Chapter 35
Betty.
“Urghhh, shut up already, you piece of shit!” I wailed hitting the alarm clock so hard that I'm afraid it might crack. The damn thing always chose to start its pathetic ringing whenever my sleep was just getting interesting.
I sat up, stretching my arms. My hands brushed against the space beside me, but Ethan, the love of my life, wasn't there.
I scowled; I could use some good morning kisses right now. I turned towards the nightstand and spotted a green sticky note tucked against a bouquet of fresh red roses. My lips turned up into an uncontrollable smile. I yanked the note off the flowers, rubbing the sleep from my foggy eyes.
Let’s see what he has to say.
“Hello Starshine, how was your night? I hope it was as peaceful as you. You’re reading this because I’m already at work. Love you so much. P.S. You don’t have to say it back.”
I rolled my eyes, a soft giggle escaping my lips. When Michael stopped leaving flowers in my office I thought I’d never experience that feeling of being desired again, but Ethan stepped into my life reminding me that I was still capable of being loved. He brings me flowers now and then even though we’re always together.
The alarm screamed again, and I sighed. I hadn’t realized I hit ‘snooze’ instead of ‘stop’. I turned it off and dragged my feet to the bathroom bracing myself to face Monday.
I stared at my reflection through the bathroom mirror while I brushed my teeth humming to no music, after a quick rinse under the hot shower I sat in front of the dressing table grabbing a blow dryer battling with my hair until it was dry as a desert.
I’m still wrapped in a robe when Ethan’s smiling face suddenly appeared on my phone screen, it was an incoming video call. Classic Ethan. He always did this, his little way of keeping tabs on me. I find it pretty romantic.
“Hello, sleeping beauty!” He smirked as I swiped it open.
“Oh, please!” I blushed hard holding up the phone on its stand as I applied mascara. “ Shouldn't you be in surgery right now? What if you forget a pair of scissors inside your patient because you are too distracted by my sexy face?”
He burst into loud laughter that almost made him choke, this brought a smile to my face.
“That's not funny Betty!”
“Well, it is,” I retorted, sliding into my knee-length burgundy gown, which hugged my curves just right, professional but hot. Of course, I served nothing but looks. No one could ever call me a boring old-fashioned professor, I smoothed the neckline as my wavy hair sprawled all the way to my shoulders.
“Oooou, Andriana Lima just found herself a new competition,”
I burst into another round of loud laughter, almost ruining my makeup this time.
“You are killing me, Ethan.”
“No, you look breathtaking, gosh! I can barely breathe.”
I rolled my eyes. “Please stop distracting me, Dr prince Charming, I need to get ready for work now, go save lives!”
“Alright beauty queen!”
He blew me a kiss before hanging up. Even after the call ended I still kept smiling like an idiot, I hurled the phone into my brown leather tote bag and stormed out of the house.
~
He couldn’t drop me off today because of course, he left for the hospital hours earlier. So I had to hail a cab I slid in and leaned back against the plush leather seat as the driver drove me to my destination.
By the time we pulled up to Crestwood College, the campus was already bustling with activities. Students hurried past in every direction while lecturers bustled across the courtyard, their arms stacked with textbooks and papers. Final exams are approaching and everyone seems desperate to wrap up their course outlines for the semester.
After paying the cab fare I hopped out, adjusted the strap of my bag, and made my way to the staff lounge, to my utmost surprise I spotted Adam. And he wasn’t alone.
He was leaning against the doorway chatting up some new lecturer, don’t ask me how I knew, I could tell from her naive composure, and that smirk he gave her, it was the same one he used on me years ago back then when I was foolish enough to fall for his deceit or when I used to melt by just staring at his face, yeah I recognized that look, I guess some things never change.
I cleared my throat trying to down the disgust I was feeling inside of me. I wonder what sought of person he was, like who the fuck did I date? He hadn’t grown up yet, still chasing new lecturers turning them into his “prey” as if the campus were his hunting ground. Such a shame. Then my mind went back to the creepy text and I thought: could he really be the face behind those texts? But no. He seemed pretty preoccupied so yeah, if he found someone else it was normal for him to forget about me.
Then of course the stupidest thing happened, he caught me staring, damn, my fingers fidgeted and I stumbled backwards a little. A smirk played on his lips like he was pleased I had walked into this. I rolled my eyes and rounded the corner heading for the classroom, where I truly should be.
As soon as I stepped into the hall the first person I gazed at was Michael, he sat in the front row, no, he slouched in the front row, looking dull, his eyes red and ringed.
I won’t lie he looked terrible, like he was hungover, for a second I could feel my chest tighten then I cleared my throat and looked away. Whatever was going on with him was none of my business.
My lips turned up as I faced the class.
“Good morning class,” I started, skimming through my textbook about to begin lectures when Adam walked in.
My smile died instantly.
“I’ll be taking over this session Miss Betty!” he chortled.
I forced myself to remain calm, “We are supposed to teach side by side….”
“I’m the HOD, what I say stands!” He said in an almost embarrassing tone that threw me off, I faked a smile and stepped back crossing my arms on my chest. Fine, if he wanted the spotlight he could have it.
~
As soon as the class ended i walked up to Michael.
“Meet me at my office!” I demanded storming off before hearing his response.
I sat down in my quiet office when I heard a loud knock at the door.
“Come in!”I yelled.
He walked in, almost staggering.
“Jeez! What happened to you?”
“Why? Do you care?” He slurred. “I thought you were…. Avoiding my ass, what happened to being strict and professional? Huh? La Professor?”
“Are you drunk Michael?” I asked with a look of disappointment written all over my face.
All of a sudden he belched, and my nose wrinkled in disgust, I looked away.
Was he drunk because of me? Well, that was none of my business. I straightened in my chair.
“I called you here because I need you to stop sending those messages, I know you are pained that I rejected your flowers, and that kiss at the bookstore? It was a mistake.”
“Really? Didn't look like it!” He spat. His tone was laced with sarcasm.
I rose to my feet standing right in front of him, damn I looked so tiny beside him, my head barely reached his chest, I was a tall lady but he was taller, yet I stood my ground.
“If you don’t back off Michael I’ll get you arrested, I don’t care how powerful your father is, you are not the only one who knows influential people!”
He let out a bitter laugh despite being so close to me. “Messages? Why the hell will I even send messages to you? I don’t even have your damn number!”
“Language please, don’t be carried away, I’m still your professor!” I corrected him.
“Hmmm really? But tell me, why didn’t Mr Porsche drop you off today? Did the perfect relationship end so quickly already?”
My palm tingled with the strong urge to strike his face. But I calmed myself. “The only reason I’m not slapping you right now is because you’re drunk. You reek of alcohol Michael, you seriously need some help, get out of my office .”I commanded.
He grinned before nodding and then he left.
Immediately I heard another sharp knock,
“Are you deaf? I said I don’t want to…”
The face that walked into my office made me blink, It was Natalie.
It took me a few seconds to even recognize her. Adam’s girlfriend from ten years ago, the editor in chief for campus magazine who seems to make heads turn, but now she looked terrible her skin was pale, her hair short like a bulb but a horrible one.
She looked like she had just escaped a rehabilitation center.
“Hi Betty, I knew I’d find you here.”
“How may I help you?”I asked, coldly.
“I have a confession,” she began biting on her lower lip. “My priest said I need to repent and make a resolution, I’ve wronged you in many ways Betty. I’m ready to finally come clean and expose my dirty deeds!”
I leaned against my chair my interest piqued.