CHAPTER 120: GOING TO SEE ZENON

{Elira}

~**^**~

For a moment, I thought about letting it ring out. Pretending I hadn’t seen. But my thumb betrayed me, sliding across the screen before I could think.

I pressed the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

His voice came through, deep and clipped. "Elira, come to my office in the administrative block immediately after your second class today."

I opened my mouth—"But, Professor—"

The line clicked dead before I could even finish my statement.

I stood still for a moment, staring at the phone, the silence in my ear louder than anything else.

Up ahead, Nari was laughing at something Juniper had said. Cambria patted Juniper on the shoulder, while Tamryn walked with her usual measured calm. None of them turned back to ask any questions.

They knew me well enough not to pry.

I slipped the phone back into my pocket and forced my legs to move, falling into step behind them.

But inside, panic twisted through me because my second class would end just before kitchen duty for dinner prep.

If I skipped the punishment, the Council would brand me a disobedient and disrespectful student, and then, they might take advantage and increase my punishment.

But if I skipped Zenon’s summons... I wasn’t sure what he would do.

Either choice felt like a trap, and I didn’t know which one to choose yet.

---

The cafeteria was alive with the midday rush, the smell of roasted meats and fresh bread filling the air as students lined up with their trays. My friends and I carried ours to our usual table, the noise around us a blur.

I tried to eat, but my stomach churned too much for more than a few bites. Every clock tick seemed louder than the chatter around us, pulling me closer to the inevitable.

Finally, I set my fork down and spoke quietly. "I won’t be able to do my kitchen duty after school today."

The four heads turned toward me at once.

"Why?" Nari asked, her brows shooting up.

I hesitated, then forced the words out. "Professor Zenon... summoned me to his office. After my second class."

Cambria’s spoon clattered softly against her bowl. "What? Did he say why?"

I shook my head. "No. But it might be because he caught me almost... dozing off during his lecture this morning." Heat crept into my cheeks at the admission.

Juniper exhaled through her nose, leaning back. "Good luck with that, Elira. Out of the three professor brothers, Professor Zenon is the meanest."

Nari bobbed her head immediately. "Absolutely. His brothers aren’t even means. He is just the only one who doesn’t smile with students. He is cold as a stone wall."

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep me from laughing. Their words, so full of certainty, made me want to tell them they didn’t know the half of it. But instead of making the revelation, I only smiled faintly and let them talk.

Cambria tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Although he doesn’t know about this, it’s unfair for him to drag you away when the Student Council already forced you into this punishment. What are you going to do?"

Before I could answer, Juniper shrugged. "Simple. We will cover for her."

Nari snapped her fingers. "Exactly. We will tell the kitchen staff Elira was delayed by a Professor, and we will take on the work today."

My eyes widened. "You’d really—?"

"Of course, Elira," Cambria said softly, giving me a reassuring smile. "This is what friends are for."

Something warm flickered in my chest at her words, making me wonder why I only saw them as my roommates for so long.

In fact, they were more than friends to me. Just like Selene said, they are sisters.

I breathed in deeply, my nerves still tight, but steadied by the warmth in their eyes. "Thank you. Truly."

"Don’t thank us yet," Nari said, jabbing her fork at a roll. "Wait until we survive the kitchen chaos without you."

Laughter bubbled around the table, easing the tightness in my chest. But as the bell rang and students began packing away their trays, the weight of Zenon’s summons returned like a shadow over my shoulder.

I would honour his call. But I couldn’t shake the nervous thrum in my veins.

I couldn’t wait for my second class to end.

---

The second class passed in a blur I barely absorbed. Every time the professor’s voice rose or the clock hands shifted forward, my chest tightened a little more.

Finally, the class ended and slowly, I packed up and left the classroom for the locker room.

I glanced around, trying to see if I would spot Cambria or the others but failed.

Letting out a deep sigh, I stopped in front of my locker and unlocked it with the code. Next, I grabbed my backpack and packed the books I needed into it, before shutting the door.

I wondered how my friends were going to cope in the kitchen without me. But already, I planned to join them as soon as I was done with Zenon, if only time would permit.

And with that, I found my way to the Administrative block.

---

I stopped outside Zenon’s office door, the polished brass plate gleaming faintly under the enchanted lights.

My hand hovered mid-air for a long second before I finally knocked, my knuckles sounding far too loud against the wood.

"Come in," Zenon’s voice called, low and clipped.

My pulse jumped. I turned the handle, the door opening with a soft click, and stepped inside.

Zenon sat behind his desk, pen poised over an open ledger, but his gaze lifted the moment I entered. Those sharp black eyes fixed on me, unreadable, weighing.

"Professor," I murmured, bowing my head slightly.

He gestured toward one of the chairs in front of his desk. "Sit."

My legs carried me forward stiffly. I lowered myself into the seat, placing my backpack carefully at my feet, though my fingers lingered on the strap as if it might anchor me.

The silence stretched heavily.

Then Zenon set his pen aside, folding his hands. "I noticed how exhausted you were this morning."