ROWAN My mind was filled with so many thoughts that I honestly couldn’t decide which one to deal with first.
I still couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Maybe… this was all in my head.
Maybe the hot one-night stand with that stranger was messing with me, making me see his face on every man.
I tried to assure myself several times.
I even rubbed my eyes and blinked hard, hoping the image would change.
It didn’t.
“Oh God…” So it really was Mr.
One-Night-Stand.
There was no escaping the truth anymore.
I swallowed hard and stared at him from my seat.
Is fate actually mocking me?
Because if it was, it was doing an excellent job.
When I thought today couldn’t get any worse… now he is our Ethics professor?
Ethics fucking professor?
I mouthed the words in complete disbelief.
Oooh fuck.
Why?
Why?
Why?
Heavenly Father, why does it have to happen this way?
He talked about how he wanted the best for us and how he would do his best to make sure we got the most out of the course.
My mind wasn’t even on what he was saying.
That was the least of my problems right now.
I lowered my head and pretended to be busy with my notebook.
Maybe if I didn’t look at him, he would somehow disappear.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t how reality worked.
More students kept entering the lecture hall.
I frowned.
Where are all these people coming from?
There weren’t even this many students in some of the compulsory courses.
Why was this lecture hall suddenly packed?
There was a good chance half of these people weren’t even taking Ethics.
Professor Ashford suddenly cleared his throat and let out a calm smile, like he had no problems in the whole world while I was drowning in mine.
The moment he smiled, half the students gasped like they had never seen a man smile before.
It was a disgusting sight.
Why were they acting like that over a simple smile?
Or was I the only one who could see how ridiculous it was?
Then again, maybe I was simply too distracted by my own problems to understand the hype.
“For those who are just joining us, I’ll introduce myself once more so everyone knows who I am.” He paused briefly.
“I am Professor Adrian Ashford, and I will be your Ethics professor from now on.” My stomach twisted.
Hearing his name again somehow made everything feel even more real.
“I’ll make sure to do my best to make this course—” “Why do you have to teach only Ethics?” A student suddenly interrupted.
Professor Ashford paused.
Before he could answer, several other students started talking.
“Can’t you teach all our courses?” “We wouldn’t mind seeing your face every day!” “We are tired of seeing those old ug—” The student was cut off immediately.
“Alright, that is enough,” Professor Ashford said firmly.
His voice was still calm, but there was clear authority in it.
“I will not let you embarrass any other professor or speak ill about them just because you want me as your lecturer.
That is very, very unacceptable.” The whole group went quiet at once.
They looked caught off guard and quickly apologized.
Oooh wow.
He is also strict, I thought to myself.
But he wasn’t strict when he was digging deep inside my ass and looking for what wasn’t lost.
The thought hit me so suddenly that I felt heat rush to my face.
I was embarrassed at myself for even thinking something so vulgar.
I needed help.
I face-palmed quietly and sank deeper into my own world.
“Alright, students.” Professor Ashford’s voice pulled me back.
“Now that we’re done with my introduction, I’d like those who aren’t taking Ethics to excuse themselves while we get started.” A few students immediately started complaining.
“But we are all Ethics students.
Can’t you just teach us all?” some of them complained, even pouting their lips.
I was very disgusted by the sight.
Professor Ashford looked around the room before speaking.
“Before I came into this hall, I was informed that the number of students enrolled in Ethics was less than forty.” He glanced around.
“And even that was already more than expected.” A few people exchanged nervous looks.
He continued.
“But if we count everyone currently in this hall, there are clearly more than a hundred people here.” He raised an eyebrow.
“So…” He paused.
“How did we suddenly get to over a hundred?” The moment he asked that, the students who were not registered for the course started muttering under their breath and slowly standing up to leave.
“Tchhhh.
He is cute but mean,” I heard someone complain behind me.
“His mean attitude is going to make him look ugly to me,” another girl said.
Then a third voice joined in, sounding way too excited.
“This rudeness makes him a hundred times hotter.
Now I am imagining how nasty and arrogant he is going to be in bed when he is deep inside of me.” I almost choked.
I quickly looked away.
These girls really needed to wash those disgusting thoughts out of their heads.
How could someone hear a man speak firmly for two minutes and immediately start imagining what he would be like in bed?
I didn’t understand them.
Then again… Maybe I really shouldn’t be judging anyone.
Considering what had happened to me last night, I was probably the last person who should be judging anyone’s thoughts.
I quickly pushed that thought away.
… … ….
Eventually, all the students who weren’t actually taking Ethics had left the lecture hall and the room finally looked normal.
Professor Ashford stood behind the podium and lightly clapped his hands together.
“Alright.” He smiled.
“Now that we are finally left with the actual Ethics students, it’s time for us to get down to business.” A few students laughed.
He opened his notes and started the lecture.
I tried to listen.
I really did.
I kept my eyes on him as he moved around the front of the room, explaining different concepts and giving examples.
But my mind refused to cooperate.
Every time I looked at him, my brain reminded me of everything was desperately trying to forget.
This is a nightmare.
And somehow, I was supposed to sit in his class every week and pretend that nothing had happened between us.
How was I supposed to do that?
I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t even noticed how many minutes had passed.
I had written the date.
…… Suddenly——— Smack!
The sound of Professor Ashford’s hand hitting the podium pulled me back so sharply that I almost jumped out of my seat.
I quickly looked up.
“It seems some people weren’t really concentrating during today’s lecture.” My heart skipped.
Please don’t be talking about me.
I hoped as I immediately lowered my eyes and pretended to look through my notes.
“You in the black hoodie.” I froze.
For a second, I didn’t move.
Then I slowly looked behind me, trying to figure out who he was talking to.
“Yes, you.
The one turning around in the black hoodie.” I looked down at what I was wearing.
A black hoodie.
Oh.
I slowly raised my head.
Professor Ashford was looking directly at me.
I swallowed hard and pointed at myself.
“Me?” “Yes.” My heart started pounding again.
“Can you tell me the difference between moral relativism and moral absolutism?” I stared at him.
My mind went completely blank.
“I…” I swallowed.
“I… uh…” Come on, Rowan.
Say something.
Anything.
Don’t just sit there looking stupid.
“Moral… relativism is when…” I paused.
My mind went completely blank.
What had he said earlier?
I desperately searched through the few pieces of information I could remember.
“…when people think what is right and wrong can depend on the culture or… or the situation.” I swallowed again.
“And absolutism is when they believe some things are always right or always wrong, no matter what.” The second I finished, I wanted to disappear beneath the desk.
My answer sounded uncertain.
Professor Ashford tilted his head slightly and for a moment, he said nothing.
“That’s not entirely wrong.” A tiny bit of relief entered my chest.
“But it’s incomplete.” There went my relief.
“And judging by how much you hesitated, I’m guessing you weren’t following the lecture very closely.” Heat immediately crawled up my neck.
“I’m sorry, sir,” I forced myself to say.
All that was in my head was the memory of using that same voice to moan his name last night..
“Pay attention.” “Yes, sir.” I lowered my eyes.
I just wanted this moment to end.
I wanted the class to end.
I wanted to forget that Professor Adrian Ashford existed.
But apparently, my day wasn’t done ruining me.
Because just when I thought the embarrassment was over, his voice came again.
“Since you’re having trouble following the material on the first day…” He paused.
“I’d like you to stop by my office after class.”