WARNING: PLEASE APPLY ALOE VERA

“Don't worry if you're making waves just by being yourself. The Moon does it all the time.”

–Scott Stabile

…

He quickly sobered up at the question.

Hiro forced out a laugh to dissipate the sudden awkwardness.

“Not like that, if that's what you mean, ma'am.” but when Megan just continued to stare at him, Hiro quickly began to ramble: “Uh, no… I think? I mean no, not really, because Lunamor’s so busy because of her work that she often missed classes and I just feel sorry for her that I often give time to discuss lessons she missed during office hours,”

“Is that so.”

“That is so, honest. Swear to God.” then Hiro raised an eyebrow at her, “...wait a minute. I’m pretty sure I just told you this already.”

“Right, of course. That is actually very nice of you, Hiro,” Megan checked her phone for the time, humming in approval before she gave him a thumbs up, “...yes, I think I have time to come along with you. I think its high-time I get to meet this girl anyway!”

Hiro chuckled, nodding.

After Megan ordered her food, the two of them searched for Lunamor. Luckily, Hiro spotted her pale-blonde hair amongst the crowd like a beacon and immediately found her quietly sitting at a small table near the back of the cafeteria with a book in hand, reading in an almost secluded corner from the rest... and of freaking course.

What did he expect?

She prefers silence, after all.

...why is he even surprised by that?

Still, Hiro realized that he was actually very eager to introduce Lunamor to Megan, thinking that maybe this is his one-time chance to prove his boss wrong and that one of his best students is actually (though not obviously) a pretty good girl despite whatever scary rumors happened to surround her.

Before Hiro could even open his mouth to call her when he was but a few feet away, Lunamor has already noticed him and closed her book–Hound of Baskerville by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle–with an audible thud.

Wait a minute... was that Sherlock Holmes?!

Hiro didn’t really peg Lunamor as a fan of mystery books but he understands the appeal, they were fun to solve, thrilling and… he suddenly noticed that she was already leveling Megan with a flat stare that looks more like a glare the more they came closer.

And Hiro automatically took that as his cue to introduce them, “…This is the head of the math department, Professor Megan Griffins.”

“Hello there!”

“Megan, I’d like you to meet my student, Cassandra Lunamor.”

“It's so nice to finally meet you, Cassandra. I have heard so much about you, my dear,” Megan said, smiling sweetly at the younger woman, “Do you mind if I sit h–?”

“No. And that’s Ms. Lunamor to you.”

Megan blinked, “Excuse me?”

“You’re excused,” Lunamor snapped.

The older woman recoiled as if burned.

Hiro’s jaw slackened. What the hell?

...but it seems Lunamor wasn’t done yet.

She leaned back on her seat, her eyes slowly looking over at Megan from head to toe as if she was appraising the older woman’s entire worth and Hiro almost verbally pleaded his student to please stop looking at his boss like she was some sort of rodent–

“Come to think of it, I have heard of you too,” Lunamor inclined her head to the side, “…. Mrs. Megan Leslie Tess-Griffins. The fourth... wife of the former CEO of Griffin Industries, wasn’t it?”

Hiro blinks, dumbfounded.

Fourth...?

“You clearly know me, then,” Megan was visibly tense at the casual mention of her not-so-recently deceased husband and Hiro’s head snapped to his boss’s direction, his eyes wide and clearly horrified and apologetic for his student’s demeanor.

“No, not personally… I could actually care less about you,” Lunamor scoffed, a gloved hand brushing her hair off of her shoulder and Hiro winced, “But my brother used to be business partners with your husband. He was the one who had seen your designs in animation for some of the projects during one of their meetings in New York years ago.”

Megan perked up, “Oh, that’s– “

“He found them pathetic.”

Hiro snapped his mouth shut with a loud click.

Even Megan was taken aback. “…I’m sorry, what?”

A sneer made its way on Lunamor’s lips.

“You heard me.”

And Hiro… for the lack of a better word, was completely floored by his student’s behavior. Sure, he had seen first-hand just how blunt and rude Lunamor can be but not intentionally because his student… honestly seemed not to… realize that her demeanor is uncalled for.

