03

the beginning of hate you

Ava and Alice simultaneously shouted, "Shut up, you bitch!" as they expressed their frustration with the math class. "We don’t want to study math!"

The bell rang, signaling the end of the day, and the girls headed home. Ava, feeling the weight of the day, retreated to her room. She kicked off her socks, placed her bag on the bed, and changed into her comfort clothes—loose-fitting t-shirt and shorts—tied her hair into a messy bun, and headed to the kitchen. As she served herself dinner, the music played, and she found herself dancing along to it. Her body swayed with the beat, a small escape from the stress of the day. After finishing her meal, she returned to her room, went through her nightly routine, and finally collapsed into bed, the exhaustion taking over as sleep crept in.

Unbeknownst to her, a man stood in the shadows, watching her every move through a microscope.

The next morning, Ava followed her usual routine and made her way to college.

At college, she spotted Alice and Camille waiting for her. She waved and walked over to them.

"You finally made it, Ava. Try to wake up earlier next time," Camille teased.

"I couldn’t sleep last night. I don’t know why," Ava replied, her tiredness evident.

Alice smirked. "Because you’re always thinking about stuff."

"Shut up," Ava muttered, rolling her eyes.

The trio made their way to class. As they entered, the chatter from the other students filled the room, but it all quieted when Professor Jeon Jungkook walked in. He was dressed sharply in a black silk shirt and dark blue pants, his goggles perched on his head, and everyone greeted him respectfully.

Ava caught his gaze, his intense eyes locking with hers. She raised an eyebrow, wondering why he was staring at her like that.

"Professor Jeon is looking at you," Camille whispered to Ava.

"I know," Ava snapped back, "I have eyes."

Jungkook ignored the banter and got straight to the point. "Let’s start the class."

Just then, a girl piped up from the back of the room, her voice playful. "You didn’t ask our names. Other professors let us introduce ourselves."

Jungkook turned, his face emotionless. "I don’t need to know your names. I’ve done this before. Just call me Professor Jeon. Now, let’s focus on your studies, not this... cringey act."

Ava couldn’t help but notice the way the other students whispered about him. The second girl mumbled, "He’s rude, but... so hot. Look at those tattooed arms with the veins. That attitude? I can’t resist it."

Ava shook her head, trying to concentrate. Camille caught her eye. "What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"Nothing. Let’s just study," Ava replied, trying to ignore her growing discomfort.

Jungkook began the lesson. "So, the distance (d) equals speed (s) times time (t). This is basic physics. Let’s see how many of you actually know this."

A student nervously approached the board to answer a question, but the room quickly fell silent as Ava hesitated. She felt the weight of Jungkook’s gaze on her. His smirk was unmistakable, and she realized that this was all part of his plan—his revenge.

"Miss Ava," Jungkook called, his voice cutting through the silence. "Come here and solve this equation."

Ava stood, walking up to the board with as much confidence as she could muster. As she picked up the digital pen, she could feel him standing beside her, his presence intimidating. His smirk grew, making her blood boil. She glared at him, but the equation on the board felt harder than usual, her mind blanking under the pressure.

The seconds ticked by, but she couldn’t make much progress. Her handwriting faltered. The whispers from the class grew louder.

"Professor, we’re wasting time because of her," one student muttered.

Camille shot back, "Shut up! Ava’s trying. At least she’s putting in effort, unlike you."

Jungkook’s patience snapped. "Enough!" he snapped, his voice rising. "Class dismissed."

Ava rushed back to her seat, her hands trembling. "He did that on purpose," she muttered, frustration bubbling inside her. "He hasn’t forgotten, and he wants his revenge."

Camille frowned but tried to reassure her. "Don’t worry, Ava. He’s just a professor. He can’t do anything beyond punishing you for homework. Don’t let him get to you."

But Ava couldn’t shake the feeling. "No, Camille, I saw something in his eyes. It wasn’t just revenge. It was something else."

Camille’s teasing smile faltered. "Oh, so now Ava can read people’s feelings just by looking into their eyes?"

Ava ignored her friend’s joke, focusing on the unease she felt. "I’m going to be ready for whatever he does next."

After class, as Ava made her way home, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced behind her but saw nothing. Shrugging it off, she entered her house and settled at her study table, determined to stay ahead. Physics became her focus as she refused to give Jungkook another chance to humiliate her.

Later, she took a break to make coffee and sipped it while standing on her balcony. The night air was cool, and for a moment, she forgot about everything—until the shiver of unease crept over her again. Someone was watching her. Her shadow was the only thing visible through the curtain.

The man in the black leather jacket and mask stood, his eyes hidden, but his presence unmistakable. With his microscope in hand, he disappeared into the night, leaving onleeling of being hunted behind him.

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