Chapter 5

• Throughout the class, it was difficult to focus on Professor Garfield's class material as usual. Or even just observing every detail of Professor Garfield's movements while letting his imagination run wild.
• The reason was none other than the damn bug named Aiden Connor. The new errand boy he had just recruited after accepting the man's offer in exchange for not bullying other students was currently staring at him with an intense gaze that managed to make him feel uncomfortable about it.
• He could feel his goosebumps shuddering from the intense gaze, so he constantly rubbed the nape of his neck to reduce the uncomfortable feeling.
• Several times he kept trying to ignore the gaze of his new errand boy, resisting the urge to gouge out Aiden’s eyes until he no longer had to feel uncomfortable.
• However, over and over again he tried to ignore it, but it all went in vain. The man continued to give him the same look. If he could say so, he was not listening to the lecture at all and was instead busy observing him. As if for Aiden, observing him was more fun than listening to Professor Garfield's explanation.
• Enough is enough, Ashley muttered to himself in annoyance. He clenched his hands into fists, trying to count down again while thinking of various reasons he could give his brain not to hit Aiden that very second.
• Hold yourself together, Ashley, he muttered to himself again while catching his breath and trying to calm his mind. Think about the reason you're taking this class. Just ignore this damn idiot...
• He closed his eyes, making a list of valid reasons in his mind.
• Okay. First, he didn't want to make a scene in the class with the lecturer he had liked since his freshman year. He didn't want to attract unnecessary attention from Professor Garfield, who would probably kick him out of the class forever or maybe even get his name crossed off the list of students who could pass the course exam for good.
• Secondly, he didn't want to ruin his image in Professor Garfield's eyes by letting Aiden provoke his anger.
• And lastly, he did not want to make this insect feel superior by making his temper explode in class.
• In essence, being kicked out of this class was the last thing he wanted.
• Stay calm, Ashley. Stay calm...
• He kept chanting that mantra in his mind continuously as soon as he opened his eyes and again tried hard to focus all his attention on Professor Garfield's class. His hands went back to taking notes on the lecture material, with all his attention focused on the projector screen. Imagining that the existence of the man named Aiden Connor had never sat next to him and never existed in his life.
• "Yes, that's it for today's lecture," Professor Garfield turned off the projector screen, then turned his body to face all the students in the room in an elegant manner. His hand, which was not holding the projector remote, adjusted the position of the glasses perched between his nose, circulating the eyes of all the students in his class. "For assignments, you can look at the campus e-learning site and upload them there before the deadline I've given."
• "Okay," said all the students in the class simultaneously.
• "If you have any questions, you can come to me directly or email me. See you at the next meeting."
• For a moment, he thought that Professor Garfield was looking at him. As if he were sending Ashley a signal with that look in his eyes that had even managed to do its job of making him tremble with pleasure. He didn't even know if it was just part of his imagination or if it was real when he saw the smile on the man's face before it disappeared and was replaced with his usual flat face.
• He hurriedly lowered his face in an attempt to hide the blush that must be evident on his face right now.
• "Good afternoon."
• After saying that sentence, Professor Garfield put down the remote controller of his projector and then waltzed out of his classroom in a casual yet elegant manner. He only glanced at Professor Garfield, looking at the man he dared not approach until Professor Garfield disappeared from the classroom.
• "You seem to be very interested in this class, huh?"
• Aiden's comment managed to snap Ashley back to the fact that the annoying errand boy was still there. Sitting beside his side. Staring at him intensely to the point that it made him feel annoyed to death.
• A gaze that provoked the urge in him to hit the man with all his might.
• And goddammit, that moron did not know when to stop showing such annoying behavior in front of him. Instead, Aiden showed Ashley a friendly expression that made him look like a moron, giving Ashley unnecessary attention.
• It all irritated him. Couldn't that errand boy do everything that needed to be done without showing such a strange expression?
• "It has nothing to do with you."
• "It doesn't. But I'm curious. I want to get to know you better–"
• "Who gave you permission to do so?” Ashley glared at Aiden for a moment before rolling his eyes lazily and looking away. His heart held frustration inside him, along with his desire to punch the man right then and there.
• Hold on. Why should he wait if he could do it now?
• Ashley momentarily glanced around the room, which was already quiet as almost all the students had left the class. He looked at Aiden, who was still looking at him with the same enthusiastic gaze as before.
• In that instant, he stood up and pushed the man's head against the table.
• "I don't need your enthusiasm, human." Ashley's eyes flashed with anger instantly, with both eyes turning into werewolf eyes. As the few remaining students in the room cried out in shock and fear, he gave them all a cold stare. His gaze managed to drive away everyone in the room full of fear, leaving only him and Aiden, who did not look frightened.
• "Eh? So I can't–"
• "Just do your job without asking too many questions, you moron!" He grabbed Aiden's hair, smashing Aiden's head against the table several times as a way to vent his anger at the man until he was satisfied.
• "Now, do you understand?"
• Aiden winced in pain now, giving a small nod. He couldn't see Aiden's face clearly because Aiden was hiding his face, and he didn't care about the reaction it created on the man's face.
• Dammit, Ashley muttered to himself in frustration. Why did I accept his offer? Instead of bullying this fucking human, it feels like I'm the one being bullied …
• He massaged his temples, which were throbbing with pain. His mind began to question whether his decision to accept Aiden as his errand boy to replace Michael Raymond was the right decision or not.
• Until now, he could still wipe out Aiden's existence in his mind.
• And up until that point, he had managed to do so. He managed to ignore the full attention Aiden gave him throughout the class, which made him uneasy.
• As he pretended to ignore Aiden's existence, he put away his notes and then turned off his iPad screen. He started to tidy up his things while grunting in annoyance when, all of a sudden, Aiden's hand was already extended to him.
• "Let me do it, Master.”
• ***