Frederick once told me, “If you didn’t chase me so hard, maybe I would’ve noticed you.” So I turned my attention to the cold, untouchable Marques. At first, it was all an act. But little by little… the fake feelings became real. Then one day, Frederick dragged me out of the lab. “Once you stopped chasing me,” “I started paying attention to you,” “And before I knew it… I fell in love with you.” I was still wondering how to reject him— when Frederick suddenly froze. “Marc… you’re here?” My breath caught as I turned around. Marques stood nearby, holding a coffee mug with effortless elegance. He looked between us with amused interest. “Frederick,” he said lazily, “Didn’t she tell you? She’s been chasing me lately.” Chapter 1 To make Frederick Passmore think I was over him, I pretended to be staring at the hot, stoic professor at the podium. I immediately grabbed my phone and sent an anonymous text. "Hey, professor, you look quite tanned. Does the rest of your body match the color?" Marques Goodman picked up his phone and took a glance. Then he placed it back down, unfazed. I raised an eyebrow. A pro, huh? Not even a reaction to that? So, I sent another text. "I'm pretty sure you're gonna make me scream your name once you're inside me." This time, I finally saw him frown as I had wished. Not surprisingly, Marques blocked me. His face twisted with disgust, but it vanished as quickly as it came. With a calm expression, he announced to the class, "There's a new research project that requires an undergraduate participant. Any volunteer?" In a heartbeat, the class fell silent as the grave. Those girls who had a crush on Marques all kept their heads down, afraid of being picked. It was known to all that Professor Goodman from the Department of Biology was the most attractive person on campus. He was also, without a doubt, the strictest professor among the faculty. For three years, Marques had run dozens of experiments. But to this day, not a single student had ever left his lab with a smile. The awkward silence stretched on for three full minutes. Still, nobody dared to raise their hand. Marques was not surprised in the least. He pulled out the class list and decided to pick one at random. Just as he was about to call Penelope Stewart, I put my hand up. "Professor Goodman, I volunteer!" All at once, everyone's gaze stayed fixed on me. Their eyes overflowed with undisguised admiration for the "brave hero". Marques glanced up at me, then closed the class list. In a calm voice, he asked, "What's your name?" I smiled radiantly, "Katherine Hart. Katherine with a 'K'. Heart without the 'E'. "Professor Goodman, I'm looking forward to your guidance." Chapter 2 On the way back to the dorm, Penelope chattered beside me. "Katie, you're so weird today! "Since when did you start volunteering for Professor Goodman's projects? Don't you always hate doing experiments?" I came up with an easy excuse. "I need the credits. This will fill the gap." "But Professor Goodman is so strict. I doubt you'll have any time left to woo Frederick." Frederick was a rich graduate student in the same department as me. He liked Penelope. But I liked him. One day, a friend of mine said to me, "Funny thing about attraction—the minute you act like you're over him and start seeing someone else, that's when he suddenly gets interested." So, I decided to make the strictest professor fall head over heels for me. While sending messages, I replied, "Frederick is out of my league. I'm tired, and I'm giving up." Penelope widened her eyes in shock. After making sure I wasn't joking, she murmured, "OK." Then she asked curiously, "Katie, why do you keep looking at your phone today? And why is your smile... so creepy?" I said, "Just messing around with my digital pet. It's quite fun." "Digital pet? Is that a game?" "Well... sort of." Marques had already blocked two of my accounts. So, I created my third account to keep harassing him. "Professor, there's no point in blocking me. I'll just keep finding my way back and texting you. "Hot D, Professor! You look so sexy today. You're busting out of your shirt! Your pecs are huge! I wanna lick it so badly. "Professor, your hands are also pretty. Do you wanna touch me with them? "Professor..." Each message was marked "read", but not once did he reply. A laugh escaped me. I would love to see the look on Marques' face right now. He probably didn't expect me to latch onto him. I never stopped texting him. I thought Marques wouldn't reply. Just as I was about to tuck my phone into my bag, a message popped up. "Don't let me catch you, or I'll make you wish you were dead." I gave a crooked smirk, completely unfazed. Catch me? Not a chance. I guffawed. Chapter 3 The next morning, I set off for the lab to report in. Penelope suddenly said, "Let's go together. I really want that scholarship, so I asked Professor Goodman to count me in." My heart lurched. No! To keep her away from Marques, I sacrificed my precious sleep time to slave away in the lab. Why was she coming, too? A mix of confusion and dread twisted in my gut. Not until I saw Frederick in the lab did I finally breathe a sigh of relief. Of course. Marques and Frederick were cousins. It made sense that Frederick would be part of the project. Penelope