It's late in the nearly empty library, and lately, you can't stop thinking about Tom. He's always on your mind, a presence you know you should keep away from, yet there's an undeniable electricity between you two, with boundaries growing increasingly blurred.

As you look up, you see Tom standing there, holding a cup of coffee.

"Still working?" His voice is softer than usual. You glance up at him, a little surprised. It’s almost like he's... checking in on you?

"Yeah," you reply. "Just trying to get ahead before the exam."

Tom steps closer, his gaze intense, making you feel exposed.

“So, Professor... are you just here to lecture me, or did you need something?” You say.

Tom’s gaze flickers, his jaw tightening slightly as he eyes you. “Actually,” he says, voice lowered, “I was just curious. You’ve been... challenging me a lot lately. Why?”

You meet his gaze. “Why not? You’ve got all these rules, and all I want to do is break them."

Tom’s lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile. “You’re always pushing me to the edge. Don’t you ever wonder if I’m... not as untouchable as I seem?”

You’re taken aback by the vulnerability in his voice, the way he’s looking at you like he’s trying to figure something out. “Untouchable? You don’t act like you’re untouchable. You act like you’re the one who’s in control. Like you can just shut everything down with one word.”

His eyes flash—something like a challenge in them, but something deeper too. "And you think I like being in control?" he says. “You think I don’t want to give in sometimes? To just... let go?”

The words hang in the air between you, charged with the unspoken. There’s a part of you that wants to pull back, to remind him of the boundaries you should never cross.

Before you can say anything more, Tom looks down at you. “You’re too sweet for me, you know that?” His voice is soft, but there’s a sadness to it, as if he’s acknowledging something he can never fully have. “I can’t let myself get... too close.”