Revina could only wonder why Alan had suddenly started opening up like that. Especially so openly, right in front of her. What did Alan mean? Was he deliberately trying to take a jab at her?
Suddenly, one of the students chimed in.
"Yeah, Pak Alan's ex really went too far. She must've been an idiot to throw away a guy as perfect as you, Pak Alan."
Revina felt irritated. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart. Alan was deliberately making the students badmouth her, even if only indirectly.
Alan shifted his gaze toward his ex-girlfriend. When their eyes met, Revina tried to avoid his stare.
Class was over. The students filed out one by one. Only Revina and Alan remained in the room. Revina was putting her books away. Once she finished and was about to leave the classroom, Alan stopped her.
"Revina... How is it? Are you comfortable with your new professor?"
Revina stopped in her tracks. Alan approached her.
"Why are you so quiet, Rev? Have you run out of words after everything that happened?"
"Excuse me, Professor. I still have another class."
"Okay. I'm not going to hold you here or anything. I just want to ask you something, Revina. Do you realize the mistake you made? I never thought you could be that cruel to me, Rev!"
"Excuse me, Professor."
Revina ran out of the classroom. She went to the garden, where she let out all her frustration over the day. It had truly been a terrible day. Why did Alan have to become her professor now? That question kept troubling Revina, with no clear answer in sight.
Revina really wanted to pour out her feelings and frustration about the day to Irsyad. But she knew that at this hour, Irsyad was probably busy handling his organization activities. It seemed Revina would have to be more patient.
"Rev, are you okay, baby?"
"Irsyad... Actually, I want to tell you something."
"What is it, baby?"
"So, I was really, really pissed off on campus today. You know what? Kak Alan is a professor at the campus now. He even taught my class this morning."
"What? Really? Are you serious, Rev? What class does he teach?"
"Functional Food Technology. The worst part is, I already enrolled in it because it relates to the thesis topic I want to work on. I thought Professor Agus was still teaching it. But now it's him. I don't get it."
"Baby, just stay calm, okay? If he tries anything with you again, tell me right away, okay? I'll teach him a lesson myself."
"Are you really going to stand up to a professor?"
"If that's what I have to do, why not, baby?"
From that day on, Revina tried to go through her days on campus as usual, without paying any attention to Alan's presence there. To Revina, Alan was now nothing more than a part of her past that she needed to truly forget.
Revina had started putting together her thesis proposal. She chose a topic on Functional Food Technology, focusing on the field of drying.
Then the time came for thesis advisers to be assigned. Revina immediately checked her academic account. The moment she read the name listed there, she went limp. It said that Alan Raskal Affandra had been assigned as her thesis adviser.
"Oh my God, what is this supposed to mean? Why does it have to be Kak Alan who's my thesis adviser? I won't be able to handle having to consult with him every day, even if it's only about my thesis. I was determined to forget him, so why does the situation keep pushing me even closer to him? What am I supposed to do?" Revina asked herself in her head.
There was nothing Revina could do. Whether she liked it or not, she had to accept Alan as her thesis adviser. Whatever happened from here on out, one thing was certain: Revina just wanted to finish her thesis as quickly as possible.
That day, Revina had to meet Alan to submit her personal information and a general outline of her thesis research, so he could decide whether or not he approved of her ideas.
With her heart pounding rapidly, Revina knocked on Alan's office door.
"Come in!" came the answer from inside.
Revina opened the door and went in to meet her professor.
"Excuse me, Professor!"
"Revina. What are you doing in my office? Were you looking for me?"
"Um, I came here to give you this, Professor." Revina handed him the printout she had prepared earlier.
"Hmm, so you're one of my advisees too? But the other students assigned to me already turned this in yesterday. Why are you only giving it to me now?"
"I-I'm sorry, Professor!"
"Why, Rev? I need a reason for why you were late turning this in to me."
"Oh. Is it because you weren't ready to see me?"
"I'm sorry, Professor. I know I was wrong."
"Okay. Don't do it again! I don't like people who are late and lack commitment."
"In that case, excuse me, Professor."
"Rev? You don't want to hear my response to your thesis concept?"
"Damn it..." Revina cursed inwardly, berating herself for being such an idiot.
"All right, Professor. So, what do you think?"
"I think the concept is already good. Just keep going! You need to start looking for relevant supporting theories. I'll wait for your progress, okay?"
"Yes, Professor. In that case, I'll be going now, Professor."
When Revina reached the door and was about to open it to leave the office, Alan's voice sounded again, interrupting her.
"Revina Shania Rosaline, why are you in such a hurry? Afraid you'll fall in love with me again?"
Revina stared at her laptop screen as she began arranging the words for the introduction to her thesis. But her mind was distracted by the last sentence she'd heard from her ex that day.
Whatever... She shouldn't take it so seriously. She should just let it go. All Revina wanted to do right now was finish her thesis quickly and properly, so she wouldn't have to keep consulting with her ex for much longer and could finally be free of the sharp gaze of her thesis adviser.
When she checked her phone to refresh her mind for a moment, she happened to see her ex-boyfriend's latest post. Revina hadn't intended to stalk Alan's social media account at all; the post had simply appeared in her notifications. Even though their romantic relationship was over, neither of them had any intention of unfollowing the other's social media account. They didn't consider it important.
Alan's latest post contained a new photo of him in the faculty office he now occupied.
"In this room, she'll fill my days once more. Though everything has lost its meaning, I'll keep waiting, because she'll always remain in my heart."
#HopelesslyInLoveProfessor
#ConfessionsOfASingleProfessor
That was the caption on Alan's post. As Revina read it, she wondered to herself what Alan meant by the words he'd put together. Revina thought hard. Would she be too full of herself if she assumed that Alan's post was about the two of them? Who knew... Could that really be possible? Considering how furious Alan must still be with her, probably not. Whatever. Revina was better off not making an issue of it.
Revina accidentally tapped the icon to like the post. She immediately unliked it. She hoped Alan hadn't noticed. A few seconds later, she felt that hope vanish. Revina received a direct message from the owner of the post.