Hot Night With My Professor

“Professor…” I called him. For several days, I trained myself to call him that because I didn’t want to slip up on my parents and call him by his name. I don’t want them to think, especially Mom, that there is something between Ismael and me.

“Honestly, forget about the professor,” he quoted. “I prefer you calling me by my name.”

I gasped. His assertiveness always leaves me in shock. Sometimes, I can’t take his honesty anymore. Every word brings a strange sensation to my heart.

“I need to, Ismael. I should call you Professor now that we’re meeting my family. Aren’t you nervous?”

“Nope. Why would I?” He confidently asked. How I wish I could be like him. Because of where I am now, the anxiety in my chest is extreme. I’ve been going back and forth to CR because of my nervousness. This is our first family gathering after my parents got divorced. I really can’t understand why they have this kind of gimmick this time. What’s going on in their minds, and why do they seem to be joining forces against me?

Ismael opened his car door, so I got in. I thought he was going to close the door, but he stayed there in the doorway to watch me. I also looked at him. He’s wearing a dark gray tuxedo, clean and neat. He also seems to have a new haircut. Did he prepare for this day?

I noticed that he was staring at me for a long time, so I asked. “What?” I said it flatly, which caused him to laugh. I noticed this man always makes fun of me.

“I like that you’re wearing a modest dress. It suits you,” he commented. “No man can resist your beauty.”

He closed the car door to go to the other side and sit in the driver’s seat. I was left gaping as I followed him with my eyes. Tell me, would any professor say that to his students? Is he making me crazy?ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Ready?” he hissed before glancing at me. Shit. How come he’s so gorgeous when he looks at me that way?

“Of course.”

A couple of minutes had passed when we finally arrived at Black Gourmet, a fine dining restaurant here in the city of Lourdez. I don’t know why my parents chose this restaurant when it is known to be expensive.

“Let’s go?” he inquired. I flinched when he held my waist. I turned toward him, so I got even closer. I lost my breath for a moment because of what he did. He’s always giving me tension, which makes me panic. He’s so good at this-leading me to insanity.

I took a secret snap and tried to push him away. “Professor, would you mind taking your hands off of me?”

“Of course, I know you’ll ask the other way around later anyway,” he whispered. What the fuck is he talking about?

He released me and let me walk inside the very elegant restaurant. It looks like everything was fucking expensive. Even the dust here is gold.

“Good evening, Madam and Sir. May I know if you have any reservations for tonight?” asked the receptionist.

“Under Mr. Alvandra,” I answered.

“This way, madam, sir.” The receptionist led us to our table, and to my surprise, they were all there-my father, my mother, Joth, and Roxsielle. They are wearing sophisticated outfits, especially Roxsielle, which made me amazed by her beauty.

“Finally! Your sister is here! Is that the guy you were talking about, son?” asked my dad, who didn’t even greet me or let me sit down. Fortunately, Ismael pulled the chair for me to sit down.

“Yes, Dad,” Joth answered before looking at Ismael. “Care to introduce yourself?”

I sighed. Why do they act like this? They are so fucking rude towards my guest.

“Ismael Mondalla, sir.” Ismael introduced himself to my dad while extending his hand, which my father did not accept. “Miss Alvandra’s professor.”

“Oh, you’re my daughter’s professor. I thought you were some of her guys,” my mom commented, which I never expected. I looked at Ismael, and he calmly withdrew his hand that Dad didn’t shake. He also sat next to me.

“I don’t have any guys, Mom,” I answered while holding back. Why did they send me here? To embarrass the man I’m with? It’s upsetting.

“Why don’t we eat first, Mr. Alvandra and Mrs.?” I looked at Ismael. Does he know my parents are divorced? Is he trying to mock my mother because she seems to get what he said?

“Former Mrs. Alvandra,” Roxsielle answered. “Now, Mrs. Javierre,” she added. Roxsielle looked at me and smiled. Is she on my side?

