Forty comments guys 🙂
I am currently in my class but when I am done with it I better have lots of comments.

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ASAEL

I straightened the lapels of my suit jacket, carrying my laptop bag in one hand along with my phone, Airpods tucked in my ear as I talked to Elmer.

Morning classes were my favourite despite how my students hated it. I love the peace it comes with especially in a place like Aurelius where the morning sun adds to the beauty of the University.

"How's Arien?" I asked Elmer, making my way to the class.

I heard him sigh softly. "Arien is...his usual self to put mildly."

"He hasn't burned down the company yet so I will take it as a good sign."

"Yeah. He is restless but controlled although I am not sure how long his control will last."

My heart clenched on hearing about my younger cousin, I have done everything I could to help him but nothing helps. I love him and I want him to lead a normal life but that seems like a dream.

"Tell that fucker to pick up my calls or I will fly over there to kick his arse. He is ignoring me."

Elmer said amusingly, "Yes, sir. I will keep you reported. Have a good day."

"You too."

I glanced down at my phone to hang up the call and as I looked up, a blur of chestnut brown hair flashed before someone slammed hard into me and stumbled back, falling on the ground on their arse.

"Fuck." I cursed as my Airpods fell from my ears and I looked down at none other than Verena Satori lying on the ground.

She was too busy with her phone and was running to notice me, her Airpods falling next to mine as she scrunched up her nose and rubbed her back. Her lavender colour crop top rid up to expose her abdomen making me avert my eyes.

Rubbing my temples, I stared down at her. "Why the hell were you running?"

As if she only realised that it was me, her hazel eyes widened and she looked around and then down at her phone. "Isn't your class supposed to start already? I thought I was late."

I shook my head slightly in exasperation. "The class is delayed by twenty minutes. I sent an email to every student."

"Oh..." She smiled sheepishly and grabbed her Airpods from the ground, stuffing them in her pocket.

I extended my hand to her to help her get up.

Surprised she glanced between my hand and face before placing hers on mine and I wrapped my fingers around hers and started to pull her up.

"Oh my, Mr Alderidge." She dramatically placed her other palm over her heart. "I didn't know you were such a gentle--"

I didn't let her finish and released her hand making her fall back again. "What the fuck?" She hissed at me.

I bent down to grab my own Airpods and placing them back, I turned around to leave. "See you in class, Miss Satori. Try not to be late."

"Bloody arsehole!" She cursed at my back.

And a small smile touched my lips.

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Verena Satori was getting on my nerves with every passing day. The way she defied me at every point annoyed me to put it lightly.

But I would be lying if I say that I don't enjoy arguing with her, it sure is childish and petty but it gave me a different type of thrill.

She is way too confident, outspoken and considers herself a badass and not to mention her not-so-subtle flirting remarks.

AU is a prestigious institute, most of the students are well-behaved and even though I have noticed the lingering and heated looks from some female students, none of them were brave enough to talk to me in that way.

I appreciate that because I don't want any such trouble but then Verena doesn't give a fuck about anything and has no shame at all in flirting with me which is just some fucked up way according to her to get on my good side even though I know she loathes how I pick on her every time.

It was evening and as I sat in my office, I decided to give my cousin a call because apparently, he is too busy to do that.

I pulled out my Airpods so that I could talk to him on Facetime without any distractions but I frowned when I noticed something different about my Airpods.

Upon inspecting it, I concluded that these were not mine. This morning when they fell along with Verena's, they must have got mixed up or maybe she did it on purpose just to mess with me.

I put them aside with a heavy sigh and thought of informing her.

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]

Subject: Our Airpods have been exchanged.

Referring to the subject, I would suggest you return my belongings at the earliest at my office.

Her reply came within two minutes.

'Add a please and I might. And maybe you did it on purpose because you wanted to see me again. I see that you are starting to like me, Mr Alderidge ;)'

I rubbed my forehead. She has the guts to say all this.

I replied. 'You were the one to pick it up first so I will say maybe you did this on purpose. So, return it immediately.'

'Hmm, maybe you are right, I was missing you after all. After seeing your face I am pretty sure I will have a good sleep, iykyk.'

I had no idea what that abbreviation meant but if she wrote it then it must be something weird only.

There was no other way so I emailed back. 'Whatever you want to believe. I just need my Airpods back.'

'Kk!! I'll be there soon, muah!'

I removed my spectacles and rubbed my eyes, she is something else entirely. Her friend, Zahria is much more silent, how they became friends is beyond my understanding.

