Red Complex

Chapter 1

It was a good day and it went on swimmingly, except for Heart. She had found herself in cold sweats, in front of Dr. Cullen, the dean. On a normal day, she wouldn't be as stressed and anxious but an official complaint has been submitted against her.

Dr. Cullen took another look on Heart, utterly disappointed as he read through the transcript of what had happened. The dean is very strict and thorough when it comes to his students and was very proud of how disciplined they were. But that record was now soiled with Heart's unruliness, which came as a shock to the esteemed department head. Heart had a good record going on. If she didn't go to the library that day, she would have dodged this bullet.

Underneath her sweaty nervous state, Heart hoped for the dean to give her a light punishment. After all, this was her first time getting into some sort of trouble with any employee.

"Ms. De Castro!" Dr. Culled called and Heart cursed herself for getting distracted. She couldn't get a word out of her mouth which made him sigh. "What do you have to say for yourself?" he continued, setting the transcript on the side, before he leaned back on his chair, prepared to cast his verdict.

Heart took a peek on her right side, where a certain employee sat in comfort and have been quiet the whole time. She admitted that she was too harsh on her approach that day and might continue living the rest of her days haunted by what had occurred.

"I'm sorry, Sir. It was an honest mistake," she almost whispered her reply. She could not look Dr. Cullen in the eyes because of the embarrassment.

"This is the first time you've been reported like this, Ms. de Castro. You should be thankful Mr. Cortes asked not to suspend you." She lifted her head to her side, with a glint of gratitude in her eyes. Mr. Cortes remained stoic, he seems to want the whole thing over with immediately. "Instead, you will have to be Mr. Cortes' assistant for a whole month at the library he's been assigned." Heart didn't complain, it was better than getting suspended because it would mean notifying her mother, and what's scarier than being in a dean's office was the wrath of a mother, her mother.

"Mr. Cortes, I hope this will favor you. Ms. Heart de Castro will be in your care from now on." Dr. Cullen then stood up, shook hands with Mr. Cortes, and sealed the deal.

That was the most nerve-wracking thirty minutes of Heart's life. And she hoped it'll be the first and last.

The stipulation of her sanction states that she would start her duty as the librarian's assistant today and would continue for thirty days. Heart quietly followed Mr. Cortes back to his department, doing her best to ignore judgmental eyes and whispers. If she gets knocked out by anything right now, she'd be thankful.

Mr. Cortes was quiet still, he hasn't exchanged words with Heart or exert any kind of interaction. This, of course, made Heart overthink.

Her day would have gone differently if it wasn't for Esmé, her best friend, the gossip girl. She dragged Heart that fateful day towards the Art Department to have a look at the rumored handsome bachelor of the department. Heart initially didn't want to, but Esmé wouldn't stop talking about the librarian and thought it would end once she finally gets a look.

It was unexpectedly crowded in the library that day, and loud. Esmé had told her best friend that men and women of the university liked to ogle on Mr. Cortes during their free time. They would check out a random book just to get close to him and watch him do his work.

Heart wanted to wait outside but when she got a glimpse of the librarian she found herself punching through the crowd to confront him. She was sure of her judgment, her memories of that particular night were vivid, and she could never be wrong about it.