Beyond The Syllabus

The Struggle of Silence

The next morning, Elena stood in front of her mirror, running a hand through her dark hair. Her reflection stared back at her, a mix of nerves and excitement tingling under her skin. It was her usual morning routine—get dressed, apply a touch of makeup, and head off to college. Yet today, something felt different.

As she reached for her phone to check the time, a notification popped up, and she froze.

Jack’s Message:
"Get out of the house… I'm waiting for you, baby girl."

A shiver ran down her spine, her heart skipping a beat. No, not today, she thought, but curiosity got the best of her, and she found herself peeking out of the window. There, just as he said, Jack's red Bugatti Veyron stood parked in front of her house, shining in the morning light.

Her hands trembled slightly as she grabbed her bag and rushed downstairs, practically flying out the door. Before she could hesitate, she slid into the passenger seat of his car, her pulse racing.

Jack turned to her, his deep brown eyes flashing with amusement as a devilish grin curled at the corner of his lips.
Jack: "Did you sleep well, baby girl? Or were you all wet dreaming about me?"

Elena’s face instantly flushed red, her embarrassment making her speechless for a moment. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her cool.
Elena: "I… I slept well," she managed to say, her voice quieter than usual.

Jack chuckled, a low, deep sound that sent heat rushing to her cheeks. He put the car in gear and started driving toward college, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on her thigh. The weight of his touch burned through her jeans, and she couldn’t help the way her heart sped up. It felt like they were the only two people in the world.

When they pulled into the college parking lot, Elena was quick to get out of the car, hoping to escape the intoxicating spell he had cast over her. Her friends, Sofia and Lily, were waiting by the entrance, their eyes gleaming with curiosity the moment they saw her stepping out of Jack’s car.

Sofia, smirking: "Thank God you’re still able to walk on your legs."
Lily, laughing: "Yeah, looks like Jack didn’t completely destroy you this time."

All three of them laughed, though Elena’s heart wasn’t fully in it. She brushed off their teasing with a small smile, but deep down, she knew this was getting out of control. She had told herself last night that today was going to be different. Today, she was going to start ignoring Jack—no more playful banter, no more stolen moments. She had made up her mind. No more talks with him.

They made their way to class, with Elena clenching her fists, silently reminding herself of her decision. She had to stay strong.

But the moment she stepped into the lecture hall, Jack was already there, his usual commanding presence filling the room. He didn’t even glance in her direction as he addressed the class.
Jack: "Alright, everyone, listen up. We’re starting a new project for your physics portfolios. I’ll be giving you the instructions now, so pay attention."

As he explained the project, Elena did her best to focus, but the more he talked, the more her mind wandered back to him, to the car, to the way his hand had rested on her thigh like it belonged there. She shook her head, trying to shake off the thoughts.

Once Jack finished, the class broke into murmurs of confusion. It seemed that most of the students were as lost as she was. Sofia and Lily turned to Elena with pleading eyes.

Sofia, with a sigh: "This project is insane. I didn’t understand a word he just said."
Lily: "Same here. We’re gonna need help. Serious help."

Elena already knew where this was going.
Elena: "Don’t even ask."

Sofia: "Come on, Elena. You’re the only one he’s not strict with. He likes you. If you ask him for help, he’ll probably do the project for you."
Lily, nodding in agreement: "Yeah, he wouldn’t say no to you. We’re practically doomed without you asking him."

Elena felt a wave of panic rise in her chest. She couldn’t go to Jack. Not after deciding to cut ties with him.
Elena: "No, I can’t. I’ve just decided I’m not talking to him anymore."

Sofia, raising an eyebrow: "Why? You guys seem to be… close."
Elena: "Just… don’t worry. We’ll figure it out on our own."

Her friends looked skeptical, but they didn’t push her further. For the next few days, Elena stuck to her resolve. She avoided Jack as best as she could—ignoring his glances, avoiding the places where they might cross paths, and making excuses whenever he tried to approach her.

But by the fourth day, reality came crashing down on her. The project was far more complicated than she had anticipated. She needed help, and the only person who could offer her any useful guidance was Jack. She groaned inwardly, feeling her stomach twist into knots. She knew that if she went to him now, he would definitely want to know why she had been ignoring him.

It was late in the afternoon when Elena found herself sitting alone on one of the campus benches, lost in thought. Her mind swirled with the same question over and over: What should I do?

That’s when she saw it.

Across the courtyard, Sofia was standing by Jack, talking to him. Elena watched as Sofia tilted her head slightly, laughing softly, her fingers brushing the sleeve of his jacket. There was something flirtatious in the way she leaned in closer, her eyes bright with mischief.

A pang of jealousy shot through Elena, sharp and unexpected. Her hands clenched into fists as she stared at the scene, her heart pounding harder with each passing second. Why am I feeling jealous? she thought, her mind spiraling. He’s married. He has a wife. He has kids. He’s my professor.

But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, the sight of Sofia standing so close to him—smiling, flirting—sent a surge of possessiveness through her that she couldn’t explain.

Sofia moved even closer, her body language clear. Elena’s pulse quickened as she watched Sofia’s attempts to close the distance between them, but Jack didn’t seem to respond. His arms stayed crossed, his expression cool and detached. Still, the jealousy burned hotter in Elena’s chest.

She forced herself to look away, trying to calm the storm of emotions. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it—Jack’s gaze. He had caught her watching him. His expression shifted, the indifference in his eyes replaced with something more intense, more focused. He didn’t waste a second. He excused himself from Sofia and started walking directly toward Elena.

Panic surged through her, and before Jack could reach her, Elena shot up from the bench and hurried down the steps toward the cafeteria. She couldn’t face him. Not now. Not with all these emotions swirling inside her.

Behind her, she heard Sofia’s frustrated mutter:
Sofia: "I’m not going to leave you like that, Professor. Very soon, I’ll claim you. And in the end, what’s so special about Elena anyway?"

Elena’s heart pounded in her ears as she pushed open the cafeteria door. She didn’t understand why she felt this way—why jealousy had seized her so fiercely. But deep down, she knew. She cared about Jack more than she wanted to admit. More than she was ready to admit.

As Jack watched her disappear into the cafeteria, a determined glint appeared in his eyes. His heart sank for a moment, seeing her retreat, but he wasn’t about to give up on her. Not now. Not ever.

Jack, under his breath: "She’s mine. She just doesn’t know it yet."