Eclipsed

Chapter 4

It has been two weeks now since Aidan has been teaching us. I was impressed by his intellect and how extensive his knowledge in business law is. Unlike other professors, he does not just promote theoretical learning. He uses real-life examples to support his lessons and encourages us to learn about how to apply theories in practice. He still has a rigid demeanour which I suspected was for the students to respect him and take him seriously. 

He still walks me to my classes which I think is the best part of my day. While he gets flirtatious gazes, I get contemptuous stares. Girls and gays swoon all over him in class and across the campus. I try not to notice them and instead focus on the man beside me. My cheeks heat up whenever he puts his hand on my back and guides us forward. My breath hitches whenever he not so subtly brushes his cold fingers against my warm ones. We try to talk as much as we can in those short walks, yet sometimes we just tread comfortably in silence. I learnt that his parents own an auditing firm where he works as a financial analyst. He also has a masters degree and a doctorate in financial economics. Being an alumnus here, he could not refuse the offer to substitute for Professor McGuire when the latter recommended him. He told me he hates to talk about his academic qualifications which were why he refused to share that with the class. He has been living here since his birth and though he has visited many countries, Maine remains his favourite place. 

However, I soon noticed that he is not as amiable with everyone else as much as he is with me. His stares directed at the class are always hard and cold, yet when they clash with my eyes they turn soft and warm and I burn under his gaze. Jake and I no longer sit together in his class as he made him move, much to my surprise. Tasha keeps supporting her theory of Aidan liking me with different examples. I had long shut her out, reiterating that I will believe it when Aidan himself will tell me. 

Tasha, Jake and I became closer over these last few weeks. We learnt about each other, though I did not tell any of them why my mother and I moved to Maine. Jake was born and brought up in the UK and chose to study here as his sister is settled here. Tasha has been a resident here since birth. It was a perfect fit. Jake was ambivert. It was like he took Tasha and I under his wings. We never felt uncomfortable around him. We even have had several movies marathons, ensued by very serious discussions whether Marvel was better or DC, or which Harry Potter movie was the most impactful, with Tasha and I winning because we both had read all the books. 

I finally had those people that you call friends. 

I am pulled out of my thoughts as Jakes approaches me and ruffles my hair.

"Yo. What's up?" He grins mischievously.

"I told you to stop doing that. You never let me have a good hair day." I groan in annoyance.

"Why? So that Mr Smoxy Valtoran can find you pretty?" Jake says in a sing-song tone.

My eyes widen in embarrassment. 

"W-Wh-What are you talking about? And what's smoxy?" I stammer.

"Aww. Have I made you uncomfortable?" He coos and pinches my cheeks. 

"Stop. What's smoxy?" I asked, rubbing my cheeks. 

"Smoxy is short for smoking hot and sexy. I picked it up from my new group of friends at the back of the class where your professor so ceremoniously put me." He sneers. 

"Well- maybe you were disturbing him." I try to defend Aidan, in vain.

"Goodness! Look at that! You're actually defending him!" He retorts.

"I'm not!" I gape.

"Potaeto, potato." He rolls his eyes playfully.

"Okay, listen up. Umm- I don't know what's going on between you and Valtoran, but I need to tell you something." He is hesitant.