Just Kiss Him Instead

There was a mixture of alcohol and adrenaline coursing through her veins. There was just enough in her body to blame her actions on it. She closed her eyes and waited for Ladislas to do as he pleased.

Yes, it was a bad decision fueled by her weakened brain.

"Miss Dunn?" he said. That damned voice in the darkness. It was so easy for her to give in and believe everything she had seen in her dream, to believe that this sharp-witted, dangerous man was attracted to her. She shook herself out of her thoughts.

With great effort, Anna lifted her gaze. He remained still near her, his hands casually holding on to her like they were not practically strangers.

"Yes?"

A small part of her mind advised her to go up on her tiptoes and kiss him instead of waiting for a response.

"You can let me go, Miss Dunn. The driver probably picked up the next passenger already," he chuckled.

It took a second for shame to overtake everything else. She shrugged out of his hold, jumping backward and sucking in the fresh air. He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked at her with a slight smile, eyebrow raised. There was a tiny flush still running down her neck and on her cheek, but her eyes were bright and clear.

"Apologies, Professor," she said formally. Her acting was top-notch, considering her recent state of mind. Her tone was as calm and light as could be.

"Don't be. I only kiss women who actually want me."

She smiled. "As everyone should," she spoke as she reached into her bag and pulled out her keys. Finally, she turned to walk up the little steps to the door of her apartment building.

The words she had spoken registered in his brain and suddenly he felt beyond offended. He revisited how she missed a beat before she spoke, unlike her usual self. Like she was accusing him of something that he couldn't understand. But as she swished her short hair and walked past him, he realized that he had nothing to say to her. Beyond seeing her as an interesting student, there was not much to her anymore. Spending time with her had desensitized him thoroughly.

But with her back to him, as she walked up the stairs. He found himself wanting to sprint after her and ask her what she meant. It churned in his stomach like a hot poker digging out his guts.

His brain was fully functioning as he took one step and step another. She was at the top stair when he made his way up to clutch at her wrist, but her phone rang indecently close to when his fingers were a few inches from her skin.

She looked at it, not in the least startled, and pulled out her phone from her pocket. He saw the flash of 'Mom' on the screen and his brows shot up.

She had never spoken of her parents before and he had never pried.

Before she held the phone to her ears, she paused for the fraction of a second.

"Mm… How has your day been?" she asked flippantly. How very casual, like she had a wonderful relationship with her family. The pauses she took in the conversation were just right… but there was no voice from the other end.

It was all a show.

Ladislas remained frozen at his spot and slowly turned around and walked down the stairs. He waited until he heard the door to her apartment open and then walked down the stairs.

- - - - -

In the confines of her room, Anna settled into the work table and looked at the call she had received from the number she knew. The flip phone was still working but it was on a time limit.

She opened her message and had to bite her lip when she read it.

[Leave tomorrow. Plane tickets booked. Be on standby for the next assignment.]

That was the end of it. The tone of the message told her that there was no delaying it. She had to leave tomorrow. There was only one thing left to do. Pull out of the university and take care of her cellphone. She would be ready to leave after that.

That night, she got no sleep. She scribbled on a piece of paper until the internal mechanisms of an airplane formed. The sun filtered through the cracks of the tightly shut windows and she looked in its direction. For the first time, she opened those windows without reserve. It didn't matter any longer.

Equipped with all her identity cards and other objects, she made her way to the university the minute she knew administrative work would start.

There were little to no people at the university and she was glad for it. She walked right into the administration department.

"I want to withdraw my candidacy," she told the man behind the counter. The man looked up and frowned. "It's just the end of your first year, you're already giving up?" he asked, looking like he was judging her.

She didn't mind him. "Here is my admission slip and proof of payment every semester," she told him, slipping the paperwork in.

"Do you have your grade cards ready?" the other asked, understanding that the student didn't want to talk to him unnecessarily.

She nodded and slid them to him as well.

The man looked stunned as he looked over the papers. "You have almost finished six semesters, why are you dropping out?"

Anna looked at him dispassionately. "Do I need to give a reason?" she inquired.

"You also have good attendance and excellent grades. Have you received counseling from your professors or informed them about your decision?"

This was the last attempt of the man to convince her to stay.

"My priorities in life have changed."

The man sucked in a breath. "If this is about being unable to pay for living expenses, we have programs to support students!" He shot out of the chair and went to retrieve papers for the same. Anna shook her head when he tried to hand it to her.

"There is no need. I am decided. Please process it quickly."