Forbidden Fruit

Chapter 19: Hurt

Let's see how strong these simulation witches really are. Let's try a basic energy orb. In both my hands, black spheres form. I then throw them in the witches' direction. They easily dodge them... or so they think. Moving my index finger, I remotely move my orbs in the direction I want, making them collide with one of the witches. That immediately disintegrates her, leaving only one witch. I want to end this with a big finale! Concentrating a big portion of my energy, I shoot out a black beam in the witch's direction. It's so big that she has no place to run and meets the same fate as the two others. My environment then starts flashing red. I then hear a robotic voice.

"Warning. System overloaded. Evacuate immediately."

It keeps repeating that! What's happening?! Ok... Don't panic... I just need to find the exit, right? Where is the exit?! I smell something heating up! This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!

I run around, trying to find some sort of exit. The environment around me is getting very distorted. It's hurting my brain... I look around, regardless, trying my best to find a way out of here. The shape of a door then forms further away. That must be it! The door then darts open and I see Professor Palladium barging in.

"Onyx!"

My eyes start tearing up. It feels like it's been forever since I heard him say my name with so much emotion. I see him running towards me. Without having the chance to react, he grabs my hand and leads me out. As soon as we get into the control room, currents of electricity run through the simulation room and it blacks out. Man, if I was in there for another second... I don't even want to think of what would have happened.

"Onyx!"

The girls run up to me, with concerned expressions on their face. Professor Palladium lets go of me and walks away to leave the space for the girls. I close the hand that he was holding and bring it to my chest. My heart hurts... I want him to hold me more... What have I been doing? Why have I been denying these feelings for so long? I know why... I'm just afraid of what I don't understand. I've never liked someone in this way before.

Professor Palladium dismisses the class right after giving each one of us a detailed report on the grade we got. I passed, but barely. I'm amazed he let me pass at all. I basically only did half of the test, and poorly at that. We all leave the simulation chamber while it gets repaired. Professor Palladium leaves as well. He seems in a hurry to get away. I... I won't let him go so easily this time. I need to at least thank him.

"Um... I'm going to go do something, so you guys go on without me."

The girls look at me with confused looks. Before they have a chance of asking questions, I run after where I saw Professor Palladium go. This looks like the way to his office. I hope he's in there.

When I reach his office, I knock softly on the door.

"Yes?"

He is in there! Alright, calm down, my heart... I gulp and open the door. When Professor Palladium sees me, his eyes widen and he drops a bunch of papers that he was holding.

"A-Ah! I'm sorry I startled you, Professor! I'll pick those up!"

"N-No, that's quite alright! Is there something in particular that you wanted to discuss?"

He seems so flustered about something. Then again, that's how he usually is.

"Well... I wanted to thank you... for earlier..."

"Oh! You're welcome. It's my duty as a teacher to protect my students after all."

Again with that student teacher barrier... What am I expecting? That's how things are now. I know for sure that they haven't been like that the whole time, though. I know that Professor Palladium treated me differently from other students before. I want him to go back to doing that.

"Is that all? If it is, then you will have to excuse me, but I'm really busy right-"

"Also!"

I bring my hands to my mouth. I didn't expect my voice to be this loud. Professor Palladium seems surprised also.

"Also..."

I bring my voice down to almost a whisper.

"Yes?"

I feel my face heating up.

"I... I'm sorry for being so rude back with what happened with Bloom..."

Professor Palladium chuckles.

"Oh, that. You don't have to worry about it."

There's then a moment of silence where I can't even look up at him.

"Onyx?"

"Um... Sorry... I just have something else I want to say... but it's really hard to say..."

I take a breath. I want to tell him how I feel. Even if he doesn't feel the same way, it'll help me get over it more easily. I look up at him, feeling as though my face is on fire.

"I...!"

"Don't do it..."

Huh...?

"What do you...?"

"Onyx, please... This is not right. For a teacher and a student to be more than a teacher and a student is not right. I've been holding myself back this whole time. If you say anything more, I don't know if I'll be able to resist any longer. So, please, let's leave it at this."

I feel as though my heart has shattered into a million pieces. What? How could he? Tears fall out uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry..."

His voice sounds choked up. I can't take this anymore... I run out of his office, getting as far away as possible from the situation. I was mentally prepared for this. I knew it would never happen between us! But then, why...? Why does it hurt so much? Why can't I just accept it and let go?! I knew it... There's no place for me here. I don't belong. How am I even supposed to stay here, seeing him everyday, but unable to get closer to him? It's going to be way too painful...