*Patrick's P. O. V. *

"Congratulations, Patrick! I just heard the news about the approved proposal. You must be so thrilled!" Elaine, one of my co-faculty in this college told me the moment she saw me in the faculty area.

"Thanks, and yeah, I'm so excited. I didn't think they'd approve it," I replied.

"We were shocked too, but we're happy for you," she stated, having a wide, "Just tell me when to pack my bags," she added with a wink. I know she's kind of joking, but somehow I could also feel her truly expecting it.

Out of all the other faculty, she's the one I'm closest to. I was the one who trained her when she was hired here and we have also done a number of projects together. If I was going to bring a co-faculty on this trip, it obviously would have been her and she would know that...but, I already made my decision to bring Y/N instead.

"Oh," I murmured and stared at her apologetically, "I'm bringing Y/N, my student assistant. She's currently the one who knows my work the most and I think it's also a good strategy to bring in a student to help me promote the college. Y/N has always been one of the top students here, I think she'd be able to inspire more students. I'd also be able to set her as an example that we're producing great students."

That wasn't a lie, I have also thought this through and I think it will really be a good strategy. This isn't just a cognitive dissonance where I'm pushing a good concept just so I can have a legitimate reason to take her with me. I've talked to the dean about this and he absolutely agreed with me. I waited for Elaine's response as she seemed a little shocked at first, but then she just smiled at me after a few seconds.

"Of course, that's smart thinking!" she replied enthusiastically, but I already know that her tone changed. Now I feel a little guilty, she must have been looking forward to this, "Well, I wish you a goodluck, Professor Stump," she said in a flirty way before leaving to go to her class. She's always been that kind of girl so this isn't unusual. I just shrugged the guilty feeling off because I really needed to focus on this trip. 

*Y/N's P.O.V.*

"You sure you can survive there just being with him for a week? You know, just the two of you...far from anyone you know?" Meagan, who is my roommate and best friend, kept on teasing me about this trip. Of course, she knows about my feelings for my professor and now she won't stop teasing me. I know it's just a playful tease, but I'm really getting worried about the scenarios she's giving me.

"Come on, it won't change anything. I mean, we're there for work. It's all professional work and that's that! And seriously, what's making you think that something else will happen? It's not like he'll be interested...that's just impossible," I reasoned with her. I was done packing my things and I'm actually just waiting for him to pick me up. Tonight is our flight and I should really be on my way to the airport, but he insisted that he should pick me up from this apartment, which is honestly way out of his way.

"Y/N, Mr. Stump has made some extra efforts for you. Remember your first recital? He was supposed to be out of the campus that day for some outside work, but he requested to stay just to be present and be able to watch you --

"Oh, psh. Maybe he really wanted to watch the whole event, not just me."

"Remember when you almost got in trouble for being late a couple of times in one of our subjects, but you didn't? And then you found out that he took the blame as you were his student assistant and said that he was taking most of your time?"

"Well, he..." I was about to explain, then I realized that that wasn't really his fault as that was the time where he barely has work to do

"How about two months ago? Remember the night of the Ball Dance? The event ended way too late and for some reason, he still asked you to work on something, making you the last one there so he just volunteered to bring you here himself. I think that's his secret effort so he could be the one to bring you home safely. That's the time where those nasty assholes were allegedly around the campus, so I think he wanted to make sure that he gets you home safely," she explained with full of energy. She's even moving her eyebrows up and down in excitement. It looks like she's connecting these things like some sort of a conspiracy theory and she's having a great time thinking about it.

Before I could realize it, I'm already blushing since I could feel the burn on my cheeks. I wanted to counter all her evidences, but I honestly couldn't because it really seems like that - extra effort for me.

"And also, he's picking you up here, right? When this place is so out of his way that it would add one more hour to his travel ---

"Ok, I see it now," I told her with a chuckle. Meagan smiled at me with satisfaction like as if she's saying she won the petty arguement, "But still, I don't want to think too much about it. I'm already hopelessly feeling things for him. I don't want to assume things otherwise spoken. Besides, it's not appropriate at the moment," I explained.

"Doesn't that make things exciting though?" Meagan winked and I hate that this girl knows my weird fantasies.

"Oh, you shut up!" we both laughed and just like on cue, our doorbell finally rang.

I immediately opened the door, finding him at the other side. He was just wearing casual clothes which is not a usual sight for me - he's just rocking in that black pants, navy blue shirt and a dark gray cardigan. He's also wearing a dorky clear-framed eyeglasses which honestly suits him.

"Hey, Y/N, you ready?" he asked me.

"Good evening, Mr. Stump," Meagan greeted behind me, but I could really tell she's still teasing me with those looks.

"Good evening, Ms. Camper. Sorry for taking your roommate for a week," he said playfully.

"No, it's fine. You two enjoy your trip, alright? Goodluck with work," she said her goodbye as we both walk out of the apartment.

Usual small talks happen as we drive towards the airport. It's obvious that we're both really excited for this trip and I'm sure we're going to make the most of it. Of course, we're not forgetting the main reason why we're going there, that's still our first priority. Finally, we arrived at the airport and after some walking around, we checked in our luggages and we're now boarding the plane.

"Ready for a 16-hour flight?" he asked me, "Because I'm not," he sounded like a cute kid complaining.

"Nope. I'd probably die of boredom, but I'm sure it's going to be worth it when we land there." we found our seats and settled in. It was only a two-seat row and I'm on the window side. It wasn't my first time on a plane, but it's my first time leaving the country and I find it more meaningful when I remember that this experience would be with him.

After a few minutes and all the procedures, we finally took off.

*Patrick's P. O. V. *

She's cuter when she's really excited and I honestly hate that right now...I couldn't stop looking at her.

I really don't want to be a creep like this, but I'm just in too deep with this feelings of mine. I really have to exert a little more self-control or else, I think I'd accidentally confess to her.

Thankfully, I got a little distracted as we decided to just watch Disney movies during this flight. I found out that this is one of the things we're so similar with. It's like we'll both shut up if you put on a Disney movie in front of us and that's what exactly happen.

It's around 2 in the morning now and all of the passengers are fast asleep. I thought we're the only ones awake, but when I looked over to Y/N, she's already fast asleep too.

Angel.

That's the first thing I thought of the moment I stared at her. My heart started beating a little faster and I felt my cheeks burning. Goddamn, this girl has really caught me.

Suddenly, I saw her shivering. It got very cold inside the plane and she fell asleep without wearing her jacket. I got mine and gently put it over her. I also saw that her head is slowly sliding to the edge of her seat and I know that would hurt her if she keep her head in that position. I gently and slowly led her head to lean on my shoulders and thankfully, that didn't wake her up.

I continued to watch the movie after that, but I really couldn't stay focused anymore. I could smell Y/N's perfume so much and I think I'm already getting addicted to it. I could also smell the lavender scent from her hair which is also adding to the distraction.

"Okay, Stump. Stop it. You're getting a little weird," I murmured to myself, just deciding to sleep this off.

I leaned back, also leaning lightly against Y/N's head. I might be sitting up, but I honestly think that I've never been this comfortable as I was about to sleep. I might be sitting up, my back and neck could be in pain the moment I wake up, but just being next to her makes all that worth it.

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I hope you're excited for this one!
Thanks for reading, lovelies!