Chapter 5 Flirting and Embarrassments

After fleeing from Zane, Nova went straight to the professor's lounge. That man was both attractive and out of her league. She found it difficult to believe that she had feelings for someone, but she desperately wanted to avoid any situation that might jeopardize her getting a degree, but could she? She asked permission to enter the lounge by knocking on the opaque glass doors. One of the Professors called her in. Nova had spent a lot of time in the lounge over the last few weeks helping to organize the upcoming Student Art Exhibition.

The Art department owned the Lounge in the college's east end. The interior was decorated with abstract paintings in cool colors created by one of their professors. The rectangular wood-framed painting stands out against the white wall. A long white sofa leaned against the left wall, with a navy blue vase next to it on a table filled with white Carnations. The room was visually appealing. After admiring the lounge, he walked around the room looking for the professor she had come to see. Nova noticed him sitting in front of one of the desktop computers, his back to her. she greeted the professor, and based on his response, it appears that his punctual professor was not pleased. "Oh! Nova, it took you long enough. I think I had called you 10 minutes earlier." "I am sorry, Professor; I ran into someone by accident on the way here." Nova explained, fidgeting unconsciously with her hoodie sleeves. "It's alright, but I value punctuality." Nova just nodded her head, and the Professor continued. "Do you remember the man who bought your painting at the last exhibition?" The Professor continued, "He contacted us wanting to know if you would like to work on commission." Nova nodded again. His wife is an interior designer, and she was so impressed with your work that she wants to collaborate with you on a project next year. "Would you be willing to?" Nova had assumed there would be a problem, but this news made her overjoyed! Her art was being recognized. She agreed that she would definitely want to work with her and left the lounge with a smile on her face as he entered his first class of the day, his eyes searching for Kieran. Kieran sat in the sixth row from the front, typing on his phone while some girl blabbered next to him. "Kieran!" She exclaimed, and Kieran lifted his head from his phone screen, puzzled by his friend's joy. "Whoa!" What made you all jumpy, Kieran exclaimed, his eyes growing smaller. Less than an hour ago, I saw you wandering around like a zombie. "I was offered to work on commission by an interior designer! A fucking commission! Kieran!!" She whisper yelled, not wanting to draw attention to herself . "That's amazing! Congratulations!" Kieran stood up from his seat, hugging her . "But do you know what'll be even more amazing?" "...What?" Nova was curious. Nova could only roll her eyes and chuckle to herself when Kieran said, "You paying my Car loan with it." Kieran was wriggling his eyebrows and attempting to contain his laughter. "But really, congratulations!! You deserve it. Though I was starting to think you had walked into one of the pillars while going to the professor's lounge and were lying half-dead somewhere, I was wondering what was taking you so long. I was about to come look for you," Kieran said, confused. "Yeah, I still feel a little groggy; the journey back from my adoptive relatives was very tiring, that's all." She had lied and said she was visiting relative again that weekend. Kieran was unaware of the fact that she stole for a living. But I did bump into someone, she said, "I did not bump into a pillar." "Oh! My goodness, Kieran, I bumped into someone! A professor" "What is all the fuss about? You just bumped into them; there's nothing wrong with that." "That is wrong on every level! When I ran into him, he immediately started to flirt with me. Everyone was looking at us, and I fucking asked him out on a lunch date!" She burst out. "What has gotten into you lately?" Kieran asked, concerned. "Nothing," Nova sighed now. "Just do not cut me off while I am ranting about my broken heart." Kieran raised an eyebrow at this "The worst part is that he might be a professor, and I have lost the love of my life, according to the Student's code." Nova finished and finally sat down next to Kieran, laying his head on the desk, moping. "Did he look hot?" Kieran inquired, and River raised her head, casting a judgmental look at her best friend. "What?" Kieran asked "Come on, if he was not why would I be sulking,?" "You know what? You should forget about it, follow the rules, your degree is more important, it is wrong to even flirt with Professors, and dating should not even be considered." Nova muttered under his breath, "Says the one who flirts with the history Professor every chance he gets." But now she could not believe the only person who could pique her interest for the first time in her 19-year life was out of her reach. She used to think she was asexual because she did not feel attracted to even someone as attractive as the idiot sitting next to him. The history Professor entered the room, and Kieran watched with heart eyes as the Professor glared at him. Nova could sense Kieran's mischief. The daily drama before the start of class. "Good day, class." I have an announcement: " "Good morning to you as well, Professor." "Are you going to announce that you have finally fallen for me?" Kieran asked, his arrogance on display. Everyone laughed, and Mr. Sterling, as usual, ignored Kieran, which seemed to fuel him even more. "I have an announcement for you," Mr. Sterling continued. As you are aware, the annual festival of the Department of Arts will be held in two hours, and as tradition has it, the college provosts will formally address all of our department's students before the preparations begin." "I would rather have you undress me than have the provost address us." Kieran interrupted Mr. Sterling once more, causing everyone to laugh. "Be aware of your limitations. Mr. Storm, I have the authority to suspend you for this behavior. Do. not. Interrupt me again; the professor napped at him, finally shutting Kieran up. Everyone knew Kieran would be back to his shameless flirting the next day. "I know this is going to be abrupt, but something has come up, so we are doing it today instead of next week as planned." It'll commence in 20 minutes at 9:30 a.m. As a result, today's history class has been canceled, and I now request that you all proceed to the auditorium." Mr. sterling finally finished and moved towards the door, signaling us to proceed. 'That old geezer should be on his deathbed, 'So Young,' my ass, He should change his name to 'So Old,' Nova reasoned. Mr Griffin, their provost, was a 70-year-old overachiever in every way. He was a bundle of trembles, his hands, his voice, his legs all trembling; it seemed as if he would fall apart at any moment if he didn't. During their first year, they all remembered the college's welcoming ceremony, where the old man struggled to stand but still managed to make their ears bleed with his long speech about his college life.