CHAPTER II: FAVORS

“Hello darling, I’m so happy to see you reading again. No more headaches?”

The obese man in front of her smiled widely, his rounded cheeks stretching to accommodate his toothy grin. If there was anything his wife really loved, it’s his jolly countenance, especially in the mornings. Sometimes work for him demanded that he goes home in the early hours of the day before sunrise and he knows that his wife is not happy with that.

But what can a man do if he is overly busy with his newly acquired business? Or actually, his wife’s newly acquired business?

”I’m fine my love, please stop worrying. My blood pressure has not been overly high for the past two weeks. And yes, I still prefer the traditional paper for my news reading instead of a tablet, thank you,” replied the hefty male while turning the page of the full newspaper in front of him.

The slim graceful woman glides to the back of the lumbering man and hugs him from behind, enveloping him in layers of sweet-strong perfume and the rich silken cloths of her very expensive signature dress.

“As long as you are safe then I will stop worrying my darling. And yes, I myself don’t understand this new smartphone that our son has bought for me. I was completely happy with my last one so now I have to relearn how to use this new unit again? Ugh, how irritatingly inconvenient!”

The elderly Marco Antonio Agpalza, also fondly called the Major by his contemporaries and peers, sighs in pleasure at the loving feel of his wife’s arms around his neck. He truly has missed this woman’s care and love for him. And though she can be a real ball-breaker sometimes, he can’t help but be in awe of her when she shows her catty side. Like now…

”Love, that’s just like your son. He is so intent to please you all the time. I believe, he bought you that phone because he wanted you to be able to watch your favorite Japanese drama series everywhere you go.”

”But we have a lovely 75-inch TV in our bedroom! Why would I even need to watch my beloved dramas on such a small screen?”

”The phone is portable, Belle, that’s the point of the gift. You can watch your shows even while in the limo.”

”But that’s absurd. I would rather have a tray of cheese and fruit and even a glass or two of champagne while viewing the series. Watching while holding my phone would make eating and drinking difficult.”

The Major laughs aloud, truly amused with his petite’s wife petulant perception of their only child’s most recent techie gift. Unfortunately, Madame Belle did not find it funny.

”How dare you laugh at me, Antonio! Why would you belittle my opinions that way?” she huffed, disengaging herself from her husband’s hug and sitting at the opposite side of the long ornate breakfast table with an irritated look on her face. For added drama, the elegant lady looks away from the man and stares piercingly at their wide side garden's exquisite grand marble fountain surrounded by colorful manicured flower gardens just to avoid his gaze.

The amused Antonio, who has always found his socialite spouse still so cute when she does this, tries his best to hide his mirth just to reduce her annoyance. He reaches out to hold the aged but still lovely woman’s hand.

“My beautiful Belle, I am not belittling your opinions. I am merely assuring you of our son’s concern and care for you even with these small gifts. True, you can find the gesture so bothersome at times. But, imagine, he is earning his own salary and though it’s not that big compared to the money we are both making, he is still set on buying you thoughtful gifts such as that phone. We should be thankful for him being that way instead of being upset with him.”

The beautifully made-up and manicured woman, who looked like she was going to an exclusive tea party instead of having breakfast, finally faces her chubby husband once again with a more forgiving and relaxed look. If there was anything that can soothe her ferocious feline side, it would be to mention her only child’s deep devotion to her.

”Fine then, my darling Antonio,” she sighs contentedly. “I will try to show more appreciation for our beloved son’s gifts. If only I had his techie touch so I can easily understand how these gadgets work. But then again, I am sure I can try to learn something new every day.”

”That’s the spirit, my love… Wait I need to take this phone call.”

Belle takes this moment to serve herself some fruit and a few pastries from the silver multilevel tray in the middle of the table, along with a cup of tea with lemon and honey. She notices that her husband seems to be getting more and more troubled as the phone call continues. The regal and stately woman decides to prepare and offer the Major another cup of Kalinga coffee with thick cream and sugar.

The busy male takes the cup almost automatically, then nods a curt thanks to his concerned wife. He smiles a bit just to reassure her then his worried look returns as he goes back to talking on the phone.