I saw a wrinkle appear on Mom’s face because of what Roxsielle said, but because Joth is her favorite child, she suppressed her annoyance. Well, that looks like a lot to me.

We ordered some food for dinner. They chose the steak, while I had caprese pasta with Thai basil.

“Say, are you really her professor? I’m not convinced,” my father stated after sipping that red wine.

“I am indeed her professor. I am teaching calculus, sir,” Ismael answered. Honestly, I feel sorry for Ismael. Because my parents kept asking him questions, he couldn’t concentrate on food. I want to hold his hand to at least comfort him, but I don’t want my parents to see that and think something inappropriate.

“Really? You look so young. How old are you?” Mom interrupted.

“I’m twenty-seven.”

I was amazed at what I heard. Ismael is only twenty-seven? He’s too young! I mean, I thought he was already in his mid-30s. He looks so mature, despite his age.

“Wow, I’m impressed. You’re now a professor at such a young age,” mom commented with joy in her eyes.

“I heard it was you who paid for Roxsielle’s hospital bill,” Joth said. “If you’re just a professor, how can you afford to pay for someone else’s bill?”

Ismael wiped his lips with a napkin before speaking. He’s well-mannered. How he clasped the fork and knife elegantly earlier-no wonder this one is really rich. “I am a businessman. I own a hotel and bar in different cities.”

My jaw dropped just like my mother and Roxsielle did. They were amazed and looked so envious, staring at me. Maybe they are now thinking, Where the hell do I get this guy? Well, I don’t know.

“Oh, really?” Dad said, unconvinced. “How about you, Jothea? What will you be after graduation?”

“The question is, will she be able to graduate?” Joth squealed. I really don’t understand why their blood and their eyes are on me.

“I will be able to graduate,” I answered back, and my brother just laughed at me. How can he laugh when it is him who did not finish his studies because he got a woman pregnant?

“Did you get anywhere with the business course you took?” Mom stated it in between our conversations. Now, they’re roasting me. Following Ismael, I’m now in the hot seat. I see it now; it was because they can’t touch Ismael anymore since they know he’s rich; I am now their target.

“Right, didn’t I tell you to take a vocational course in cookery so at least you can be useful to your future husband?” I bit my lip. Dad is trying my patience. No, all of them are. I don’t know how long I will last because the way they talk to me is very offensive. If I didn’t need the money, I wouldn’t be here. Are they not abandoning me enough? Now they are raining hurtful words on me.

“Sorry to interrupt, sir, but actually there are a lot of job opportunities for a business management student. They can be business managers or build their own businesses themselves,” Ismael said to my surprise. He glanced at me and smiled a little, as if telling me to endure everything because that’s what he was doing. He’s indeed a professor and properly trained when it comes to this matter. Because if it were just me, without him, I would have been lost a long time ago.

“Well, there are a lot of business failures and losses. Knowing what kind of daughter Jothea is, even becoming an employee of a company would be hard for her. She wouldn’t stay that long. Either she will quit or they will fire her,” my father responded. That made my self-esteem low. How can he discourage his own daughter like this? It was as if I hadn’t come from him. How can they hate me so much when I haven’t done anything wrong to them?

“Sorry to disagree, but your daughter has a lot of potential. She might be stubborn sometimes, but I can say she’s very obedient. She’s a fast learner and easy to be with. I think, when you finally know about her, she’s not that bad.”

I gulped. Where do those words come from? Is he really talking about me? There is no way that I am very obedient! Stubborn, yes. But for the rest of what he said, I am the opposite. Did he lie because he wanted to help me against my father?

I saw him look at me. I still can’t believe what he said. “And if no company accepts her, she’s welcome in mine. I have left and right businesses around the country; if she gets tired of one, she can move to the other.”

There’s no way he’s telling the truth. Is he willing to do that to the extent of helping me out of this embarrassing moment with my family?

I felt my family watching me, too. Full of envy. Even they couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. Well, I am more.

“Then, why not support her financial needs?”