Hot Night With My Professor

I’ve been biting my nails for a while now. How shouldn’t I? This cat is still looking at me evilly! I don’t know what to do with him. I am petting him. Food was given. Wait, did I give him the right food? Anyway, I only had cereal, and he ate it.

I sighed. This is what I’m saying! This cat is just going to torture me! Ismael! You shouldn’t have left it to me!

I fell on the couch and lay there. I wanted to watch Netflix, but I just got distracted by petting the cat. Snacks and wine are ready for the table. I have also chosen a movie to watch, but because this cat I’m with doesn’t get along, I am interrupted by things I want to do.

I took my phone and dialed Ismael’s number. He answered it in just a few rings. Good.

“Yes, Miss Alvandra?”

My heart beat faster when I heard his deep voice on the other line. I didn’t think he would answer my call.

“Huh? Ah, the thing is…” I seem to have forgotten the reason why I called him. If the cat hadn’t meowed, I wouldn’t have remembered. “The cat…”

I jumped and screamed when it suddenly came to me. Not just came, but also jumped. What’s this? I almost had a heart attack!

“Miss Alvandra? What happened? Are you alright?”

I turned my attention back to the phone I was holding. “Huh? Yes. The cat suddenly jumped on me! I was surprised,” I explained to him.

“I see.” I heard him clearing his throat. “So, why did you call me at this hour, Miss Alvandra? It’s already ten in the evening.”

“Because I don’t know what to do with this cat. He always stares at me evilly. What if he scratches me or kills me?”

“What?” He asked in disbelief. “What in the world, Miss Alvandra?”

“Well, that’s because. I thought cats were grumpy. Why did he keep coming to me? He was still getting into my groin. Where I was, he was there too. He was following me. Oh, look, now he’s going up to my chest,” I explained. Currently, I am reclining on the couch with this cat climbing onto my chest. I don’t know if he’s tickling, but he’s also nuzzling my neck.

“He’s yearning for your affection,” Ismael answered. I heard him chuckle, and that made my heart feel warm. I must be abnormal, and I am thrilled by his soft laugh. I could imagine his face. He probably looks handsome right now while lying in bed and wearing only a simple t-shirt and shorts. “He wants you to love him.”

“Eh?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, he’s comfortable with you; that’s why he always follows you wherever you go. Consequently, he approaches your chest in search of warmth; he induces a tender sensation within you. It also means he trusted you; he knew that you can and will protect him,” he explained, making my jaw drop. He is indeed a professor because he knows even these things. Amazing. And the way he explained it, I couldn’t stop smiling. Even if the thing we were talking about was as simple as this, it seems to be one of those I will never forget. It feels strange. I feel calm.

“When he is at your feet, he protects you because the weakest angle when you are sleeping is on your feet.” I nodded. “Actually, most of the time they are half asleep to guard you. When they are on your chest or show their belly, that’s it; they are fully asleep.” I looked at the cat, now sleeping soundly on my chest. I don’t like cats, nor do I like any pets, but because of how Ismael explains it to me, I feel like my heart is starting to grow an affection toward this pet. “They only sleep full when they trust their owner. And they only show their belly to the person they trust.”

I was left speechless. All I could do was listen to him. He’s good to listen to. It’s like he’s discussing a lesson. And in fairness, everything he said stuck in my mind. I don’t know why I hated him so much before.

“So it means he trusts me? So quickly? I just got together with him a while ago. How did that happen? We didn’t even get off to a good start.”

He laughed again. “It is possible, Miss Alvandra. Just like us.”

I gulped. “Just like us?”

“Yeah, haven’t we started being enemies? Well, uhm, it was you who didn’t like me.”

“Right, it was because I was so blinded by love, but look where we are now. I never thought I could call you or talk to you like this freely.”

“I will always answer whenever you call me, Miss Alvandra.”

I felt my tears welling up. It was as if his words touched my heart-my soul.

“Oh,” I just said. I just heard those words now. In my entire life, no one has made me feel like this-that even if I don’t force it, someone will give it to me. Here he is, a professor I once hated, telling me he will always be there whenever I need him. How come, in the blink of an eye, I became genuinely happy and content? Even if we don’t have anything, even if we’re just friends, no, even if I’m just a student and he’s my professor, I feel like I can count on him.

“Just, oh? Are you that speechless?”

“Yeah, no one told me that before. I don’t know how to react,” I honestly stated.

“Then, you should answer-I will always call you then, Ismael-that’s the best answer, Miss Alvandra.”

