The sound of the door slamming shut and all but breaking free from its hinges drew his eyes, the fuming redhead that’d just stepped into the apartment making his heart flutter. Sylvia kicked her feet and caused her shoes to fly off into a nearby corner, at the sight of her pale, lithe legs his mind flashed back to the gift that was waiting for the woman in his desk’s lower drawer.

His heart switched gears and a bead of sweat broke across his brow.

“Rough day?” he asked with a chuckle and Sylvia turned towards him, her normally vibrant green eyes alight with irritation.

“Don’t even start!” she cried and threw her hands up in the air. “Why do I put up with the annoying little brats?”

“Because, despite how much you complain, you actually love teaching?”

She rolled her eyes and grumbled, “Ugh! I hate it when you are right⁠—”

“So, you hate each and every day?”

“You are the worst,” she said with a faux irritated snort, the amused upwards tilt of her full lips showing that his words, had, in fact helped lift her mood. The long-haired beauty stopped in the midst of removing her button-up white shirt and narrowed her eyes.

“What are you smiling about?”

Oh shit. Was his excitement that obvious?

“Nothing,” he said with a shrug and a carefree tone that had little in common with the storm raging in his heart.

Sylvia glared at him with suspicion, well used to his antics by now.

“Hmm…”

Nonetheless, seeing as he wouldn’t crack underneath her ‘angry professor stare#3’, Sylvia huffed and removed her shirt and jeans. Crushing onto the sofa in the middle of the room but an instant later, and letting out a relief filled groan. The sight of her perky full breasts, hidden behind her plain white bra, coupled with her long, shapely legs shifting so as to hide her lower regions from sight, and the treasure he often dreamed off, caused his eyes to dilate.

Maybe…maybe it was time.

“Sylvia.”

“Mmh?”

“I’ve got something for you,” he said and in a series of quick motions opened his drawer, removing the wrapped box and all but flying out of his chair in his haste to close the distance between them.

The tired woman let out a sigh and lifted her forearm away from her face, momentarily scrunching up due to the light once more hitting her eyes.

“A present? What for? We don’t have anything to celebrate, do we?”

A guilty expression spread across his face at his words making her eyes once again narrow in suspicion.

“What foolhardy idea did you get in your head this time, Ash?” she asked, fond exasperation coloring her voice as her green eyes landed on the cherry red rectangular box held in her friend and colleague’s hands.

Ash didn’t answer, instead, coming to a stop he nervously proffered the box the girl.

“This…this is for you, Sylvia,” the shoulder length brunette said, his voice a nervous whisper as he stretched his arms.

Eyebrow arching, the woman nonetheless took the box with one hand. Sighing she slided to a sitting position and with one last glance and sigh, unwrapped the gift in a few quick motions, he watched her all the while with trepidation in his heart.

She gasped.

For inside, a sensual purple dress stared back at her. And if his suspicions as to the source of her surprise were correct than yeah, she was right, it had been expensive. But, it was either that or the glittering diamond ring staring back at her from the middle of the box, nestled comfortably atop the fabric of the dress.

“Ash…” Her voice came out in a trembling whisper.

“Just say yes.”

He could see her chewing on her lip, and her face flashed through a myriad of expressions. Before, finally her eyes scrunched shut and her lips quivered.

“I…you know I can’t. You deserve better⁠—”

“Bullcrap, I want you.”

She whimpered at his words and moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Ash. I truly am. But I refuse to be an anchor around your neck, after all I, I lo—” gasping, her eyes flying wide open in surprise, as if she only just managed to stop herself from uttering those words by the barest of margins. Sylvia desperately shook her head and then, letting the box fall beside her, the dress and ring spilling out on the sofa’s cushions she sprang to her feet.

“Sorry…” she whispered once again and dashed away, clad only in her underwear.

“Sylvia!” he cried but it was of no use, for with a speed that would leave Olympic athletes impressed the young woman entered her room, shutting her door behind her, leaving behind a stunned Ash, whose heart was crying out in agony. Said agony only growing once sniffles reached his ears.

His eyes landed on his gift and his lips pulled into a snarl.

The claws of agony rending his heart momentarily subsided, only to be replaced with sheer rage. Rage at those bastards whom his dearest friend had told him about before, rat-faced pricks the lot of them. It was only thanks those to those bullies that Sylvia had such low self-esteem. Only thanks to them that she continued to rebuff his advances, as well that of others prior, despite how much he could see that she wanted to reciprocate his love.

He took a deep shuddering breath, trying and succeeding, for the most part, in bringing his tremulous emotions under control. Right, what’s done is