Unspoken Love

Intrigue

Sir Steven ended the call with Peter without saying anything more and turned his attention back to Eva. He inquired, 'Eva, will it be okay for you to take the test in the evening? I can conclude the lecture early today, and then you can start with your test.'

Eva agreed, saying, 'Yes, Sir, it is fine by me.'

'I'm sorry you had to come early, though. I'll see you at one, then,' Sir Steven said, before rushing out of the class to continue his lecture with the undergraduates.

Eva watched him leave and decided to head to the library instead of staying in the classroom.

Half an hour later, Sir Steven sent a message to Peter, informing him that the class would end half an hour early today without specifying a reason.

Peter, in turn, relayed this information to Nora, Sylvia, and Jordan in their private group chat, along with all the details of what had transpired.

Nora expressed, 'Even fate seems to be giving them a chance to be together.'

Jordan added, 'I hope Sir doesn't ask any of us to stay behind as well.'

Sylvia, however, remained silent throughout their conversation, determined to confirm if the speculations were indeed true or not. She was prepared to take significant steps to ensure the situation didn't develop further if their suspicions turned out to be accurate. Her ambition and competitive nature made her relentless in safeguarding her academic environment.

Before the lecture started, Eva took a moment to call her mom and inform her that she would be running late. During the lecture, she maintained a fixed gaze on her notes, revising her material repeatedly. Notably, Sir Steven refrained from involving Eva in class discussions, allowing her to concentrate on her upcoming test. Eva occasionally answered a few questions to redirect her attention away from the looming test.

Sir Steven did not allocate much time for a break that day since the lecture was set to end early. Around half-past three, as the class came to a close, everyone began packing their belongings. However, Eva remained seated in her place, and so did Sir Steven.

Peter and Nora, with bright smiles on their faces, wished Eva good luck with her test and were the last to leave the room. This left Eva and Sir Steven alone in an atmosphere of silence. Sir Steven took notes on the lecture that had just concluded, while Eva quietly studied her own notes.

After approximately five minutes of this silence, Sir Steven, in a polite tone, finally broke the quiet by addressing Eva, 'Do you need a break, or should we start with the test?'

Eva, her eyes on her notes, responded, 'Let's start with the test, Sir.' She closed her notes, which she hadn't been reading anyway, as her attention was mostly occupied with the thought of being alone with Sir Steven. His presence made her feel self-conscious about every action.

Sir Steven also felt the unease in the air. The silence between them was visible. There was nothing explicitly acknowledged between them, yet there was something that seemed to be bothering both. He retrieved the question paper from his folder and extended it towards Eva for her to take. Eva reached for the paper from the other end, her hands trembling slightly, a sensation that Sir Steven also noticed. 

As Eva commenced her test, Sir Steven also began the task of marking the assignments from his undergraduate class. The classroom was filled with the subtle sounds of pens scribbling on paper, the steady ticking of the clock, and the occasional rustle of papers being turned over.

Meanwhile, Peter and Nora remained on the university premises and decided to quietly approach the classroom to get a glimpse of the atmosphere inside. They approached the door, which was left slightly ajar, and carefully peeked in, observing the scene of complete silence with the two figures, Eva and Sir Steven, seated in their respective positions, doing their own work.

'They are so boring,' Nora whispered in Peter's ear and they went on their way to go home. 

Dusk had already settled in, and the night was approaching rapidly as Eva continued working on her test. She would occasionally lift her head from the exam paper to stretch her neck and ease her tired arms. The test wasn't exceedingly difficult, but its length made it quite demanding.

Sir Steven also found himself stealing glances at Eva from time to time. Each time he looked at her, he noticed that her eyes were partially covered by that same unruly strand of hair, a reminder of the first time he had seen Eva. Back then, he had been tempted to move the strand of hair away from her face to get a better look at her.

As the thought crossed his mind once again, Sir Steven shook his head slightly to dismiss these inappropriate feelings and returned his focus to the assignments he was marking.

Breaking the silence for the first time, Sir Steven spoke gently, 'Half an hour is left, Eva.'

Eva, glancing at the clock, responded, 'Yes, Sir,' before returning her attention to her test.

A few more minutes passed, and then Sir Steven's phone began to ring. It was his brother calling. Ending the call, he sent a quick message to his brother, letting him know that he would call back later. As he was placing his phone back on the table, his pen accidentally slipped from his hand and rolled towards Eva's bag on the floor. He noticed it out of the corner of his eye but decided to retrieve it later. Eva also heard the pen fall but was unsure of where it had landed, so she continued to focus on her test, determined to make the most of the remaining time.

As the clock struck five, Eva completed her test, giving it one final look. Sir Steven also looked up from his assignments and inquired, 'Are you done? The time is almost up.'

Eva, her voice subdued, responded, 'Yes, Sir, I am done,' and folded the paper, handing it to Sir Steven.

Remaining seated, Eva took a moment to check her phone. Her father had sent her a message, inquiring about her return time. She quickly replied to him and placed her phone on the table, then picked up her bag. Simultaneously, Sir Steven began packing his belongings.

With Eva's bag no longer on the floor, Sir Steven had a clearer view of his pen, which had rolled in her direction. He bent down to retrieve it just as Eva spotted the pen as well and stretched her hand out to pick it up. Their hands collided once again, but this time it was more than a mere brush. As they both grasped the slim pen, Eva's fingers entwined around  Sir Steven's fingers since he had reached the pen first.

They both straightened up at the same time, their eyes locking in a silent but intense gaze. The electric sensation coursed through both of them as they felt the touch of each other's hands. Sir Steven's heart raced as he waited for Eva to release the pen, not wanting to appear impolite by pulling his hand away. Eva, on the other hand, seemed to be in a trance, her gaze and her hand on Sir Steven, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. Their connection remained unspoken yet undeniably powerful.

Eva's realization that Sir Steven's touch had triggered butterflies in her stomach and a considerably fast heartbeat, yet it didn't feel uncomfortable, intrigued her. His fingers were warm, and his skin felt soft beneath her touch.

Sir Steven, taking the lead, spoke in a low voice, 'Thank you, Eva, and sorry about that.'

Eva abruptly let go of his hand, snapping out of her thoughts, and quickly replied, 'I'm so sorry, Sir. I didn't see you there.'

Sir Steven, with a friendly smile, assured her, 'No worries.' He turned towards his bag, allowing Eva to regain her composure, as her face had turned a rosy shade of red from the embarrassment of the unexpected physical contact. 

As Eva continued to pack her bag with her trembling hands, Sir Steven turned to her and kindly remarked, 'Drive safely. See you on Monday.' Eva looked at him. He offered her a warm smile before exiting the classroom. Eva couldn't help but notice that Sir Steven's ears and cheeks were similarly flushed, mirroring her own reaction to the unexpected encounter.