“You really know how to flirt, huh?” I inquired while laughing and inadvertently petted the cat on my chest.

“I am not flirting with you, Miss Alvandra.”

“Then, what are you doing?”

“Have you figured it out?” I frowned. “I’m becoming a useless man now,” he added.

“Useless?” I frowned. “You’re not useless, Ismael. You see, you did a lot of things for me, especially today. You helped me when I wasn’t asking you to, and I thank you for that. You’re such a great professor.”

“Oh, thank you for saying that.”

There was a moment of silence between the two of us. I yawned.

“Are you going to sleep now?” he asked under his sleepy voice that seemed to lullaby me.

“Yup. You?”

“I will too.” I heard him yawn and apologize for that. “Good night, Miss Alvandra. It was nice talking to you.”

“Yeah, it was nice talking to you too, Ismael. See you tomorrow.”

“See you.”

I must be crazy if I admit that I smile all night while sleeping. And I can see Ismael had a different effect on me. This is bad.

*****

I was so shocked to see my face in the mirror. The dark circles under my eyes are very big. Why shouldn’t I? I was distracted this morning because of that cat. He kept coming to me while I was sleeping. I always put him away from me, but still, he will come back. When I lean over, he climbs up to my side. When I sleep lying by my face, he goes behind me. When lying down, he will go to the chest. I didn’t sleep well!

I guess I need a lot of concealers today.

“Meow, meow.”

I looked at the door. There was the cat who looked tender and apologetic, but because I was annoyed with him, I ignored him. I thought he was going to leave, but he came in and went over to the faucet where I was fixing my makeup.

“Why are you here again? Aren’t we enemies? Look what you did! You never let me sleep in peace. I’m going to return you to Ismael!” I asked him, but he just meowed as if he were answering me back. I just sighed.

“I will leave you here, so be a good boy, because if not, I won’t buy you food,” I threatened him as I closed the door. He just meowed in response. It’s good that we understand each other.

I was about to get a cab when my phone received a message-a message that I never thought I would receive. It is from my mother, asking me what happened yesterday.

My teeth gritted. So she heard about the news from my brother. My only hope is that my brother did not tarnish my reputation because my mother cut my allowance for a month the last time he disclosed something to her. Fortunately, I had some money saved, so I was able to survive.

I did not reply. I don’t want my day to start with anger. Even though the cat earlier had me in a bad mood, it wasn’t him that made my day miserable, but this text.

I breathed a sigh as I hopped into a cab to go to Marcus University. I was in deep thought while looking outside the window. If the driver hadn’t said that we had arrived, I wouldn’t have stopped the cab before.

After I paid, I went out. Based on the sunlight, it looks like I arrived early. I make my own way to our classroom, but the moment I step into the doorway, I receive another message. It is from my father.

I sighed when I read his message, asking about the guy I was with who paid for Roxsielle’s hospital bill. I sighed again. So, they’re more interested in the guy I’m with than me?

“You’re getting in the way, Miss Alvandra.”

I was brought back to reality when I heard Ismael’s voice. I’ve been blocking the door for a while now.

“S-sorry.”

I went straight to my seat before looking out the window again. Even if I wanted to listen to what Ismael was saying, I couldn’t. My mind is occupied because of my parents.

“I knew it! I knew it!” Atacia shouted, so I looked at her. I saw my classmates smiling too. “I told you! We will win the most profitable booth!”

“Congratulations, guys!” they greeted each other. I cannot contain my joy because, to begin with, my parents have just made me feel terrible all morning. Often, I just receive their money in my account-no conversation, no hello, no you’re welcome when I say thank you.

“And Dean Dator said that next weekend, from Friday to Sunday, those members of the outstanding booths will have the chance to go to a special camping event outside the university,” Ismael energetically announced to our class. He smiled while looking at my classmates. He’s like a ray of sunlight full of energy. And whoever he shines on is infected with his beautiful energy. The way he speaks to my classmates is amusing. Teaching is something that really suits him.

His attention turned to me. Our eyes met for a long time. It’s not like how he momentarily turned his attention to my classmates. He devotes more to me. He gives it, even if I don’t ask for it. What is there in my eyes to draw someone to look at me for a long time?

Despite the fact that it appeared that his smile was infecting me, I was unable to smile. I can’t, because I’m starting to realize something. Because of his smile, I was able to confess.

In just a short span of time, I can admit that I’m starting to like him.

And my heart confirms it too. It’s not just a strong beating that I hear from my heart, but it’s like a melody that, if you listen to it, sounds like a song whose beginning and end center on one person-the person I love-Ismael.