Hot Night With My Professor

CEASEFIRE. That’s what we are. Weeks went by, and I was coming in early and listening to Ismael’s classes. And just like he promised, he helped me locate Professor Sybill.

“What does calculus have to do with business management?” I complained to him.

“Did you also ask that of him?” I tormented him with his question. “Look, students should learn calculus since it can be applied in economic and business settings such as maximizing profit or minimizing average cost, finding elasticity of demand, or finding the present value of a continuous income stream,” he explained.

“Remember the chain rule? It helps us deduce rates of change in the real world. From the Chain Rule, we can see how variables like time, speed, distance, volume, and weight are interrelated. Imagine you’re standing on a mountain, and you need to reach the bottom by taking a series of steps, each leading to a lower level. The chain rule is the mental map that guides you through each step, ensuring you land exactly where you intend. In calculus, it helps us navigate the intricate paths of composite functions.” I was amazed at his explanation but he wasn’t done yet. “A composite function is like a chain reaction. It’s the composition of two or more functions. Think of it as putting one function inside another, creating a new function. The chain rule provides a way to calculate how changes in the input of the outer function ripple through to affect the output. Haven’t I already discussed this?” added to Professor Mondalla’s complaint. Made me scratch my head.

“It’s so hard,” I whispered. I am currently here in his office because he is privately teaching me lessons that I didn’t quite understand. Because he’s too much of a perfectionist, but me? I am the lowest performer in his class. Since he doesn’t want to be dangerous in the eyes of the board members, especially the dean and the other faculty, he’s trying his best to teach me. “Because what I know is a different chain.”

He stared at me in disbelief. I don’t know if he is conservative but every time I joke like that, he gives me a death stare. “What now? I mean nothing?”

“I am not stupid, Miss Alvandra.”

“Alright, alright, Professor Mondalla.” I’m more used to calling him by his first name, but because he wants me to respect him at least a little bit, I couldn’t do anything but call him the way he calls me. In fairness, I like the way he calls me. Too professional. “So, before anything else, is there any progress in your search for Professor Sybill? How can I be sure you’re really looking for him, huh? Maybe you’re just fooling me around,” I stated while moving the books and notebooks away from me.

“I have my connections. And yeah, I forgot to tell you about this but this Saturday, he’ll be at the bar where I saw you.”

Saturday? Wait a minute; that is our first anniversary. Why would Professor Sybill be there?

I bit my lip. Is it because he expects me to go there even if he doesn’t say it to me? It was at the bar that he taught me; that’s why I go there every time I escape from the world. Will I really see him there?

I became emotional again. You can see the ultimate happiness on my face. Now that there is news of where I can see him, I am so happy. What if I can see him right in front of me?

“What time? I’m going.”

“Around eight in the evening. My friend told me that Professor Sybill booked a private room there,” he explained.

I smiled. “Okay, copy.”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“Are you sure you want to go there? Maybe someone will try to molest you again,” he said. I shook my head. “I can do it alone. I told you, I didn’t even need your help that night. And besides, Professor Sybill is there; I’m sure he won’t leave me.”

The smile couldn’t leave my lips because I finally had information about Professor Sybill. I have a chance to see him and talk about what happened. My questions will be answered once I get to see him.

It seems that I had the inspiration to finish what I was doing. I answered all the questions given to me by Ismael and even he was amazed that I answered everything correctly. Well, what can’t love do?

*****

Saturday came and I was so nervous. I feel like I’m having diarrhea. The anxiety in my chest was extreme and no matter what I did to calm down, I couldn’t do it. This is the day of our first anniversary and I can’t believe I will see him.

I was so excited that it was only seven p. m. since I arrived and I’ve been hanging out at the Island Motel Bar. I also realized that the hotel that Ismael took me to the night he saw me here was right next to this bar. I still haven’t asked him about the whole thing but it’s certain that nothing really happened between us because he told me I was not his type, and he’s not my type either. Good lord! Even though he’s been kind to me these past few days, of course that’s because he was after something; he doesn’t want me to get in the way of his plans so he’s teaching me. I even had a private tutor for free.

I looked at my mobile phone to check the time. Quarter to eight. That’s why there are already a lot of people inside the bar. What a relief that people don’t look at me or in my direction. No man approached me either. I sipped my tequila, which I ordered the moment I came here. The bartender even remembered me and asked if I was going to get the usual one. I was amazed.

Suddenly, my phone rang. I jumped because of shock. I immediately answered the call when I saw Ismael’s name on the screen.

“What is it?” I greeted.

“Nothing. I just want to know where you are but based on the loud screams and music, you’re at the venue now.”

I smiled. “Yeah, and I thank you for helping me. I can’t wait to see Professor Sybill. This night will be long. It’s our first anniversary after all.”

“Right. Take care.”