All Your Summers | Hange Zoe

Chapter 2 - Far From Prying Eyes

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J

Flipping through my class schedules, I ransacked my mind for a memory of Hange's name in my list of professors. I only agreed to attend five classes- I could not have possibly missed her name and not remember I saw it the first time I heard it. And there it was- Titan Science, Professor Zoe, H.

Zoe- that's her last name.

"You all may take your seats." Hange began from the center of the classroom, a welcoming visage about her face. Everyone retreated to their seats as I sank myself in mine, wanting for the ground to just come alive and devour me. I flirted with my professor! I could not comprehend the nerve of me!

"I suppose we should begin by getting to know each other," The professor began.

My heart began to race as I tried my best not to catch her sights. But I was the one having trouble preventing my eyes from anchoring to where she was- dressed not in her scout uniform, but a more laid-back attire. Her white sleeves were folded almost to her elbows, her mauve slacks accentuating her height. She held her class record with one hand, the sight of her slender fingers reminding me of how they felt when she assisted me up my horse the week before.

Hange gave us a roll call, as I shook my mind back to present, my panicked gaze trained to my book. How dare she not inform me that she was instructing for the summer? She had all the moments to say that the minute I had disclosed that I was a student of the Academy. I was both seething in annoyance and impending sheepishness, anticipating her to call my name and be utterly surprised as well.

"Philip Richter."

"Present, Professor."

"Devon Reese."

"Present, Professor."

"Juliana Rosenberg."

"Present-" I hesitated, the frenzy in my voice an alien tone for everyone in the room. I received a few confused glances but all that mattered to me right then was Hange's, as she looked to me from far across the room. "-Professor."

She nodded, as if I was just another student. Which made me flush all the more, I could imagine myself turning red.

I did not know how I was to survive that whole hour with her in the room- it was too excruciating to imagine how I had conversed so freely around her a few days before and realize now that she was not just a Corporal, she was also a professor- let alone my professor. I feared this could signal the end of our friendship as I would not endanger neither her reputation nor mine with even just the idea that she had a partiality to me.

At the end of the unendurable session, my classmates had filed out of the room in their own pace. Hange had collected our papers for that day's pre-assessment, and I was waiting for her to leave before I did. I trained my stare at her, willing her to just go. Just go now, so I could leave, please? Perhaps I should leave before she did, before the room was devoid of another student. I don't know!

Eventually it was too late for me to have weight in either decisions. The classroom had not a single soul except for mine and hers and I was annoyed at my indecisiveness. I should have left and not waited for her to leave, now I have us trapped inside this situation that would be insufferable for us to escape from.

I made a motion to stand up and gather my remaining things, when she spoke up.

"Didn't you say you wanted to get me alone, Miss Rosenberg?"