Chapter 7: Mr. Strict

Adriana's POV

My heart is hammering inside my chest for absolutely no reason as I make my way to Mr. DiLaurentiis' class the next day.

Yes, him.

Oh gosh.

Maybe there's a reason why I'm nervous right now and I just can't figure out what is it yet.

I mean, going to Mr. DiLaurentiis' class is enough reason to thrill me.

After all, that conversation that I had with him still lives in my mind rent-free.

I took a deep breath before I opened the door of our classroom and entered.

I roamed my eyes around the surroundings.

He's still not here. . .

A few of my classmates are already inside busy doing their things.

It's still so early for class that's why half of my classmates aren't still here.

I guess, I got a little bit excited and went here earlier and I should be. I have no idea why. . .

I sat on the chair not so far away from the board. I made sure to reserve the seat beside me for Molly.

Molly is my classmate in this class and she's still in her other class that's why she's not here yet and I know she'd appreciate this little thing that I just did for her.

It's still so early to say but I feel like I'm already making friends in the form of Molly. I have talked to my classmates but that's just it. My interactions with Molly are different and I like it.

I just really hope this will work out-- the friendship I'm forming with her. But then again, it's still too early to say anything and I might just assume things and that she really doesn't see me just like how I see her.

I heaved a sigh and opened my textbook.

Since I have nothing else to do but wait for everyone to arrive, I might as well do some advanced study because it will surely benefit me and. . . in case I get called by the professor, Mr. DiLaurentiis-- I won't look dumb in front of him and everyone.

It's completely normal to feel conscious about what my professor will think of me-- I should be conscious because I'm his student and I need to do better and make a good impression on him.

Oh gosh, what am I even thinking?

Okay, fine. I admit it.

~*~

I'm still confused about what's happening. The man from that night is still a mystery to me and seeing my professor look exactly like him is something that I just can't still wrap my head around. And, when I asked my professor-- which I shouldn't have done because that was embarrassing and dumb, he said it wasn't him and he doesn't know me!

I scanned my textbook and tried to read to get him off my mind but to no avail.

The words are just dancing in my mind and I can't understand a thing.

I groaned inwardly and slammed the book closed.

Good thing there's no one close to me right now because they will surely think I'm insane for how I'm acting right now.

I just. . . can't.

Who was that man from last night?

Did he help me out of pity and human decency or does he know me?

Did he just happen to be there at the same time as me?

But he doesn't look like a college student so what was he doing there?

He just can't be there at the party because that party was only meant for the university students.

And the watch. . .

They have the same watch.

I know anyone can just have the same watch, but that watch isn't just an ordinary watch.

I know it cost a fortune and literally only a few have them.

Is Professor DiLaurentiis that rich? Same with that man from that night.

I know I should just forget about him but I can't. I can't forget him and not only because I didn't thank him properly for what he did for me that night. . . but because of the things I'm feeling right now whenever I think of him.

I get these unexplainable feelings inside my stomach and my heart flatter every time he's inside my mind. And when I think of the way he looked at me and cared about me and literally the way he was worried about me. . .

I know it's so lame but is it possible that I got love at first sight with him?

And now my professor. . . they look and sound exactly alike.

Are they the same person?

If they are then. . . am I in love with my professor?

Oh my gosh. What am I even thinking?!

"Hey, are you okay?"

My eyes widened as I felt someone nudged me.

I looked up and saw that it was Molly.

I didn't even notice her arrival and my other classmates' arrival.

I'm really hoping that I wasn't thinking out loud when she saw me otherwise I'm going to die.

I just thought of me being in love with our professor and it couldn't be because it's-- well, weird.

I flashed a smile. "Of course, I was just reading."

Molly creased her forehead at me and let out a chuckle. "Reading with your book closed?"

Oh damn.

I just laughed it off. "It's my talent."

She laughed and sat down. "You're crazy, Adriana."

"Here comes the hot professor," Molly whispered later on.

My heart started beating fast inside my chest.

What is happening to me?

The sight of Mr. DiLaurentiis entering inside the classroom is enough to make my heart do a somersault.

Oh my gosh, I'm in danger.

"Good afternoon," he greeted seriously, and his tone was full of authority.

I can believe him saying he wasn't that person that night and that he doesn't know me because, yes, there's a big difference between how they act and the way they talk.

Mr. DiLaurentiis is authoritative and stern and he has this aura of an old strict professor although he looks young and seems like only a few years older than us-- while that man from that night is gentle and caring.

Fuck, but they really look exactly the same and they sound the same although their tone is different.

I think I'm going crazy.

The whole class greeted him back except me because I obviously couldn't focus and I couldn't keep up with what was happening around me.

I looked at Mr. DiLaurentiis and my heart leaped when I saw that his eyes were already on me.

Oh my god. . .

I saw him clear his throat and averted his gaze from me as he turned his back on us and started writing on the board.

He wrote the title of our topic for today and told us to open the book on the page of our discussion.

Mr. DiLaurentiis started his class and I forced myself to listen to him and actually put everything he said inside my mind.

I suddenly heard Molly chuckle so I looked at her.

"What?" I whispered.

He leaned sideways in my direction. "You know I feel bad for our professor because he's so eager to teach but his students, specifically women, are just watching him and nothing else. They're obviously daydreaming about him and not paying attention to his discussion."

I subtly roamed my eyes around and Molly was right.

I can see girls watching him dearly and obviously not listening.

I really can't blame them.

My ears are automatically alerted when I hear my name being called.

I brought my eyes in front in horror.

"Stand up," Mr. DiLaurentiis ordered.

Oh fuck.

My heart started beating faster than normal inside my chest.

I can even almost hear it.

I stood up from my chair.

"You answer my question right and I'm going to let you sit back, you got it wrong-- it means you need to give importance to your studies and you should do better," Mr. DiLaurentiis said enough to make me tremble in my knees.

Mr. DiLaurentiis asked his question and I just want the floor to open up and eat me alive because I don't know the answer to it.

Fuck.

"Sir, I. . ." I trailed off.

Mr. DiLaurentiis just stared at me.

His gaze is intense making my heart beat wildly in my chest.

I sucked on my lower lip right after I said my answer which I know was wrong before I even said it.

"Wrong. Remain standing." His tone came out cold and stern.

Shit shit shit.

"You, what's your name?" he asked and pointed to my other classmate.

"Delgado, sir."

"Stand up."

Mr. DiLaurentiis asked the same question to my classmate, Josh Delgado and he got it right.

Fuck.

Mr. DiLaurentiis looked at me and our eyes met.

"Meet me after class, Miss Litmann," he said coldly.