was probably here for Frederick. She had feelings for him, but with me as her roommate, she chose to keep them buried. I supposed it was my speech yesterday that gave her courage. So, Penelope decided to spend more time with Frederick and connect with him. With a smile, I encouraged her. "Penelope, if you like him, go for it! I'm rooting for you!" Penelope lowered her head and blushed. I was about to tease her a bit when a harsh voice cut in. "Katherine? You again! Don't you ever quit? "This is a lab, not a playground for your nonsense! Even if you like me, you shouldn't chase me down here!" I rolled my eyes. I turned around to see Frederick, whose face was full of impatience. I forced down my anger and explained, "Frederick, I'm here for the credits and the scholarship, not for you!" Frederick was stunned. He quickly cast a glance at Penelope. Then in a low, serious voice, he said, "Let's hope you're not lying this time." This was the first time he had ever spoken to me! Seeing that there were only three of us in the lab, I rolled up my sleeves, put my hands on my behind, and stepped onto a stool. I declared, "I like Professor Goodman now! "You know? Looks and build-wise, you can't even hold a candle to him!" My words made Frederick's face turn ashen. Just as I was about to continue, Marques' voice came from behind. "It seems everyone is in good spirits today. Let's do two more experiments!" Chapter 4 My wonderful Saturday was squandered away in the lab. Watching Marques' broad shoulders and narrow waist, I bitterly pulled out my phone. I sent another dirty text. "Professor, can you stop looking so sexy every D time? You can step on me with those leather shoes of yours. I bet it must feel amazing! "Professor, I wish you would look at me the way you looked at the specimens. So focused, so intent!" Marques picked up his phone and glanced at the texts. Then he frowned. "Are you spying on me?" I typed at lightning speed. "Finally! You texted me back! I'm so happy! "You're right, professor! I installed a camera in the lab and in other places as well, but I can't tell you. "I'll always be watching you, professor. You're never getting rid of me!" With a crash, I heard the beaker shattering into pieces. Penelope exclaimed, "Professor Goodman! Are you alright?" I quickly tucked away my phone and walked over. I saw a cut on Marques' hand, and blood kept seeping out. The second Penelope found the rubbing alc0h0l and Band-Aid, I grabbed them away. In the blink of an eye, I cleaned and dressed Marques' wound. He meant to do it himself. But before he could say a word, I finished the whole process. Penelope was at a loss for words. So was Frederick, who hurried over but ended up doing nothing. Marques stared at the crooked Band-Aid on his hand in silence. After a while, he raised his head and said, "Thank you, Katherine!" "Don't mention it!" After all, I was the one who made you so furious that you crushed that breaker. Guilty as charged! Due to Marques' injury, the two additional experiments were cancelled. I grabbed my things and left with Penelope, as happy as a clam. When I stepped out of the building, I remembered I had left something behind, so I went back to get it. Passing the trash bin outside the lab, I saw the bloodstained Band-Aid. A smirk tugged at my 1ips as I avoided the camera and picked it up. Then I took a picture and sent it to Marques. "Professor, did you throw this away? It still smells like you. I can't get enough of it. "You know? At first, I was pretty jealous of the woman who treated your wound." After texting that, I got goosebumps all over. Was it too risqué? I shook my head. When would Frederick fall in love with me? Chapter 5 After a week of harassing Marques, all I received in reply was two curt "F off!" That was just a minor issue. Right now, there was a much more urgent matter that I needed to take care of. For the fifth time, Penelope had asked for Marques' aid with the data and used the opportunity to flirt with him. With a grim expression, I clicked my tongue. Then I elbowed Frederick at my side. According to the rule of attraction my friend told me, if Penelope managed to make Marques fall for her, wouldn't Frederick end up falling even harder? Frederick shot me a resentful look. His face was a puzzle, impossible to decipher. I sighed, my frustration building up. I never expected that, after I professed my love to Marques that day, things would take such a strange turn. The reproach in Frederick's eyes deepened each time they found mine. He and Penelope didn't get as close as I had predicted. Instead, Penelope turned her attention to Marques. It seemed my raunchy messages had made Marques more guarded around other girls. The moment Penelope leaned in, he took a step back. Not a trace of lust or desire flickered across his face. It was all strictly professional and serious. I stared at them for a long time until Frederick suddenly asked me, "Katherine, do you really like Professor Goodman?" I rolled my eyes at him. "None of your business." Frederick scoffed, "I think you said those things on purpose to get under my skin. "You're so childish, Katherine!" It worked! When I planned to walk to the side and text Marques, I heard him calling my name. "Katherine, there's