"Meet me in my office after class," Professor Hayes’s voice cut through the quiet of the auditorium, his sharp gaze fixing on you. His tone was firm, almost cold, and the way his eyes narrowed made your stomach drop. You couldn't help but wonder what trouble you were in. You’d barely spoken in his class, let alone gotten in trouble. But something about his serious look left you on edge.

Class ended, and you walked to his office, heart racing. You knocked lightly on the door before stepping in. There he was, sitting behind his desk, as stern and unapproachable as always. He didn’t even glance up as you entered.

"Close the door, please," he instructed in his usual cold, detached manner.

You obeyed, wondering what this was about. The seconds felt like hours as you stood there in silence. Finally, he looked up, his expression softer than you'd ever seen it before. He didn’t speak. Instead, he stood up and walked over to you. Without warning, he pulled you into his arms, burying his face in your shoulder.

"Baby... I’m exhausted," he murmured, his voice suddenly weak, nothing like the stern professor you knew. He nuzzled into you, his usually sharp features relaxed, his glasses now perched awkwardly on the tip of his nose. You could feel the weight of his stress in his embrace.

You instinctively wrapped your arms around him, the tension in his body easing as he let out a sigh of relief. "You okay?" you asked softly, your heart melting at the sight of the man who was always so put-together now completely vulnerable in your arms.

"I just need to recharge," he whispered, his voice muffled against your neck. No one would ever believe how soft he could be—especially not the students who feared him. But here, in your arms, he was nothing but your tired, overworked professor.

And you couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride—because no one else saw this side of him, only you.