Matters Of The Heart

𝟓. 𝐀 𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞.

𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘺𝘢:

As I stood there, my eyes fixed on the man who had just walked into the room, my jaw plummeted to the ground, leaving me breathless and bewildered. The stranger who had captivated me with his kindness and charm was none other than Zayyan Hussain Malik himself - my new professor. The realization hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me stunned and speechless.

But as I struggled to regain my composure, my attention was drawn to the cluster of girls surrounding him, their eyes shining like stars in his presence. They were giggling and drooling, their faces aglow with admiration, as they basked in the radiance of his handsomeness. Something inside me stirred, a flame of possessiveness flickering to life. My heart twisted with a pang of jealousy as he bestowed upon them a warm, gentle smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners like the pages of a well-loved book.

I felt a surge of emotion, like a river overflowing its banks. Why did the sight of him smiling at others make my heart ache? I didn't know, but I couldn't deny the sensation. It was as if I had been punched in the gut, leaving me winded and gasping for air. As I watched, transfixed, Zayyan's gaze swept across the room, his eyes locking onto mine for a fleeting moment. The connection was like a spark of electricity, sending shivers down my spine and leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable.

As I forced my gaze back to his, my eyes inadvertently drifted to the tantalizing glimpse of his muscular chest peeking through the open buttons of his suit shirt. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, and I hastily shook my head to clear the distracting thoughts. But when I refocused on his face, I found him staring directly at me, his eyes locking onto mine with an unnerving intensity.

For a fleeting moment, his gaze softened, and I thought I saw a glimmer of warmth in his eyes. But then, a wide, devilish smirk spread across his lips, and he slowly buttoned up his shirt, teasing me with the disappearance of his chiseled torso. The movement was like a slow-burning fire, leaving me breathless and yearning for more.

As the last button fell into place, he bestowed upon me one of his breathtaking smiles, the kind that could disarm even the most resilient of hearts. I felt my cheeks flush, my pulse racing like a wild drumbeat, as I struggled to maintain a semblance of composure under his piercing gaze.

Sarah cleared her throat, snapping me out of my trance-like state, and I turned to face her. As our eyes met, I noticed a sly smirk dancing on her lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper, as she breathed into my ear
❝ Girl, did you see the way Professor Hottie was eyeing you? I'm talking undressing-you-with-his-eyes, Madiya! I'm low-key jealous, high-key curious - what's your secret? ❞

I shot her a side-eye, trying to play it cool, but she just winked, her grin gleaming with mischief. ❝ Oh, don't play dumb, Mads, I saw that spark! You better spill the tea, or I'll be forced to assume you're secretly a supermodel. ❞

I chuckled, shaking my head, but Sarah's teasing had me wondering... had Zayyan really been checking me out? And if so, was I ready for the heat that came with being on his radar?

I could feel his gaze lingering on me, so I discreetly averted my eyes, focusing on the notes in front of me. Zayyan cleared his throat, and the room fell silent, anticipating his introduction.

❝ Good morning, everyone, ❞ He began, his voice was smooth and authoritative.  ❝ I am Professor Zayyan Hussain Malik, and I will be leading this course. Due to time constraints, we will dive right into the material. Please ensure you have the necessary texts and materials ready. ❞

As he spoke, his eyes scanned the room, making brief contact with each student. The boys seemed attentive, but I noticed most of the girls were still entranced, their faces aglow with admiration. I felt a flicker of annoyance, but quickly reminded myself it was none of my concern.