The Art of Attraction

Chapter 1: First Encounter

The first day of his final year at the Art University was meant to be ordinary, Yok was just relieved that he was finally almost done with school. He strolled through the bustling campus, his leather jacket slung casually over one shoulder, revealing a black tank top that showcased his well-toned arms and the intricate tattoos that adorned them. His presence commanded attention, with whispers trailing behind him from admirers of both genders. But Yok had long grown accustomed to the admiration a long time. Despite his reluctance, he was one of the most popular university students, together with his equally good-looking friends Sean, Black, and Gram who were in a different department than him. Even though he never lacked the attention, his heart remained untouched since his bitter breakup with Dan three years ago.

Entering the art studio just in time as the school bell rang, Yok's eyes immediately fell upon a figure standing by the easel at the front of the room. Yok did a double, triple, and many more take to make sure he wasn't just seeing things.

At 175 cm, Ayan possessed a boyish charm that was both captivating and endearing. His mysterious crescent-shaped eyes, accentuated by his stylish glasses, held a subtle warmth that tempered his otherwise serious demeanor. This intellectual allure was a magnet for attention, drawing the students' attention, but the quiet confidence he exuded truly set him apart.

Ayan's presence in the classroom was commanding, yet approachable. His full, kissable lips added to his magnetic appeal, Yok was zoning out as he was hyperfocused on the young academe. The way he carried himself—with an air of understated authority and genuine passion for teaching—had immediately arrested Yok's attention.

His hair neatly styled, framed a face that was unrealistically handsome yet still approachable. The glasses perched on his nose only amplified his allure, adding an element of sophistication to his boyish looks. Ayan's magnetism was undeniable, particularly to the gushing girls in his class who are drawn to his combination of charm, intellect, and subtle warmth.

As Ayan began introducing himself to the class, Yok couldn't tear his gaze away. Everything about the young professor has enchanted Yok, his brain almost short-circuiting with all the unwanted thoughts he immediately had of his hot, new teacher. The more Ayan spoke, the more captivated Yok became.

Then an unbidden memory surfaced: flickering neon lights, a disheveled boy hunched over the bar, those familiar crescent-shaped eyes dark with pain and lost in misery. The clinking of glasses, the laughter, and the way he had engaged with the lively boy about their shared passion for art culminated in the most passionate night Yok had ever experienced. That boy, unforgettable from their one-night stand a year ago, was now his professor. A smirk curved across Yok's lips. It seemed destiny had a way of reuniting people, even when they least expected it.

After class, Yok lingered, pretending to focus on his sketchbook. As the room emptied, he buzzed with anticipation. When Ayan finally approached him, albeit reluctantly, Yok's heart pounded with a familiar excitement he hadn't felt in years.

"Hi, do you need some help there?" Ayan's voice was smooth, like the soothing flow of water.

Yok looked up instantly, his bright smile and innocent gleam in his eyes radiating a confidence that usually made his advances irresistible. "Hi, Professor Ayan. I was hoping you could give me some advice on my sketch. I'm hitting a dead end here."

Ayan's gaze lingered on his handsome student, distracted by those large eyes that seemed too innocent to be entirely genuine, and that dimpled smile brighter than the sun. Ayan realized he hadn't noticed anyone else for so long having been so focused on Akk and his studies for years.

He maintained a polite but reserved demeanor. "Yes, of course. And you are?"

"Yok," he replied, flashing a smile that had charmed many. "I was impressed by your introduction. Your passion for art is... inspiring."

For some reason, Ayan detected a hint of familiarity in the way Yok addressed him. Flashes of a long-forgotten memory began to resurface: a drunken night, dizzying lights, and the deafening sounds of the bar where he had tried to drown his misery. The tall, handsome stranger who had approached him, the laughter they shared, and the night he thought he had forgotten. As he looked up, he saw the familiar grin and dimples he had kissed that night. The memory of those pouty lips kissing every inch of his body and the large hands that had caressed him still sent shivers down his spine.

Ayan was floored to remember that night a year ago and to realize that the boy in front of him, now his student, was the same boy he spent the night having passionate sex with. To Ayan's further dismay, the innocent grin on his face assures Ayan that he too remembers that night and him.

Striving to maintain his professional distance, Ayan nodded, "Thank you, Yok. I hope to impart some of that passion to all my students this year. Let me see..."

As Ayan offered his insights on Yok's sketch, the art student admired how perceptive he was, despite being only a few years older. Ayan's soft, soothing voice was both attractive and comforting to Yok.

Despite Yok's attempts to flirt, Ayan seemed oblivious—or perhaps deliberately ignoring—his advances. The student found it hard to believe the professor was genuinely unaware, suspecting instead that Ayan was intentionally feigning ignorance of their shared past.

Yok felt a spark of determination ignites within him. Ayan's resistance only fueled his interest. He resolved then and there to pursue the captivating professor, no matter the obstacles.