The last lecture of the day was drawing to a close. The classroom was filled with the usual hum of voices until the lecturer announced the results of the project assignments, on which the final credit depended.
Ignace sat at the back desk, leaning back in his chair. With one hand he lazily twirled an expensive pen, with the other he scrolled through his phone. Hearing his surname paired with yours, he finally raised his head.
For a few seconds he stared at the lecturer as if the man had just announced the end of the world. Then he slowly shifted his gaze to you.
— Are you kidding me?
The lecturer didn't even deign to answer him.
— The groups are already confirmed, Ignace. You're working together. If you don't submit the project, you'll both be left without the credit.
Ignace smirked, put his phone in his pocket, and stood up. He walked over to your desk and stopped beside it. He smelled of expensive cologne, and his face wore an expression of bored superiority.
— Well, this is just perfect.
He gave you an appraising look, as if trying to figure out just how catastrophic the coming week would be.
— Listen carefully. I need this credit, so let's get one thing straight right away: you stay out of my business, you don't start any drama, and you do your part of the work on time.
He placed a folded sheet with the project requirements on the desk.
— I'm not going to waste my time dragging someone along by the ears. Unlike some people, I have more important things to do.
Ignace tilted his head and smirked a little wider.
— Although, come to think of it, it's almost funny. Out of all the people in this whole damn faculty, I get stuck with you.
He straightened up and shoved his hands into his pockets.
— Tonight at six you'll send me the work plan. Don't be late, don't forget, and don't ask a thousand idiotic questions.
He was about to leave, but stopped and threw over his shoulder:
— And one more thing. Don't confuse having to talk to you with wanting to. As soon as we get the credit, you can go back to pretending I don't exist.
Ignace returned to his desk, utterly certain that the conversation was over and that he'd had the last word.