Such normal simple words but Ruby felt her skin crawl. She swung open the door of her car in time, and vomited onto the side of the road.

As she sunk herself back into her seat, she noticed on her phone screen that it was Sunday. She had been asleep for a day.

Normally, Ruby dreaded Monday mornings. But the dread she felt on that particular Monday was something entirely new.

As she walked past the other students in the university, she felt like they were watching her. She felt like all of their eyes were upon her, watching her every move. Did they know something? Because she, sure as hell, had no idea.

When Thompson walked into their class, it was normal. He taught as usual. Asked questions like always. He had always looked like Santa Claus without the beard. But Ruby felt like slapping him everytime he opened his mouth.

When Ruby was walking out of the lecture hall, she heard someone shout her name.

"Ms. Rose?"

She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Can I have a word please?" Ruby walked to him, not taking her eyes off his face.

The students he was talking with soon left, and it was her alone with him.

"How are you today?" He asked, his devilishly simple smile on his lips. Ruby simply stared at him.

He continued as if this was expected, "I just wanted to tell you that you can still use the vacation house any time you want. I hope you had a good sleep the other day."

"What did you do to me?" Ruby asked through gritted teeth. "Nothing," he smiled.

"I know you did something," she said again.

"We had a good weekend. I had a good time and so did you," he said, showing his smile again. Ruby wanted to slap that smile off his face.

"I'll send you the assignment details tonight by mail. Submit them on time and keep me happy."

His voice suddenly became more serious and he said knowingly, "If you keep me happy, the scholarship is surely yours."

He grabbed his bag and was about to walk away, when he turned around and said in a low voice, "I liked the pictures we clicked. I'll keep them safe if you behave."

**

Ruby didnt know who to go to for help. Multiple times, she thought of calling John and telling him everything. But even she wasn't sure what pictures Thompson had, though she could imagine. And she didnt want to.

The rumours about her were going around strongly. Though she knew that her friendship with Sara and Laksh won't last after the break up with Lee, Thompson suggesting her name for scholarship had sealed the deal. Now they hated her.

She used to get constant emails from Thompson regarding assignments and deadlines. At the end of every email he'd write, If you need any help, you know where to find me.

She tried her best not to think, see, hear or read about Thompson.

That's when she decided to distract herself with music. She met Alex, the boy who could play soulful music. The boy who got lost in the strings of his guitar. The only person she had felt comfortable around in a long time. The one whom she thought would understand her, around whom she wouldnt have to act. The one who would see her for who she really was.

She had once almost told him about Thompson. Almost. But what could she say? That she 'thinks' something has happened? That she 'thinks' he has her photographs? All she has is a bunch of emails from him with assignment details in them. She had no proof.

And then one day, Thompson summoned her immediately after class. Again, he kept her around until she was the last person and alone with him.

"You have not been a good student Ms. Rose," his voice was stern, "I heard you have been deviating from your studies and spending time making music with some kid. If you don't work hard, how will I help you with your scholarship?"

Ruby's lips quivered with anger. "I don't want your scholarship," she said.

"Don't test my patience Ms. Rose," he spoke as his eyes pierced straight into hers, "Legal Aspects of Business is a very difficult subject. If you aren't careful, you could fail."

And he did fail her. Alex had asked her repeatedly to request for a retest. She tried telling him that Thompson wouldnt agree. But she couldnt tell Alex the whole truth. What if Alex would also leave her?

Around this time, one normal day, Thompson's class was cancelled. She heard from the faculty room that it was because Thompson's dear old family was in town and were staying at the vacation house. Thompson wanted to spend some time with his family, including his daughter who was Ruby's age. They were to visit the recreation centre together.

Ruby didn't know why, but she drove to the recreation centre. Maybe she just wanted to see them, maybe she wanted to do something more.

She stood a bit far, in the park nearby specifically so that she could see them, but not be seen. However, as she waited for them to arrive, someone else did. Alex.

She had been avoiding Alex for some time now. Lost in her own problems, she didn't want to drag him into it all too. She didn't want his pure soul to be damaged by her fu**ed up life. No matter how much she liked him, she wanted him to stay away. And that's why, she asked him to leave, to forget that she existed.

Alex had left angrily, leaving her heartbroken but relieved of keeping him safe.

She had seen them arrive, waited in her car and followed them to their vacation home. It was Thompson who had opened the door and he was not happy when he saw her. His jaw had tightened and his face lost its colour.

"Oh come on in!" His wife had warmly welcomed her inside, when she told her that she was his student. She sat with them on the sofa and chatted like they were her own family. She wanted to prove to Thompson that he wasn't the only one with good acting skills.

"He is so strict in class though! Please ask him to get me a retest," she pleaded playfully.

"Give her a chance, dad," his son placed a request to him, for me.

"Yeah! I can absolutely relate with you. We are on the same boat sister!" his daughter said. Ruby literally laughed.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do," he finally succumbed to the pressure, or he acted.

Thompson's wife and daughter had left for the kitchen for a second, and Ruby couldn't find Thompson. That's when his son came to Ruby.

"Have you seen our greenhouse? It's very beautiful," he said.

"I have. It is very beautiful," she said, her eyes wandering.

"I had gotten him a few new plants last summer." Ruby nodded impatiently. He continued, "Like this Jasmine plant with the strongest smell. You might have gotten a whiff of it while walking in. And then there is Oleander with these pink flowers that are extremely beautiful, but the plant is very poisonous. And then there is-"

"Excuse me but I have to go to the bathroom," Ruby interjected him and escaped from him. It was obvious that the little one had developed a liking to her, just like his father.

Ruby was leaving the bathroom. Making sure that no one was watching, Thompson managed to pull her into the nearby bedroom.

"What do you want?" He questioned her, his face bubbling with anger.

"This isn't how you usually bring me to your bedroom. You forgot to drug me Professor," Ruby said calmly.

"What do you want?" He repeated.

Turning absolutely serious, Ruby answered, "I want the pictures you have. All of them. I want you to stop blackmailing me and leave me alone. If not I'll create a scene. I'll tell them the truth."

"Tell them what truth?"

"About what a pedophilic psycopath you are! About how you lured me here in their absence, how you drugged me, took advantage of me and have been blackmailing me over the past few days. And to think you have a daughter my age!"

"Fine. Now leave," he hissed.

Ruby breathed. She said, "Calm down professor. I don't think your family would have ever seen you like this."

Ruby immediately said her goodbyes and left the house. A few minutes after she had left, her phone buzzed. Thompson had texted her:

I'm glad you came today. My family seemed to love you. However, about what you requested, I won't be giving you. Don't be disheartened. I hope we can continue our friendship in the future as well.

'Continue our friendship.'

The words made her feel revolted, literally. She ran to the trees by the side of the path and vomited water.

Ruby felt deceived. Defeated. Of course he wouldn't succumb to her demands. She felt stupid and cursed herself for not recording their conversation. She cursed herself for not carrying her phone with her at all times.

She couldn't think straight anymore. She could see no other option infront of her. Instead of leaving to her car, she walked back to his land..