The Project Under Him

The week slipped by faster than Posie wanted it to.

Between assignments, endless notes, and trying to act normal around Professor Fox, she barely had time to breathe — let alone think about the engagement looming quietly in the background of her life.

By Monday morning, the announcement came.

“Attention,” Professor Laghari said at the front of the lecture hall, tapping the mic. “Engineer’s Day is next week, and we expect full participation. Each department will present a structural model or research concept. Groups will be assigned by faculty.”

A murmur ran through the room — excitement for some, dread for others.

Posie slouched slightly in her seat. She didn’t mind projects, but she hated being thrown into random groups. She preferred to work with people she knew — people like Zane and Lily, who didn’t mind her quiet nature or her obsession with precision.

As names were called out, she listened absently — until she heard her own.

“Group Twelve: Posie, Aaron, Kaira, Vinit, and Joseph.”

She blinked. Not one familiar name.

“And your guide,” Professor Laghari continued, looking down at the list, “will be Dr. Fox Reyes.”

Her stomach dropped.

Zane immediately turned around from the next row, mouthing ‘Oh. My. God.’ with wide eyes. Lily snorted softly.

Posie slumped deeper in her chair. Of course.

By afternoon, the group gathered in the lab, surrounded by metal rods, sheets of plywood, and the faint smell of concrete dust.

Aaron, one of the seniors, took charge quickly. “So, we’re thinking of designing a cable-stayed bridge model. Something simple but impressive. Thoughts?”

Everyone nodded in mild agreement — everyone except Posie, who was still processing the reality of their assigned guide.

“Great,” Aaron continued. “We’ll need to split roles. Someone can handle drafting, someone on materials, someone on calculations—”

The lab door opened.

All conversation stopped.

Fox entered, clipboard in hand, his gaze sweeping the group. “Group Twelve?”

“Yes, sir,” Aaron answered quickly.

Fox gave a curt nod. “Proceed.” He set his folder on the table and adjusted his sleeves. “Engineer’s Day isn’t about decoration. I expect your design to be structurally sound. I’ll review your progress twice before the presentation.”

Posie looked down at her notebook, pretending to write something. Her heartbeat picked up — not because of fear, but because she could feel his presence in the room, the quiet authority he carried like gravity.

Fox continued, his tone clipped and professional. “Choose your concept carefully. I’ll approve the final draft before you begin fabrication. Don’t waste my time with incomplete work.”

Aaron nodded eagerly. “Understood, sir.”

“Good,” Fox said. His eyes passed over the group once, briefly landing on Posie before moving on as if she were any other student. “Carry on.”

And just like that, he turned and left.

The tension in the room eased the moment the door closed.

Vinit exhaled loudly. “He’s so intense.”

Kaira grinned. “Hot, though.”

Posie’s pen froze mid-note.

Aaron laughed. “You’re not wrong. But yeah, intense.”

Posie tried to focus on her notes again. “So… materials list?” she asked quietly, hoping to redirect the topic.

The team got back to work, deciding on the model’s scale, materials, and design sketches. She offered her inputs only when necessary — precise, brief, factual. She wasn’t the type to chatter much, and right now, silence felt safer.

After two hours, they’d made some progress.

“Let’s finalize the initial draft by tomorrow,” Aaron said. “We’ll show it to Professor Fox for approval.”

Posie nodded, gathering her things.

As she stepped out of the lab, she caught sight of Fox again — standing by the corridor, discussing something with another faculty member. He didn’t glance at her, didn’t acknowledge her presence.

But even from a distance, she could feel it — that awareness that lingered between them, silent yet sharp.

“See you tomorrow,” Aaron said, waving as he left.

Posie smiled faintly. “Yeah, see you.”

She turned the other way, heading down the quiet hallway, her steps echoing softly.

It was just another project. Just another class.

At least, that’s what she told herself.

But deep down, she knew — under the calm professionalism, under the silence — neither of them could quite ignore the invisible thread that tied their worlds together.

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