My Professor's Secret Obsession

I Can't Catch a Break

ACIR HILLS

I let out a yawn, then narrowed my eyes to the side.

“Do you think that this is a good idea, Oni?” I hesitated to fasten my seatbelt. “You don’t have your credit cards, and you still insist on driving me to school.. I mean how are you going to pay for gas?”

Onda buckled her seatbelt with a lopsided grin etched on the corner of her lips, not even bothered by what I said. She turned to face me after starting the engine.

“It’s just gas, Aci. Thankfully, I have some spare cash in my drawer. I mean it’s not a lot, but remember when I had a debit card when all my credit cards expired last year?” I nodded. “I withdrew a lot of cash from the debit card my mom let me borrow because almost every place I went to didn’t have card readers. It was such a hassle so I just withdrew a hefty amount of money. When I got the new credit cards, I still occasionally withdrew money from my debit card in case of emergencies.” She explained as if it was enough reason to still keep driving me to school.

When she was still studying at Newford University, she would always drive me to the campus. Onda mentioned that it would be dumb for me to take a bus or a cab when we’re evidently heading to the same place. She insisted that from then on, she was my personal driver to the campus. I always pitch in for gas and mostly treat her with some coffee and donuts even though she didn’t ask for one—just a token of appreciation since she never complained about me being a passenger princess.

I have known how to drive since I was 16, but my parents didn’t want to buy me a car to drive here in Vista Central. They were afraid that I might get into an accident while I was driving. Mind you, I’m an excellent driver, so I don’t have a single clue where they got that thought from.

It’s basically them being overprotective. I get it.

“Where are you heading after?” I questioned the moment we entered the road.

“I’m meeting up with a few old college friends, then we’ll be attending a common friend’s wedding,” she answered nonchalantly.

Weddings and having babies after graduating college isn’t really that surprising anymore. Some couples want to be committed or want to build a family in their early twenties.

“You’re not looking for a job just like what your parents said?”

“I will look for one eventually… just patching things up.”

I didn’t bother prying at her for more details anymore. One thing about Onda is that if she wants you to know a part of her life, she will eventually tell you. It’s not because she didn’t want to tell me a detail in her life, she just tends to let it happen first before telling me. Probably because she wanted to be secure in that decision first before flaunting it out in the open, then eventually failing.

“Tell me about your blind dates if Aunt Cecilia calls you for one,” I snickered, teasing her as I changed the subject.

She rolled her eyes, then stopped at a red light. “As if I’m really going to go when they set one.”

“As if you have a choice, Oni.”

Letting out a deep sigh, we both knew that she didn’t really have any choice. What her parents want, her parents get. It’s something that we share in common, and is probably why we understand each other so much.

Quite funny really because we didn’t know about it at first, not until my mother and father suddenly visited me at our apartment after two months of moving in—checking how I was doing. They began nagging at me when they find something that doesn’t fit their taste, and Onda was there at the apartment when it happened. It was really embarrassing when your parents would reprimand you in front of your friend, but it was a good thing that Onda can empathize with how I felt during that time. She politely introduced herself, then she chatted with them for hours. Thanks to her extroverted personality and excellent social skills, my parents had a great visit and almost forgot that they were scolding me.

From then on, my parents felt secure that Onda was my roommate.

“At least send me a picture of the mystery men, and tell me how the dates go,” I pressed.

“If I ever call you and you hear incoherent words, that would mean that I need help to get out of my date, so just ride along with it.” We both burst out laughing at her pleas.

A call for a friend pretending they need them for an emergency is something we always do whenever we want to get out of a situation we don’t want to be in. I remember when Onda messaged me to call her because she wanted to get out of a double date her college friend put her up even though they just said it’s going to be the two of them hanging out. Onda didn’t like that her friend lied to her just for a double date, and ended up cutting ties with her on the spot. Which wasn’t out of the ordinary—that’s really her personality. She doesn’t put up with any bullsh.it, and lets go of people who don’t mean anything to her anymore.

I think I’m the only one that has so much bullsh.it going on in her life, and she still chooses to stay with me despite all that.

Frankly, I’m beyond grateful to have her as a friend.

“This is my stop,” I said when we reached the university’s main gate. She can drop me off at Morgan Hall since she still has the campus sticker on her car, but she’s already running late to her agenda for today. Unbuckling my belt, I added, “Drive safe, Oni!” then opened the door.

I hadn’t closed the door yet when she said, “Update me about you and your ‘new professor’, Aci!” She waved her phone in her hands. “I would love to know what happens next.”

“You are unbelievable,” I quipped.

“Hey Acir!”

I spun around to look for the source of the voice, then saw Cherry and Brittany walking closer. “Oh, hey Cherry and Brit!” I greeted them back, and was relieved when I saw no sight of Wesley with them.

Cherry was smiling widely when she reached my tracks, she looked over to Onda. “Hi, Onda! You look lovely today.”

I saw the way Onda rolled her eyes at Cherry’s compliment. “Fake ass,” she muttered under her breath, enough for me to hear, while Cherry and Brittany didn’t. She also sized up Brittany, examining her from head to toe. I don’t know what for, but oftentimes whenever I’m with Onda and cross paths with Brittany, she would always do that.

Not giving Cherry and Brittany any attention, Onda averted her focus on me. “See you later at home, Aci. Just message me if there’s any problem, okay?”

“I will. Thanks for the ride, Oni. Drive safely!” I bid her goodbye as I closed the door, then she drove away.

Cherry snickered beside me. “What a bi.tch,” she began walking away.

