1 Prologue

A bead of sweat rolled down the side of my face, plopping onto the carpeted floor of the classroom. Loud voices filled my ears as I pushed myself away from the floor again. A fiery stream ran through the veins of my arms reaching as far as my heart, nearly burning a hole through my chest.

'200!' My breathy proclamation rang around the classroom. A roar of applause and whistles instantly followed it.

'Sir that was incredible! How much do you work out in your spare time?'

'Sir! Will you still be giving us the exam on Monday??'

'Sir, are you single-?'

'Sir, what's your routine at the gym?'

A bombardment of questions drilled through my skull, leaving my head in more pain than all those push-ups.

'Alright alright, settle down class. I won the bet so now you guys have double homework for this semester.'

'''''AWWWW'''''

I couldn't help but chuckle over how childish college students can get. Not that I mind, I still see part of myself in them. That's why I took up teaching here. Well, not entirely the only reason-

'Professor Jacob! I just saw Miss Elena leaving the premise!'

Shit! Is it that time already?!

'You get the rest of the day off! Stay safe over the weekend!'

Almost like a bolt of lightning, my legs ran through the hallway littered with students. I could feel the all too familiar gazes judging me as I dashed through the little space between people. My laptop bag continued to get caught between students, all I could scream back at them was a simple 'Sorry!'.

The carpet soon turned into the laminated floor that stretched over the whole lobby. The entrance was just fifty metres away!! She can't have gotten too far, especially in heels.

I pushed through the two front doors, it slowed me down a slight bit but I cannot falter now! Today is a day that I absolutely cannot miss out on because today is-

'Hello there Jacob.'

Her red gaze washed over my body sending shivers that bathe me in a fear that shook me to my very core. Why did you have to be here?!?

'Listen Luxia, I don't have time for this I'm going to miss my date-'

'Shh. Not another word. Today you are mine. And trust me when I tell you that she is a very dangerous woman, you shouldn't be hanging around her.'

She stood almost proudly over me, one of her feet keeping my leg stapled to the floor. Despite being a physics professor she is the strongest person I know, she refuses to share her secrets with me, at least without compensation….

We've known each other for nearly our whole lives, growing up in the same neighbourhood and attending everything together. Things took a turn when we arrived at high school though, that's when she introduced me to Elena. If I hadn't met her then me and Luxia might've ended up being lovers…

'Stop getting in the way Luxia, I am trying to pursue my love. You may have feelings for me but please understand I don't feel the same about you.'

Silence hung in the air along with tension so thick you could cut with a knife. I couldn't see past the sun's glare hiding her face, but small droplets rained from above. Each pitter-patter is absorbed by my trousers. I might've gone too far. I didn't mean to hurt her.

'Luxia I-'

'SHUT IT-'

'All I've-' She paused for a short second, I could hear her gulping down what seemed to be a boulder.

'All I've ever done was look out for you! You never should've met that bitch, she is playing you like a fool Jacob!'

Playing me like a fool? 'What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!'

A fire ignited in my heart, burning down the walls I built up. A heat gripped it's way up my throat. 'Do you know just how fucking long I've been trying to get a date with her?! Why are you ruining my chance now?'

Her head shifted to the side slightly, completely eclipsing the sun, unveiling the full range of expressions she was trying to hold back. Seeing her like this dropped another tank of gasoline onto the burning pyre.

'Can't you see how she has always been showing little interest in you to pull you in? Then she would ignore you for days to create distance between you again! I've seen it all. Please understand that she is not healthy for you!'

'That's not true-'

Memories instantly flooded my mind depicting exactly what Luxia mentioned. Her yo-yo-ing me between two different situations, has she always been this cunning? Even when she came to my house to cook for me while I had a fever? Was it all a lie!?

'AGHH-'

God this is so fucking frustrating, I can't believe I would be toyed around with so easily…no that's not the main issue right now.

My hand slithered into my bag in search of it. It took a few seconds of searching filled with Luxia gently sobbing while maintaining her full strength on my leg. There! Out came a small handkerchief engraved with various custom floral designs in my favourite colours. My muscles twitched as I brought it before her eyes. 'Ahem'

Her hands uncovered her glistening red eyes and reached out to pluck the piece of fabric from my hand. I could see her eyes widening in the realisation of what I just handed her.

'This is…'

'Yes, it's the handkerchief you gave me 12 years ago. I kept it because it's precious to me and I use it whenever I need to.'

I couldn't help my face getting increasingly redder by the second. How can my heart change this quickly for a different woman?

The pressure quickly released from my leg and both her hands gripped my forearm, pulling me towards the corner of the building. Her barely audible humming filled my ears with its familiar tune. Where have I heard this before?

It didn't take long before I was dragged across the damp grass, and my shirt start slipping exposing my back to the cool water. Shivers ran up my spine as I tried to get a footing to stand up. It was no use though, she left no room for something like that.

'Please let me get up first, I really can't stand having my clothes wet! You know this.'

She turned around with a fiery passion burning in her eyes, something so primal that my heart caught on and reciprocated the emotion. My chest rumbled from the ferocious thumping, her lips parted in a way I've only seen in erotica.

'You can wash them at my place later.' She turned her head after sneaking a wink into the exchange. A tug followed by another rowed me nearer to the corner. What the hell will this woman do to me?! A hug? Holding hands?! Or maybe….kissing?!

Alright alright. My teeth are washed, and I remembered to put cologne on while running through the hallway.

'Ouch' I bumped my shoulder onto the marble corner of the building. Her ferocious hands yanked me to my feet and a hand flew to the side of my head. I could see my beet-red face in her crimson eyes, her lips pursed together and her eyes gently closed as she neared me slowly.

My body reacted in unison with Luxia's and my world turned to darkness. A pair of soft lips pressed against mine gently, something trying to make its way through-

'So this is what you do instead of going on our date Jacob.'

My eyes darted towards the eerie voice originating from the corner of the building. There she stood with her blond dishevelled hair swaying in the wind. Her blue eyes shone like stars from the very heavens. No. Something much more divine, almost as if a god had descended from the heavens.

'Luxia has made me realise how terrible of a person you have been to me. How you lied and manipulated me. I am not your toy you whore!'

An all too familiar silence was quickly broken by her giggling.

'Pfft'

'Not my toy? Get over yourself, you've always been mine to toy with Jacob. And I have to thank Luxia for introducing me to you, it really has been so much fun to mess with your mind.'

What… who the fuck is this woman?

'Just leave, you no longer are part of my life. I will live happily with Luxia.'

'Hmm. No no no. That can't be. I'm sorry but you don't have the liberty to make those choices.'

Out of her purse, she pulled a long knife of impossible proportions before tossing it up. The sun completely blocked the knife-

Shnk

'W-what..'

I reached my hand down to my stomach, it burned like something I have never felt before. Why is my hand red? And why is everything growing blurry?

'-stay with me Jacob-'

'-don't worry bitch, you are joining him too-'

Shnk

A barely audible thud shook the ground beside me, but I was too sleepy to move my head. Is Luxia alright…? Why is the world burning and freezing all at once? Why are the colours fading like this?

Is this death?