who's that?

I sprinted through the corridors as I hustles to my classroom, I was late, as always. I didn't sleep last night, too caught up in writing my mind off into a paper to weaken my distress. my mind was not staying calm as I want it to be, wandering around places I don't wish to, causing me to stay up all night. it was too into the night when I finally fell asleep.

my feet halted at the entrance of the classroom, eyes strolling over the students that are already gathered. I let out a quiet

"Professor?"

the teacher's gaze falls upon me with the students.

"Again?"

the teacher tiredly mumbled as he surveyed

my form, his gaze strolling over every inch of my face, lingering over my eyes, I could guess he was probing the density of the dark circles under my eyes. I stood there noiseless.

"Come in." said the professor as he used his right hand to gesture my seat to me. I entered the class after nodding lightly to the professor, as I shuffled through the room to my place. The lecture was not that interesting, yet it was useful. it went as scribbling down some notes with some chatters. In the end, when the class said thanks to the teacher, departing him, The professor gazed in my way

"Come to me when you're done with your classes," he said.

I just nodded, dumbfounded.

...

Except for the whispers of breeze, and faint noises of students goofing around, it was silence for us, the two best friends sitting beneath the tree on a bench. Philip sat beside me, whose head was thrown back to the backrest of the bench, palms of my hands resting on my eyes. Philip gazed at me when I turned my head to face his side profile, presenting his glorious face in front of my eyes. Tall and handsome with his brown eyes accompanying the same brown hair.

He's this guy you got in your uni that guys and ladies go crazy for. and for their luck, he does both.

"Huhh, I'm so fucking tired and sleepy, what the fuck?" I said in an irksome tone, groaning.

Philip let out a sigh, a sigh of relief. he has been sitting here with me, voiceless, for what felt like hours.

"then go back home, Inn, why do you have to stay here when you're totally out of it?"

I moved my body further forward to rest my hands on my knees, giving Philip a light smile, which was mirrored by him in a twinkling.

"You go and see your uncle, tell him and go home. I know he'll understand, I'll see you tomorrow," he pointed at my eyes playfully "without that dark circles."

I hoisted to my feet after whacking Philip on his shoulder, laughing lightly. God, I'm exhausted, I really wanna go home.

"See you around, Philip"

Philip waved at me before taking the way opposite mine.

...

I know the reason behind this calling, but kinda want to play it cool. I peeked through my uncle's office.

"Uncle?"

my uncle, the professor, Louis was sitting on his chair, fingers flicking through pages. I let myself in when my uncle looked up to meet my eyes. he looked around uneasily, I looked around too but there was literally no one else.

"uncle? is there anything wrong? did she phone you again?" I can feel my brows furrowing when I asked him that. I don't wanna hear about that sick person when I'm already exhausted.

"No! she didn't call me, no."

"Then what is it?"

"What made you stay up all night?" He asked instead.

I carded my fingers through my hair, I was expecting this, sighing as I said "You know it's not unusual to me, it's that my mind was not in its right state, it is not all the time. I did take the medicine, but I couldn't help but write it out."

"Please take better care of yourself, Inn. I'm worried, do you wanna come home to us? you're all alone in that house and what if—" he cut himself off, extending his hand to hold my shoulder in a reassuring tight grip. It's as if I almost took a step forward. I know he loves me and cares for me better than his sister, my mother ever did.

When the time my parents kicked me out after they got to know about the relationship I and Deik had, it was he who came forward to speak for me. He even took me to his home. I couldn't be more thankful for him than that.

"I'm trying, I'm a lot better now, don't you think? can't you see it?" I looked into his eyes, totally avoiding the suggestion he made. I can't think about leaving my home, I simply can't. And the mere thought of it made my stomach churn.

"I can and I know, And I'm proud of you my boy." at last he pulled me into his embrace, and I mirrored his gesture. It was until that moment I knew how much I needed it, to be held by someone who truly loves me. we pulled away after some time, he held my both shoulders at one arm's distance.

"I have something to tell you and I'm scared of how you'll take it."

I visibly gulped, I can feel the lump gathering around my throat. And I don't wanna know it now, whatever the shit it is I believe it can wait. 'cause all I wanna do at that moment is to go back to my home, wrap in my blanket, and have a good nap to get some stability.

"Don't, I don't wanna hear it now, by the look of it I can tell that it's not a pleasant one, is it?"

Louis hesitate before uttering a single 'no'

I pressed my lips together into a thin line, biting back the urge to take it in between my teeths. I sighed for the nth time that day.

"I'm going home."

"you are."

...

I strolled through the hallway to my pal's class, wanting to tell him I was going home. when I got there he was with a girl. maybe trying to coax her behind his closed door, maybe. But he had the mind to excuse her to come to me, a cheeky grin plastered on his stupidly handsome face.

"Does that work?" I raised an eyebrow.

"somewhat" replayed Philip sheepishly, his hand scratching his nape.

"Can't hold it in your pants, can you?"

"You know I can't, don't you?"

"More than anyone." I simply shrugged as I fished my phone from my pocket, checking the time.

" You got class now?"

" Yea, you're going home?"

I mumbled a 'yea' before slipping my phone back into my pocket.

"Did you hear about the new professor?" Philip excitedly wiggled his eyebrows.

"New professor?" I muttered perplexed, 'cause who's that? I never heard anything?

"They say he's the youngest professor this Uni ever had, and fucking gorgeous! and guess what? my next class is his, it's in like-"

Philip was cut off by the sound of footsteps. His eyes were glued on the intruder, making me turn around to look at the person, the second my eyes met with the person standing before me, it pains me as if a thousand needles are pricking at my skin. it pains me, both mentally and physically

my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, hands turning into a fist. It was as if the world was spinning, I can't stand, feels like the ground underneath me was crumbling down just like I was. my eyes are burning, head stinging with the undying flash of thousands of moments I spend with the man who's standing right in front of me.

This can't be real. This is not!