— 👻 𝓼𝔂𝓷𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓼

“ WE’LL find it, ” he assures as he stands up and thinks for a moment about where he might have placed a book that didn’t belong to him. he wouldn’t have kept it in his room. his bedroom was sacred ground, meant o n l y for himself . . . he would keep it in a more public area. “ hold on just one second, ” he shuffled away to the kitchen and returned in moments with a notebook. “ would this be it ?? ”

“ only if you count words spoken out of my own vanity, YES. ” his apparent standoffish nature kept people from speaking to him, so he rarely, if ever, was the object of someone’s compliment. he attested that it came with the territory of being the way he was. it didn’t bother him. he could appreciate himself just fine. “ i promise. i never joke about s t u d i e s. ” or much of anything else. something about this particular subject made him more curious than most. he hadn’t noticed any of his unconscious quirks considering his conscious quirks were all debilitating and impossible to ignore. at the male’s opposition to the professor’s take on logic over love, he couldn’t help but let out a private chuckle. “ mm, and that’s why it’s up for INTERPRETATION, isn’t it ?? surely two social creatures would see an unexplained emotional or automated response differently according to their own socialization. you believe logic and love aren’t mutually inclusive, but i do, ” the man mused, hooded eyes shining a bit in the light. “ if we’re talking about what i define as love, then yes, but what would you consider being in love ?? ”

“ y e s. i can buy you dinner. do you mind if i tag along ?? i haven’t eaten just yet. ”

sús: also i find it hard to believe that you don't have more friends. you're overly charismatic, engaging, and supportive. i can't imagine anyone not wanting to bask in your energy

“ would you mind if i took a look at your lecture notes ?? i might be able to help you ORGANIZE them if you’re willing to stay a little while and workshop them with me, ” he offered, expression relatively open. it was still obvious he didn’t quite grasp the concept of controlling one’s face. “ i was trying to figure out why i placed my cranberry juice b e s i d e my coagulase when the fluids are the same color. ”

“ ORGANIZING is sort of my—is sort of my . . . it’s what I do best. when exactly are you free next ?? ”

the man saved the ‘ need and want are two different things ’ speech for the inside of his subconscious rather than stating it. “ i should hope so, ” he said from the rim of his beaker filled with his juice. “ your ATTENDANCE is always welcome. ”

the professor’s nights were quiet. he preferred them that way. no disturbances like the ones that occurred during the daytime meant he could relax in his solitude. a knock on the door, however, ruined the ILLUSION of comfort. he rose up and opened the door without looking through peep hole to see whom had arrived. the sight he was met with was less than favorable from a visual standpoint. “ o . . . kay ;; come in. ” he drew out. he stood with the door a j a r, eyes studying over the male’s features with mild concern over what was being presented. “ what did you do ?? ”

PAPER reviewing on the library was the easiest way to spend his free hours rather than doing so in his office. it was much more silent there, and he had a tendency to r e p u l s e others with his presence due to most students having taken his class and struggling. the fact that he was being disturbed by anyone was more than baffling. “ i do. what sort of phone do you have ?? ” he asked, holding up his iphone 6 charger. he hadn’t upgraded in quite some time. 

a small h u f f escaped his lips as he placed a few more items back in their designated areas. he made quick work of cleaning the area closest to him, and while he was on his knees, he decided to look beneath the nearest surface for a stray book. no such luck. “ it’s not okay, but i can understand why it was done, ” he mentioned during his attempt to stand. “ any luck over there ?? ”

“ such—such BENEVOLENCE !! how can i repay you ?? ”

with everything labeled and explained, a sense of PRIDE washed over the professor. he wished more students would request personal attention if they had a problem in his class. he hated failing those who were simply not processing the information spoken in fast pace during his lectures. if the curriculum could a f f o r d him taking it slow, he would. “ i’m glad. ” his voice had a hint of softness to it. “ is there ANYTHING else i can help you with ?? ”

sús: i've got anna, máximo, robin, and you. i believe that makes four and i do believe i can use one hand to count to that number

the professor was SWABBING the inside of his cheek as he was being addressed. he then opened up his bag, emptied out his tin filled with mints, and placed it there. once it was secured,  he looked at the mess of eight mints on the desk. “ CARE for a mint ?? ” he asked softly, placing a cover on the coagulase and then taking a drink of his cranberry juice.

“ it certainly isn’t the b e s t part of higher education, but i’d be willing to help edit or organize your resources if you NEED it. i’d be happy to assist. ”

RELIEF washed over the man as his worries were quelled by the woman’s words. it was nice knowing that for the first time in his life, a person walking away from him had nothing to do with what he’d done wrong. however, that meant the blame for the departure fell on the other party. he didn’t have any ill feelings toward her vanishing, though. at least, not in the moment. he would have to play his emotions by ear. “ ah, yes. how are classes for you. ” it was meant to be conversational, but he found himself genuinely concerned. still, he mused,  “ te extraño. ”

“ i was going to ask how your dissertation was coming but i think it can wait until you’ve had your caffeine fix. ”