...most of the time, that is.

But this…

This is clearly intentional.

And this was just like something out of Hiro’s worst nightmares because there was absolutely no way in hell he is here, just standing around like a useless statue while watching his student roasting his boss.

Meanwhile, Megan smiled indulgently, almost seemingly unaffected by the insult if it weren’t for the fact that her smile looked so stiff, “…Is that so? Well clearly, you haven’t seen them for yourself. I’m sure that if you take some time to see, you will realize that Colorado’s opinion is clearly in the wrong–”

“Oh, no, I have seen it. And I’m inclined to agree with his judgment because unlike you, we prefer not to waste our time–especially our company’s resources–in worthless, personal endeavors pitched in by a mere mistress.”

This time, Megan actually took a step back from Lunamor, who still hasn’t moved from her seat. Megan’s lips pursed and her eyes narrowed into such a furious glare, obviously offended as she gave Hiro a pointed look that was obviously saying I told you so.

“Well... as much as I loved chatting with you Ms. Lunamor-”

“I don't,” she put in, bluntly.

“Lunamor...!” Hiro hissed.

Shut your mouth please just shut it...!

Fortunately, Megan ignored the interruption, “...I’m afraid I still have some other things to do. Have a good day, dear,” Megan simpered, quickly turning around as if to leave.

Megan met his wide-eyed gaze.

A shaky smile curled at her lips, “I’ll... talk to you later, Hiro.”

Then, she was already speed-walking out of the cafeteria.

Meanwhile, Hiro uselessly tried to open his mouth, his hand reaching out as if to stop her, wanting to apologize but he found his voice stuck in his throat as he can only watch Megan leave, his horrified mind buzzing like a bunch of angry bees because he had practically defended Lunamor and Lunamor just verbally assaulted his freaking boss in turn.

Finally, Hiro found himself saying out loud: “Ms. Lunamor. That… was completely uncalled for. No wait. That was just plain rude!”

Lunamor opened her book, as if she's going to read again.

He glared at her, “What on earth was that for?!”

She scoffs, “It’s not being rude if it’s real, professor.”

“Don’t you start with me, young lady!” Hiro snapped, slamming his tray down, causing her and some of the nearby students to stare up at him.

Great... now he lost his appetite.

Her dark gray eyes are distracting.

And they were now focused entirely on him… and once again, Hiro realized that it was actually difficult to maintain eye contact with Lunamor despite his boiling anger when she seemed to be analyzing and memorizing every single detailed expression he was currently making right now. Because while most people tended to just stare or look, it was not the case with Cassandra Lunamor.

Her eyes are too dark, too piercing to be considered simply as such.

And they seemed to calculate every single move he was making… like the beginning of a brewing, rumbling thunderstorm before it wreaks havoc.

“I’m going to apologize to Megan. So if you’ll excuse me–”

Without a warning, she suddenly slammed her book down, making the entire table tremble, the contents of his tray almost sloshed over.

And Hiro actually jumped a bit in surprise.

“I have wasted more than twenty minutes of my time waiting here, all because I’m supposed to have a discussion with you… so, no, Professor Zen. You are not excused.” Lunamor finally said, her voice dangerously soft that it actually made him shiver.

Hiro wasn’t sure if she’s being really serious or what right now, but this is neither the time nor place for any sort of argument with her.

And is she for real…?

How could Lunamor be so concerned of the lesson she had missed in favor of insulting a head of department just a few seconds ago?!

His subject wasn’t even a part of her major!

Suddenly, a cold calm washed over him, effectively shutting down whatever emotion he has at this moment. And that made it so easy to look at her in the eyes and tell her... “No.”

Her brows furrowed, “What.”

“You heard me. I said no. I can't do this right now,” Hiro finally snapped, leveling her with a cold stare in return. Because he refused to be intimidated by a mere student... “Send me an email and we'll arrange a meeting later. I’ll see you around, Ms. Lunamor.”