Between the desks

Chapter 70

Elizabeth's POV

When Amren closed the door behind her, I let out a long, shaky breath, the sound echoing in the suddenly quiet room. How could this have happened? What had just transpired? Did Amren really just confess that she felt the same way?

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over. No, this can't be true. She couldn't possibly be feeling the same. But the intensity of her gaze and the way she poured her heart out to me said otherwise. That realization made it so much harder to ignore my own feelings for her.

I had told her that I didn't feel the same. I had lied to her. In doing so, I had broken her heart. A wave of guilt washed over me, and I felt like I was drowning in it. Love had never been my strong suit; it was something I had carefully avoided, something I had always deemed too risky and complicated.

When she had told me that I was her forbidden love, my walls instinctively went up. I acted out of instinct, to protect her and to shield myself from the tumult of emotions that threatened to consume me. I was the professional here; I couldn't allow myself to cross that line. I couldn't have that kind of relationship with her—not with a student.

Now I found myself grappling with an uncomfortable reality. How was I supposed to be alone with her again? Our tutoring sessions loomed on the horizon, a reminder of the tension that would hang between us like an unspoken weight. I hated it. I hated that I had to lie, that I had to pretend that I didn't feel anything for her. I hated that she was my forbidden love too.

I felt hollow inside, like some essential part of me had vanished. It was as if a piece of my heart had walked out of that door along with Amren, leaving an emptiness that echoed in the silence. I couldn't bear this anymore. The first tears spilled down my cheeks, and I realized I couldn't hold it in any longer. I broke down, sinking to the floor, my back against the wall. The icy facade I had maintained as the stoic professor crumbled, and I cried openly. I didn't care if someone walked in. I didn't care about the judgment or the whispers.

The only thing that mattered was Amren. I had hurt her, and the ache in my chest was unbearable. My body screamed her name, longing for her presence. I had never felt this intensely for anyone before; it was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

Desperate for a lifeline, I grabbed my phone and dialed Scar's number. I needed someone to talk to, someone who could help me process the whirlwind of emotions that was consuming me. "Scar, I... I need you," I managed to say when she picked up, my voice breaking.

Within moments, she arrived, rushing through the classroom door. When she saw me sitting on the floor, tears streaming down my face, her expression shifted from concern to alarm. Without hesitation, she knelt beside me and wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight.

"What happened?" she asked gently, her voice a soothing balm amidst my turmoil. I started to explain, my words tumbling out in a chaotic stream. I could tell she didn't fully grasp the gravity of the situation or the depths of my feelings, but she was here, and that was all I needed at that moment.

As I cried, Scar held me, providing the comfort I desperately sought. The warmth of her presence enveloped me, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a sense of safety amidst the chaos of my emotions. I knew I had to navigate these feelings for Amren on my own, but having Scar by my side made the burden feel a little lighter, if only for a while.