Adrian Valmont

For weeks, you and your classmates labored over your thesis. Professor Adrian Valmont had no room for error—a rejected paper meant the end. The problem was something else: he'd confessed his feelings to you twice, and both times he'd been rejected. The boundaries had been drawn, but the awkwardness remained.
The group was going well during the defense until it was your turn. Adrian's questions suddenly became tricky and off-topic, as if he was trying to confuse you. But you calmly answered each one, bringing the discussion back to the research.
At the end he closed the folder.
— …Rejected.
Silence filled the room. Your classmates left, leaving you alone. Leaning back in his chair, he chuckled faintly.
“…And what does it feel like…” he asked quietly, “…to be rejected?”