Pushing away all her thoughts, I Facetimed Arien.

He picked up on the fifth ring, his face coming into view, forehead glistening with sweat and his t-shirt was damp with it too and he breathed heavily.

For a second I thought he was in the gym but then I heard the clear sounds of skin slapping against skin and a loud feminine moan.

"What the fuck, Arien?!" I seethed.

He stared at me blankly. "I was told to pick up your calls under any circumstances."

"Jesus, you are fucking crazy!" I hung up the call before I could be traumatised more.

I went back to work and five minutes later, he called me back.

He was lying on the bed, still clothed with his hand under his head. "What?" I said sharply. "Finished already?"

He regarded me with a bored look and his eyes empty as usual with all those demons lurking inside them. "Why did you call?"

He knew why I called him. I call him every day since I am not there with him. "What did you have for dinner?"

"Pussy?"

I groaned. "Be glad I am not there to beat the shit out of you. Now answer me properly. What did you have for dinner?"

He averted his eyes which he always does when he is about to lie to me. "You don't have any other work than to pester me?"

"Arien," I warned. "You are not taking care of yourself, are you? Do you want me to appoint Elmer in your house so he could force food down your throat?"

"Elmer is my right hand, not yours. And no, I don't need him in my personal space."

"Then go and fucking eat some proper food and you will send me a picture of you eating it."

He flipped me off and hung up the call.

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Verena stood in my office with a shit-eating grin on her face as she looked around.

"My Airpods?" I questioned, holding out my hand.

Her eyes came to rest on the bookshelf behind my desk and she walked over to it. "Just a second."

I rotated my chair to face her as she stared at the two photo frames on the shelf. One of the pictures was of Arien and me ten years back and the other was a recent one where Mom and Dad sat on the couch with Arien and me standing at the back.

She turned to me after inspecting the pictures. "No picture of your dear wife?"

I stood up slowly, towering over her and leaned my shoulder against the shelf. "I won't be answering any unnecessary questions. Return my Airpods and leave."

"I am trying to be better, I am talking to you nicely these days, aren't I? But you are so rude, Mr Alderidge."

I leaned closer making her shift back and I placed my arms on either side of her, trapping her in. "You are flirting with me, not being nice. I could get you reported you know." My voice was low and scary.

She looked nervous so I stepped back, giving her space and sat back down on my chair, watching her closely.

Clearing her throat, she pulled out my Airpods from her pockets and placed them on my desk and I returned hers.

I thought that I scared her and she might leave but she had other plans. "So...I was wondering--"

I cut her off sharply. "You know what I am wondering? That when you will leave me alone."

She placed her palms on the edge of the desk, leaning forwards, her lips curving up. "You and I both know that you are enjoying my presence."

"I am not. Get out."

She pouted, drawing my eyes to her pink, plum lips but I forced my eyes up to meet hers. "Back to what I was saying. You say that you are married but there are no pictures of your wife available on the internet no one knows that you are married, isn't that weird?"

"I like to keep my personal life very very private, Miss Satori. And I would suggest that you stop stalking me and pay attention to your studies."

"Whatever weird fixation or crush you have on me, let go of it," I added. "I am a married man and way too old for you."

She cocked her head. "How old are you anyway? I forgot to look at your age..."

I can't believe she is openly admitting to stalking me. Leaning back in my chair, I fixed her with a cold look. She won't leave until I tell her so I spoke, "Thirty-five."

"Oh..." Her brows furrowed in concentration as she seemed to be doing a mental calculation but after a few seconds, she looked even more confused and looked at me sheepishly. "How much is thirty-five minus twenty-two?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Thirteen. That's simple mathematics."

She shrugged. "Maths is stupid. Anyways, thirteen years is not a huge age gap--"

"Verena", I growled lowly, her name slipping out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

Her face lit up. "Oh, are we on a first-name basis now? Does that mean I can call you Asael?"

I threw my head back and let out a groan. "No. You will not address me by my first name, is that clear?"

"How about sir then?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

I stood up abruptly making her stumble back. "Leave."

"Fine, I am going." She rolled her eyes.

Then she paused and leaned over the desk and pointed at me. "I promise you, sir, at the end of this year..." Her index finger brushed over my chest. "...I am going to be your favourite student."

"Is that so?"

Grinning, she moved back. "Yup."

"We will see."

"Okay, we will see." Then she blew me a kiss and left.