My jaw clenched at her comment as I lightly grabbed her by the arm. “Excuse me?”

She stopped then arched her brow, nudging my hand away from her arm. “What? You know my history with her, Acir.”

Brittany stopped as well, her eyes glossed with anxiousness as she fidgeted with her hands.

“That doesn’t give you the right to call her names, Cherry.” I warned her, voice laced with gravity. “She’s my roommate and my friend. I live with the person that you just called a bi.tch,” My head throbbed, growing upset. “I understand what happened between you and Onda back then, but that doesn’t give you the right to act like that right now. Apologize for what you said and don’t call her that in front of my face,” I demanded.

Onda isn’t part of the friend group because she had a misunderstanding with Cherry. I encouraged them to talk about it, but they didn’t settle their differences, and Onda told me that I shouldn’t bother trying anymore.

Cherry crossed her arms, peered over Brittany, who was silent the whole time and was waiting for this little confrontation I had with Cherry. “Fine,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry for calling Onda a bi.tch. It won’t happen again, girly pops.”

This is something about Cherry’s personality that I noticed. She’s unapologetically her. No, she didn’t apologize because she knew what she did was wrong, but she did it just to make me shut up about it. Her tone wasn’t even sincere when she said that.

I only nodded in her direction. “Let’s get to class. I don’t want to be late,” I said, then began walking past her.

“It’s Wednesday today, Aci. You have a different schedule from the rest of us.” Brittany reminded me as she matched my steps.

Oh crap. How can I forget?

I was so engrossed with Onda’s life updates that I forgot what today was.

“That’s right. Thanks for reminding me, Brit.” She flashed me a toothy smile as we continued walking towards our building.

“We can meet at lunch, Acir. We all have the same lunch time, right?” Cherry mentioned, conversing in a natural manner as if I didn’t confront her just minutes ago.

I grabbed the textbook needed for my class from my locker. “Mine’s around thirty minutes past twelve.”

“Great! Ours is just quarter to one. We can meet up at the Cafeteria or at the Quad. Just message me.”

“Sounds good to me,” I replied.

“I hope Mr. Hewson’s still our professor at some classes,” Cherry suddenly burst out saying while tapping on her phone.

My heart skipped a beat at the mere mention of Zaijian’s last name.

“Hmm, that’s possible, since I heard that some professors resigned just before school started. Something about getting better offers at other universities.” This information from Brittany was something I was not aware of. I’m not really keeping in check with things and events that happen on our campus simply because I don’t care enough.

But now that Zaijian is here, it feels like my ears are laser-focused whenever he’s being mentioned.

Contrary to Cherry’s wishes, I do hope that I don’t have any more subjects that Zaijian is the professor. I can’t take up the fact that I might be in his classes almost six days a week.

Dear God, I can’t handle that much torture.

When we’re about to part ways, Ryan and Wesley come into view. For a fraction of a second, I felt like my insides were churning. After what happened yesterday, I didn’t want to see Wesley even for a day. Good thing it’s Wednesday today, and I don’t have to suffer in silence since I have a different schedule than him.

“What took you so long? I’ve been messaging you!” Cherry whined as she pulled Ryan into a hug and a kiss.

“Hey, babe,” he walked towards me and leaned closer, implying a kiss. Panicked, I abruptly turned away so he ended up kissing my nose instead. “What’s wrong?” he asked as soon as he noticed my actions.

“Just felt a sneeze coming, but it’s gone now.” I lifted my index finger towards my nostrils, pretending to rub it. “Your fault,” I said, trying to lighten it up so that he wouldn’t be suspicious.

He chuckled, finding this moment cute as he lightly pinched my nose. “You’re so adorable, babe.”

“Hey guys, I’m right here? Way to go to make me feel single and alone?” Brittany pointed out, making us avert our eyes on her, which made them laugh at her remark.

While I let out a forced one, “Alright, see you guys later!” I said as I looked over to my watch.

“See you later, Acir!” The three said in unison except for Wesley. They began walking towards their class, and again, except for Wesley.

“I’ll walk you to your class,” he stated, already aware of the question I had in mind even though I hadn’t vocally said it yet.

“What? Like I don’t have any legs of my own?” My words were supposed to be sarcastic, but instead Wesley laughed as he found it funny.

“I can also carry you to your class if you want. You can just say so, babe.”

Unamused, I replied, “You don’t have to. You might be late for class. It’ll take you around fifteen minutes to walk back to your room and it’s already seven minutes until the first bell rings.”

Seemingly as though he didn’t care, Wesley shrugged. “I don’t mind. Besides, it's probably just some orientation sh.its again. Nothing really important.”

Gosh. This guy just can’t take a no for an answer.

I remember what Onda said last night—that I should break up with Wesley as soon as possible before things get worse. I really should. But now, standing in front of him, I didn’t have the courage to do so.

Being more stupid that would probably make Onda mad at me, I just nodded and let him do what he wanted. “Alright, let’s go so you won’t get late.”

A huge smile plastered on his face as he intertwined our hands as we walked towards my class.

The whole time that he was talking about himself, I was spacing out and filtering the words that I was hearing. I didn’t even notice that we had already reached the room and he had already bid his farewell.

Sitting down, the bell rang, and the professor entered the room just on time.

As if the universe was playing some kind of trick on me, the person I didn’t expect the most entered the room, and it was none other than Zaijian fu.cking Hewson.

“Alright class. I’m Zaijian Hewson, and I will be your retake class professor.”

Fu.ck. The world really hates me right now and is against me.

Why the hell is he my professor again?!