Ch. 182 The Academy’s Secret Lovers (3)

Professor Hill squinted his eyes, as if he were trying to focus his blurry vision.

Stella completely froze. Her heart was pounding loudly in her ears.

“Prof—”

The moment she was about to say his name, he gave a gentle smile. His lips parted, and when he spoke, his voice had a note of deep relief.

“It’s you.”

“…Eh?”

Stella could only answer him stunned surprise, and soon his hold on her wrist fell away.

Soon after, the professor fell back into contented slumber. Stella stared at his sleeping face.

‘What just happened?’

After safely setting the glasses aside, she rubbed her wrist. It was still warm from his touch.

“It’s you.”

His voice and smile did not leave her head.

*

*

*

Stella didn’t get to see Professor Hill for the rest of her vacation. She visited the greenhouse several times, but didn’t run into him there. It was only when she sucked up her courage and went to his classroom did she find out the reason for his absence.

“The professor went on a dean-approved business trip to obtain some books.”

So Professor Hill wasn’t in the academy. Stella spent her winter vacation mired in disappointment.

Spring arrived, and in the new semester Stella signed up for a biology class. Professor Hill didn’t teach it, but she knew she could go to him if she had questions.

‘He would hate me if he knew I was using the class this way…’

However, there was no real excuse for them to talk otherwise. She couldn’t even ask, ‘Why did you smile when you took my wrist that day?’ She had turned the incident in her head over and over again.

In any case, her semester went off to a good start, and with luck, she hoped she might run into Professor Hill several times a week.

“Hello, Professor Hill!”

It was Stella who always greeted him first. No matter how far away he was standing, she would run over and say hello to him.

“Ah…Miss Lapis. Good morning.”

He gave her the same answer he would give any other student, and never smiled at her the same way he did in the infirmary.

“Is something wrong?”

Stella looked up at him.

“N-nothing, Professor. I’m taking a biology class this semester.”

“That’s great. It’s Professor Duran’s class, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“He was also my teacher. It’s a very good class.”

“I’m looking forward to it, too.”

“You’ll do well. Miss Lapis is a very good student.”

“…”

“Miss Lapis?”

“I…”

Stella looked at her shoes for a moment and gulped nervously.

“Can I ask the professor questions about the class?”

“Of course.”

Stella’s face lit up at his prompt reply.

“Professor Duran always takes his students’ questions seriously.”

“O-oh, no, I…”

“Not just in the classroom, but in his office as well. I did the same. I was lucky to learn from such a great professor.”

Stella had no choice but to nod.

*

*

*

Stella headed towards the library next, and found the librarian meticulously copying down a book by hand. The work of restoring a damaged work was a complicated process, compared to copying books in relatively good condition.

“It must be a rare book.”

“Yes. Professor Hill brought back some books from his trip during vacation. One of them is fine, this one not so much.”

“Is it old?”

The librarian showed her the cover of the book. The gold leaf title informed her that the book was a catalog of plants, but it was faded and the book was tattered due to poor storage.

“Professor Hill said he would do his best to restore it…but it would be a pity to let him do that.”

Copying text was not an easy task. If Professor Hill copied the book the way he wrote down his class notes, it would be impossible to read. It was a job that required time and high concentration.

An idea came to Stella’s mind.

“May I copy it?”

“Alone?”

“Yes. I’m actually taking a class on biology. This will help me study as well.”

“That’s true. Besides, your handwriting is very neat…”

“Then leave it to me. And—”

Stella looked up to confirm something.

“—when I’m finished, I’ll give it back to Professor Wayne Hill, right?”

“Yes. I’d appreciate it.”

“When is it due?”

“There is no deadline.”

“I’ll finish it as quick as I can!”

“You don’t have to be in such a hurry.”

“Not at all! I’ll have it done in no time!”

If there was something she didn’t know about biology, she could simply go to Professor Hill. He was the owner of the book, after all.

Stella sat down and eagerly picked up her pen. It didn’t matter how thick the book was.

*

*

*

It took a full month to finish transcribing the book. Aside from classes, library work, assignments, and sleeping, she devoted every moment to working on the task. She started this just as an excuse to talk to the professor, but soon she enjoyed immersing herself in the job.

The weekend she finally finished, Stella took the book and headed for the greenhouse.

She spotted Professor Hill from the distance. He was wearing his white coat and watering the plants around the greenhouse.

Chwaaag!

The professor was smiling as he tossed water from a bowl and splashed the plants. He seemed to be enjoying himself, and Stella quickly approached him.

“Professor H—kkyak!”

Chwaaag!

Professor Hill had turned around when Stella called out to him, and accidentally tossed water on her.

She instinctively lifted the book up in the air. It was too precious to be damaged.

“M-miss Lapis!”

Professor Hill panicked and dropped the water container on the ground, and Stella quickly lowered her arm to look at the book.

“It’s okay. The book didn’t get wet.”

She looked proud of herself, but the professor was still embarrassed.

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t stop to look back as I was splashing the water…”

He searched through his pockets and pulled out a handkerchief. It was clean and neat this time, but his face was a beet red color.

Stella stared at him and then looked at herself. She was a mess. Her jacket was soaked and dripping in water, while her socks squished wetly in her shoes.

At least the book was safe, and she handed it over to the professor.

“I have to go change.”

She smiled and turned around, but regret hung heavily in her chest. Copying the book down had helped her immensely in her studies, but she wished she could have talked to the professor a little more. They couldn’t have a conversation when she was like this…

“Wait a minute, Miss Lapis.”

He placed his white coat on her shoulders.

“Professor?”

“Please…please wear it.”

His coat was so big for Stella that it flapped around her knees.

“It’s fine. The dormitory is just around the corner. It’s only a little water.”

“I still want you to wear it, please! I know it’s a little dirty because I was wearing it, but still…”

His ears turned red.

“You don’t have to apologize.”

Stella answered him calmly, tugging off the coat.

“Put it on! Please!”

The professor wouldn’t stop insisting.

“I said I was really okay.”

“It’s not okay!”

“I’m only wet.”

“Exactly! Your shirt, ah…”

Stella suddenly realized why the professor dressed her in his coat, and she awkwardly turned her head away from him.

“…That.”

Professor Hill’s eyes were firmly planted on the ground.

“You can give the coat back any time.”

“I-I’ll give it back right away. I just have to dry it.”

“It’s fine. Sorry. You can hold on to it for now.”

Stella gave a quick, ‘I’ll be right back’, then ran towards the dormitory.

The wet squishing sound of her leather shoes caused the students she passed by to look at her strangely, but she was in a good mood.