Monday.
Fresh lecture. Fresh outfit. Freshly brewed coffee that actually stayed warm this time.
I walked into the lecture hall like it was just another day.
But I felt him before I even saw him.
Lucian.
Back row, usual spot. Hoodie shoved halfway off his shoulder, head tilted like he couldn't care less, eyes locked on me like he did anyway.
I didn't look directly at him. I didn't have to.
I could feel the weight of his gaze.
And it was doing very inconvenient things to my heart rate.
But I had more pressing things to handle. Like the other faculty member standing beside me.
"Thanks for covering last week's meeting, Dev," I said, passing him a grateful smile.
Professor Dev Mishra was easy company—tall, charming, and just the right amount of annoying. He taught Mechanical Engineering and always had this casual way of leaning a little too close when he spoke. Not flirty exactly, just… overly familiar.
"I'd cover for you anytime," he said, leaning on the desk like he owned it. "Especially if it gets me an excuse to show up here."
I arched a brow. "Careful, Dev. You're starting to sound like you want to sit in on Physics."
He grinned. "Only if you're teaching it."
It was harmless.
Mostly.
But from the corner of my eye, I saw Lucian shift in his seat.
Not much—just a barely-there tightening of his jaw. A small flicker of annoyance in his expression. Anyone else would've missed it.
I didn't.
My pulse fluttered, traitorously amused.
Interesting.
I turned back to Dev with a practiced smile. "I think my students would riot if I let you take over. They've barely adjusted to me."
Dev laughed. "Then I'll make myself scarce before I trigger a mutiny."
As he turned to leave, I felt it again.
Lucian.
His stare followed every move. And when Dev offered a final wave, I could practically hear Lucian's internal scream from across the room.
I should've ignored it.
But I didn't.
"Eyes up front, Mr. Kim," I said smoothly, locking onto him just long enough to enjoy the tiny jolt in his posture. "Unless you'd like to come explain thermodynamics to the class."
A few students chuckled. Lucian didn't smile.
But his ears turned red.
And just like that… I couldn't stop smiling either.
I turned back to the board, but my mind was still half on the boy in the back row.
Lucian Kim.
Smart. Sharp. Quiet. That sharp jawline he probably didn't even know he had? Criminal. And the way he looked at me—like I was something dangerous and beautiful all at once?
Even more criminal.
I kept my voice smooth as I walked them through the basics of thermodynamics, but I was well aware of every shift behind me. The slight rustle of paper. The clench of a pen in someone's hand. A breath held too long.
He wasn't taking notes.
He never really had to. His test scores were perfect. His mind sharp. But today… I had a feeling he wasn't hearing a word.
Especially when I leaned on the desk.
Lucian's posture stiffened instantly.
Oh?
Interesting indeed.
I asked a question—open-ended, aimed at no one in particular—but my eyes landed on him.
"Lucian?"
He blinked. "Uh—yeah?"
"Do you know the answer?"
He did. I knew he did. But he stared at me like I'd asked for his blood type and his darkest secret.
I waited.
The silence stretched.
Then he muttered something—correct, but quiet.
I nodded. "Good."
He didn't meet my eyes.
So I turned back to the board.
But not before catching the way he subtly glared at the door Dev had exited through.
Oh. Oh.
He was jealous.
And he didn't even know what to do with it.
I shouldn't have smiled.
But I did.
And maybe—maybe—I leaned forward just a bit more as I picked up the marker again. Just enough for him to see the edge of my smile. A little curve of victory.
Let him stew.
I wasn't going anywhere.