Professor doesn't preach

Confrontation

But as the night went on, she felt overwhelmed and needed a moment alone. She slipped away from the main event and headed toward the washroom to collect her thoughts.

Unbeknownst to her, the same guy who had been overly friendly earlier-Ryan-followed her, his behavior becoming more sinister as the night progressed. When Emma emerged from the washroom, Ryan cornered her, his intentions clear in the way he leaned too close, his hand gripping her wrist.

"Come on, Emma, don't be like that," he said, his voice low and insistent. "We're just having fun."

Emma's heart raced as she pulled away, but he wouldn't let go. "Please, let me go," she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

Before Ryan could say anything else, a sudden force yanked him backward. Professor Reed had appeared out of nowhere, his face twisted with fury. He slammed Ryan against the wall, his usually composed demeanor completely gone.

"Get your hands off her," Reed growled, his voice filled with a rage Emma had never seen before. He threw a punch, sending Ryan stumbling back, and Reed stood over him, breathing hard.

Emma was trembling, frozen in shock. Reed turned to her, his expression softening as he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her without hesitation. She buried her face in his chest, too scared and shaken to fully process what had happened. His embrace was protective, strong, and for the first time, she felt safe in his presence.

"I'm taking you home," he said softly, guiding her out of the building.

The ride to Emma's apartment was quiet, Reed's concern for her evident in the way he glanced at her every few moments. She was still too dazed to say much, but when they arrived at her building, he walked her to the door, making sure she was okay before leaving.

---

For the next few days, Emma tried to shake off the fear and confusion from that night, but things only got worse. A few students-known troublemakers-had seen the moment Reed hugged her and had taken photos. They began spreading rumors around campus, twisting the story into something scandalous.

"Caught hugging Professor Reed after hours, huh?" one of the girls taunted as Emma passed them in the hallway. "What were you two really up to?"

"Must be nice to get special treatment from the strictest professor," another one sneered, holding up her phone as if ready to leak the pictures. "Or do you get more than just good grades?"

Emma's heart sank. They were blackmailing her, threatening to spread the rumors across campus unless she played along with their games. Frustration and anxiety overwhelmed her. No one would believe her side of the story. The weight of their taunts and the whispers behind her back started to take its toll, pushing her into a state of depression.

She began avoiding everyone, including Professor Reed. She stopped raising her hand in class, stopped looking him in the eye, and quickly left the room after every lecture. Reed noticed immediately, growing increasingly frustrated with her cold and distant behavior.

---

The tension between Emma and Professor Reed had been growing for days. The rumors swirling around campus, the teasing from the other students, and her own frustration had pushed her into a state of exhaustion. Reed, too, had been growing more agitated with her cold behavior, and now, he had finally reached a breaking point.

Unable to tolerate her avoidance any longer, Reed called Emma to his office after class.

Emma stood outside his office, hesitating for a moment before knocking. The door swung open, and she stepped in, her expression guarded, visibly drained and distant, her usual spark replaced by a look of defeat.
Reed watched her carefully, his patience thinning.

"You called for me, sir?" she asked, her tone polite but distant.

Reed was sitting behind his desk, his gaze sharp as he looked at her. For a moment, he said nothing, simply staring at her as if trying to read her thoughts.

Finally, he spoke. "Why are you like this these days, Emma? What's going on with you?"

"Emma, what's going on with you?" he asked, his voice hard. "You've been avoiding me for days. Why?"

Emma raised an eyebrow, her irritation flickering just below the surface. "Like what?"

"You've been avoiding me, avoiding everyone," he continued, his voice growing more insistent. "You're not the same. You're not enjoying anything, and you look miserable. Is everything okay?"

Emma's eyes flickered with frustration and pain, but she didn't answer. How could she explain what had been happening? How the rumors had turned her life upside down? She stared at the floor, silent.

Reed's irritation flared. He stood from his desk, stepping closer. "Look at me, Emma. I'm talking to you."

That was the final straw for Emma. She had been holding everything in for so long, and now, hearing him ask these questions, pretending to care, made her snap.

"Why does it matter to you?" she shot back, her voice laced with frustration. "It's my personal life. You're my professor-you shouldn't be bothering about whether I'm happy or not. I can take care of myself."

Reed's expression darkened at her words, his eyes narrowing. He stood up from his desk, taking slow, deliberate steps toward her. "It does matter," he said, his voice low, edged with frustration. "It matters to me if you're happy. It matters if you're okay."

Emma felt a shiver run down her spine as he moved closer. She instinctively took a step back, but Reed followed, closing the distance between them.

"Why?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she stared up at him. "Why does it matter so much to you?"

Reed's control snapped. His eyes burned with something deeper, something he had been trying to suppress for weeks. He moved even closer, his hands reaching out. One hand gripped her waist, pulling her against him, while the other slid to the back of her neck, holding her firmly in place.

"Because it does," he said, his voice barely more than a growl. "I can't stand seeing you like this."

Before Emma could respond, his lips crashed against hers, kissing her deeply and with desperation. His grip on her tightened as if he was afraid to let go, as if this moment was something he had been holding back for far too long.

Emma's mind raced as she froze, overwhelmed by the intensity of the kiss. But instinct kicked in, and she pressed her hands against his chest, pushing him back with all the strength she could muster.

Reed stumbled back slightly, his breathing heavy, his eyes clouded with emotion. Emma stood there, staring at him in shock, her own breath coming in short, sharp bursts.

"You... you can't do this," she finally whispered, her voice shaky. "I'm your student. This is wrong."

Reed's eyes searched hers, a flicker of guilt crossing his face, but the raw emotion that had driven him to kiss her still simmered beneath the surface. For a long moment, neither of them moved, the weight of what had just happened hanging heavy in the air.

"I know," he said quietly, his voice filled with regret, but also something else, something he couldn't quite put into words. "I know it's wrong... but I couldn't help it."

Emma stood there, trying to process everything that had just happened, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm. She didn't know what to say, what to feel, or how to move forward from this moment.