Chapter 4

I knew Professor Alistair had always gotten along well with Derek and his friends.

But I never expected him to be so unfair.

Now, with just the three of us in the office, and no other students around, he was openly siding with Derek.

Why was Derek spreading rumors about me?

He'd pursued me before, and I'd rejected him.

He'd bought me coffee a few times, but I never drank it. I explicitly texted him to stop.

"I'm not interested in you at all."

He'd pretended to be magnanimous at the time.

"It's fine, if we can't be a couple, we can still be friends, right? Just buying a classmate a coffee, no need to be so particular."

I hated to waste the coffees, so my roommates drank them.

Later, seeing my firm attitude and realizing he couldn't get anything from me, Derek completely lost it.

First, he demanded I pay him back for the coffees.

"Just because you say you didn't drink them, means you didn't? Do you have proof?"

I couldn't be bothered arguing, so I PayPal'd him twenty dollars.

"Just leave me alone."

He accepted it instantly, then sent back a barrage of insults.

"Who are you trying to impress? Like anyone's desperate for you!"

"With those big boobs, I bet you've been with countless men."

He spewed endless vile language. I blocked him and never spoke to him again.

When we ran into each other in class, I just pretended not to know him.

I never thought he'd start spreading such hateful rumors about me.

Afraid I'd spill the truth, Derek had also slandered me to Professor Alistair, claiming I'd led him on, played him, wouldn't be his girlfriend, but still spent his money.

He was truly pissed off, he told Professor Alistair.

"Professor, I know I was wrong. I just wanted to teach her a lesson, and I ended up dragging you into it."

"I'm sorry."

Professor Alistair patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"It's alright. Young people get heated sometimes, it's normal."

"But you, Hazel!"

Professor Alistair turned and glared at me.

"A guy's feelings are precious. If someone likes you, you should reject them gracefully even if you don't accept them. Now look at the mess you've made. Are you happy?"

"You have your own family, why do you need to spend other people's money? Taking advantage of others like this is a character flaw. As for your scholarship—"

"I didn't!"

I loudly protested, explaining there was no financial entanglement between Derek and me; he'd just bought me a few coffees.

Before I could finish, Professor Alistair cut me off, his voice sharp and impatient.

"Just a few coffees?"

"You say that so casually. How much is your monthly allowance, then?"

"Coffees nowadays are like five to ten bucks each. Do you think that's a small amount?"

Professor Alistair reprimanded me harshly. Finally, he waved his hand.

"Alright, you both share the blame for this. Apologize to each other. You're classmates, there's no need to make it so awkward."