something wrong with the date you submitted. "Please come to my office after lunch." Chapter 6 I knocked on Marques' office door, my heart racing. But when I saw the papers in his hand covered in red marks, I was secretly relieved. Thank goodness that it was just about the data! Five minutes later, I started zoning out. Marques truly lived up to his reputation as the strictest professor in school. He didn't say a single harsh word. But the tension in the office remained oppressive and suffocating. If I were thin-skinned, I would be mortified by these rookie mistakes. I would be so ashamed that I wished I could crawl into a hole. But unfortunately, I wasn't. Marques' lecture was like water off a duck's back. I spent the entire time staring at his mouth as it opened and closed. His 1ips were a lovely shade of pink. They looked so soft and kissable. "Professor, your 1ips are so..." I immediately cut myself off and shut my mouth in panic. Crap! That was why I couldn't get distracted! It was such a close call! I almost blurted out the dirty talk. Marques glanced up at me. "What's wrong with my 1ips?" "They're chapped!" Ingratiatingly, I poured him a glass of water. "Professor Goodman, you must be thirsty after all the talking. Have some water!" Marques fixed his gaze on me, saying nothing. A moment later, a smile slowly spread across his face. He took the water and said, "Alright. That's it for today. "Please recheck your data and submit it to me tomorrow." I pursed my 1ips and nodded obediently. After closing the door, I leaned against the wall outside. I absentmindedly rubbed the finger that Marques had just touched. His hand was cold against my skin. It also felt smooth like some polished stone. I clutched my chest as my heart thumped against my ribcage. Still frustrated, I clicked my tongue. Who would've thought this older man had such charm? Chapter 7 Those back-to-back intense experiments left me utterly drained. During a morning class, I felt so sleepy. I remembered that I hadn't completed my morning routine to harass Marques. So, I rested my head on the desk and pulled out my phone. Groggily, I copied the words from my memo and sent them to him. "Professor, I had a lovely vvet dream about you last night. I made you cry, and you begged me to stop. "But I couldn't stop. You were just so pretty when you cried." I pressed "send". Then I put away my phone and decided to take a nap. Unexpectedly, the moment I closed my eyes, my phone buzzed twice. Marques' reply came at once. "I've already seen this message three times. Are you going to send it again?" Three times? Gone was any trace of my drowsiness. I snapped fully awake. No wonder these words sounded familiar. It turned out I had sent them before! I hurriedly scrolled through my message history. Much to my shock, apart from the last one, there was another message I had sent twice before! Geez! I quickly sent my reply to salvage it. "I will. Not just four, but many, many more. "I might even make you cry in real life, too, professor! You can look forward to it." I wiped the cold sweat on my forehead. I couldn't help but give myself a pat on the back for my cleverness. When I thought Marques wouldn't respond, another message arrived. "Surprise me then!" For some reason, those three words sent a chill down my spine. Did he actually find out something? Just as I was up the creek, someone decided to make things worse. Frederick sent me a message. "Katherine, we need to talk." He asked me to meet at the café by the school gate. I actually didn't want to meet him. But it was Frederick, the boy I was smitten with. I had no choice. When I saw Frederick, I cut to the chase. "What do you want?" He clutched the coffee mug, as if struggling to get the words out. After a long silence, he said, cheeks flushing, "Don't you want to be my girlfriend? I accept." I was stumped. I was discombobulated. Did he agree? Wasn't he supposed to be head over heels for Penelope? Besides, I realized I didn't like him that much! I was so nervous that I could barely hold my mug. Oblivious to my awkward reaction, Frederick continued to pour his heart out. "These days in the lab, I noticed you've changed a lot... "Before I knew it, I was drawn to you. I guess it's human nature. Once you stopped pursuing me, I wasn't used to it anymore. I started paying attention to you. "Then slowly, I fell in love..." Frederick lowered his head bashfully. Why did everything change after I joined the lab? Frederick grew attached to me, while Penelope had her world revolve around Marques. Things had gotten out of my hand! It became such a mess! I couldn't go on like this. I rolled my eyes and, with feigned surprise, I said, "That's great! You finally decided to accept me! "I said those words earlier to get your attention. I didn't believe it actually worked! So, are we officially dating now?" Blushing, Frederick nodded, like a lovestruck little boy. I touched my nose guiltily. When I was pondering how to dump him, Frederick suddenly looked over my shoulder. He exclaimed in shock, "Marc, you're here?" My breath hitched, and I whipped my head around. I saw Marques gracefully holding a coffee mug and observing us with great interest.
Not enough history yet to show a trend.