faintly like coffee and rain. Then his gaze dropped briefly toward my exposed shoulder. And this time, he noticed himself doing it.

The air changed instantly. Something sharp flickered across his expression before he looked away first. I suddenly became hyperaware of my own breathing. Dangerous. That word returned again. Professor David D'Costa felt dangerous in the quietest possible way.

"Anything else, Miss Roy?" he asked calmly. I stood up too quickly. "No, sir." I practically escaped the office afterward. The second I stepped outside into the hallway, I exhaled hard. My pulse still hadn't calmed down.

What the hell was wrong with me? And worse, why did it feel like every interaction with him somehow made things more intense instead of less? By the time I reached home, the sky had already turned dark again. Kolkata lights blurred outside the car window while my mind replayed the entire day on loop.

The lecture. The office. His eyes. I unlocked my phone absentmindedly, ready to finally call Dad back. Then I froze. The notes app was open. A single sentence written across the blank screen.

Don't stare at me like that again.
I don't scratch.
I bite.

My heartbeat stopped for one terrifying second. And somehow, I already knew exactly who wrote it.