Lost In You

Chapter 5 - One Night Stand

⚠️ WARNING FROM MEOWINGHAM : NOT SAFE FOR WORK. EXPLICIT SCENES COMING.

Neung

After that afternoon, Aneung and I never spoke of it again. We would pass each other in the corridors, but the air between us remained formal, a silent understanding of our roles as professor and student. It was as if the kiss had never happened, though the memory of it lingered at the edges of my thoughts, persistent and unsettling.

I often found myself returning to that moment, replaying it in my mind—the way Aneung, bold and unexpected, had leaned in and kissed my cheek. It was startling, not just because of the act itself, but because no one had ever dared to approach me in that way before. I was M.L. Sippakorn, after all. People kept their distance unless they were family or trusted friends. But she, this petite, audacious woman, had done it without hesitation.

Today was Friday, and my lecture had ended early, leaving me with a rare free afternoon. I returned to my office, sinking into the chair with a sigh of relief that the week was over. I had been purposefully keeping myself occupied, diving into work to avoid thinking too much—especially about that day.

I glanced toward the couch, its emptiness drawing my gaze as if it were an unwelcome reminder. Two days ago, she had been there, standing so close, and I still couldn't shake the feeling it left behind.

Neung's Flashback

"I'll, uh, see you in class," she stammered, her voice trembling in a way that was so unlike her usual boldness. Then, before I could even process what had just happened, Aneung dashed out of my office, the door slamming shut behind her with a resounding bang. I was left alone, my thoughts spinning, my heart racing.

I collapsed back onto the sofa, trying to steady myself, but my heart had other plans. It was pounding—no, it was fluttering—as if it were struggling to make sense of the chaos inside me. I pressed my fingers lightly to my cheek, the warmth from her lips still burning into my skin. The simple, fleeting kiss had sent my entire body into disarray.

"What was that?" I murmured aloud, my voice echoing in the silence of the room. There was no answer, just the quiet ticking of the clock, indifferent to the storm raging in my chest.

I leaned back, closing my eyes, willing my heartbeat to settle, but the more I tried to calm down, the more my mind returned to her – Aneung. The petite, daring, completely unpredictable woman. 

Why her? Why now? 

My heart had never skipped a beat for anyone before, not for anyone I'd ever encountered in my professional life, nor for those I'd known personally. I was M.L. Sippakorn—aloof, composed, untouchable. No one had ever gotten this close, no one dared.

So why did this small act, this seemingly innocent gesture from Aneung, make me feel so off-balance? Why did my heart react in ways it never had before?

I tried to reason with myself. It was just a kiss on the cheek, nothing more. Yet, the way her lips had brushed against my skin, the gentle warmth of it—it felt like more. Was it a joke? A moment of impulse? Or... did it mean something else? Something I wasn't prepared to face.

A troubling question surfaced, one that sent a deeper wave of confusion through me. Does this mean I'm interested in her? The thought was almost absurd. It had never crossed my mind before. I was her professor, her superior. This dynamic was simple—clear-cut, untouchable.

But now, nothing feels simple anymore. I couldn't deny the way my heart had reacted, the way something had stirred within me the moment she stepped in so close, so unexpectedly. And what unsettled me the most was the possibility that, deep down, I didn't mind it.