Lisbeth was seething. She'd been a professor for years, and no student had ever blown her off like this. That cocky look Anirudh had thrown her earlier? It was gasoline on the fire of her rage.
"Professor, I was just keeping it real—how's that flirting? What, I can't speak the truth anymore?" Anirudh whined, his face scrunching up like he might bawl. What was her deal—so uptight!
"Well… you still shouldn't have checked me out…" Lisbeth fumbled, her cheeks going pink.
"Checked you out? I was staring loud and proud! Come on, Professor Lisbeth, you're my teacher—give me a fair shake here!" Anirudh shot back, totally lost.
Lisbeth nearly choked on her own irritation. No student had ever had the guts to talk to her like this. But—damn it—he wasn't wrong. He hadn't exactly been sneaky. His bulletproof excuse left her spinning.
A kid flat-out scoping her panties, and she couldn't even clap back? The humiliation was suffocating—she could practically feel her blood pressure spiking.
"This is a college, not a frat house—why do you always act like a clown? I'll let the hallway smoking slide, but staring me down like that? That's your big college thrill?" Lisbeth tried to play the patient mentor card, hoping to talk some sense into him.
"Professor, now you're the one out of line!" Anirudh fired back, looking like a kicked puppy.
"Out of line how?" Lisbeth snapped, floored. You gawked at my chest all day, and I'm the bad guy?
"Heck yeah! I'm a country boy—never seen a knockout like you before. I couldn't help sneaking a few extra looks. That's not on me—it's on you for being too hot, Professor!" Anirudh grinned, a bashful flush hitting his cheeks.
"…" Lisbeth, with her fancy management degree, was stumped. He'd laid it out so plain—how do you argue that? Tell him she's ugly?
Let's be real: every gal loves a compliment, especially about her looks. Even if Anirudh was piling on the charm, Lisbeth had no comeback. She felt like she'd lost a round—taming this punk might be a lost cause.
"Professor Lisbeth, you got a boyfriend? If not, how about me? Say yes, and I'll ace your class…" Anirudh went for broke, leaning in with a cheesy grin.
"…" Lisbeth's jaw dropped. Was this kid for real? Zero respect, and now he's hitting on her to get through her lectures? If she said no, would he just tune out?
She was ready to tear him a new one, but then a light bulb flicked on. A sly smirk curled her lips.
"Alright, I'm in!" Lisbeth chirped out of nowhere.
"Huh…" Anirudh blanked out, floored. He'd been shooting his shot for kicks—did she actually bite? Was he that smooth?
"But there's a catch…" Lisbeth teased, a sneaky glint in her eye.
"What's the deal?" Anirudh blurted, hooked.
"Land first place in the midterms, and you're my boyfriend. How's that?" Lisbeth tossed him a playful wink.
"That's it?" Anirudh gawked, thrown by how chill it sounded.
"You bet!" Lisbeth nodded. No way this slacker could pull off top marks. And if he somehow did? She'd be grading the papers—her game, her rules. It was a slick little con to light a fire under him. Win-win.
"Done! To be your man, Professor Lisbeth, I'll grind like crazy!" Anirudh pumped his fist.
"Knock 'em dead…" Lisbeth cheered with a fist bump.
"So, Professor, how about a little boost to start?" Anirudh asked, all puppy-dog eyes.
"Like what?" Lisbeth humored him.
"A kiss maybe?" Anirudh tilted his head, playing coy.
"Dream on…"
"A hug then?" Anirudh backpedaled fast.
Lisbeth shrugged. A hug? No biggie. She stood up and spread her arms. Anirudh practically bounced over, pulling her into a bear hug. Feeling her curves press against him, he was in paradise. Then, when she wasn't looking, he swooped in for a sneaky peck on her cheek.
Lisbeth froze, a volcano of fury bubbling up. But before she could blow, Anirudh booked it.
"Professor Lisbeth, I've got this—you'll see!" he hollered as he peeled out.
Staring at his vanishing shadow, Lisbeth brushed her cheek—still tingling from his kiss. A blush crept up her face.
That little jerk! Cocky as hell—running his mouth was bad enough, but stealing a kiss? Beyond the pale!
Weird thing was, she wasn't pissed. A tiny spark of something—excitement, maybe—flickered inside her, too quiet for even her to catch…