Alright then, I’ll just leave you alone, my darling Antonio. After all, I’m the one who asked to be spared from the details of running my deceased father’s business. I’ll just busy myself with something else while I finish my breakfast and just completely ignore your phone conversations.

The classy lady in her 60’s then decides to focus all her attention on her new phone and see how she can possibly watch her latest favorite Japanese drama shows there.

Oh Hero, the things you buy for me! I wonder how you’re doing in school right now. I’m sure that you are impressing all your teachers at this very moment. Oh, and there’s this wonderful female professor that you mentioned before. Do I dare hope that…

The elderly socialite pauses with a sigh then returns her full attention back to her son’s technologically advanced gift.

Oh phew, those things only happen in drama shows. What the heck am I thinking?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

”Professor, wait up... Please, listen... I’m sorry for what happened in class a while ago... Come on Ms. Semana... please just stop! Can’t you hear me?!”

Of course, Lyra can hear him. She’s not wearing her Bluetooth earbuds, not even her wired earphones. And even if she’s already walking through the expansive and slightly forested parking space behind the college building, yes she can hear him.

I’m just too pissed at you boy to give in to what you want! I don’t even want to pay attention to you…

Besides, she needed to leave as soon as possible. There were other more important things for her to do besides listening to her annoying student's excuses…

Who also happens to also be her friend despite their collegiate titles.

Yeah, some friend you are! That’s probably why you’re acting like that in my class. I mean do you do that in Professor Santos’ class, Hero? Of. Course. NOT!

A large hand with slender fingers grasps her arm tightly, causing her to break her line of thinking and completely freeze in her tracks.

“Hey Lyra,” Hero breathlessly pants, finally managing to catch up with her. “I was calling your name. Yelling even. Why weren’t you stopping?”

Lyra’s mouth drops open, her sarcastic tone about to go full force, ”WHY wasn’t I STOPPING? REALLY, HERO? Is that a STUPID question or WHAT? I mean, isn’t it FUCKING OBVIOUS?”

”Whoa, whoa prof easy on the swear words. I didn’t kill anyone, ok, so please calm down.

”Sure I can calm down if it’s NOT the UPTEENTH time that YOU have actually DONE this… this…THIS STUNT in MY class! MY CLASS, HERO! Of all the CLASSES in this COLLEGE…”

”Shhhh… shhh… alright, alright… I’m really, really sorry Lyra. I just… Geez, I don’t know what to say to you to make up for it."

”What about an explanation?”

“What do you mean? I ALREADY gave you an EXPLANATION! There are times when I suddenly see random scenes that come into my head because of my job as a scriptwriter! It's like my out-of-the-blue lightbulb moments. That’s all they are! REALLY!”

”Ok, if that is the case why doesn’t THAT happen in your OTHER classes?"

“What the… of course, it ALSO happens in my other classes!”

“Oh REALLY? I asked around and GUESS WHAT? Your other professors have NEVER seen you do that SAME THING to them when you’re SITTING IN THEIR CLASSROOMS!”

A long awkward pause… Hero felt like she just slapped him...

Again.

Dammit! She’s really smart! Of course, she is. You already know that. She’s been your damned professor for almost a year, genius!

“Can I at least get the truth, Hero? I mean, when you approached me in the middle of last semester and asked if we can be friends, DESPITE that arrangement being questionable since I'm your professor, I agreed. And all because you were one of the best and most sincere students that I’ve ever had!"

Shit! So what the heck am I supposed to tell her? That the reason why I don’t do that same thing with other profs is cause she’s the ONLY ONE who I have sexual fantasies about? That I even wank to the sound of her voice which I record during all our classes? Oh sure, that would go down well. She’ll definitely drop me, kill me and never talk to me again if she ever finds out…

“I’m now asking as a friend, Hero!” whined Lyra, a bit close to tears, “If you won’t tell me as your prof, at the very least let me know the truth because we’re friends.

”Hey… what the… Lyra, no, please don’t cry…”

”I already feel I’m a fricking failure to you as a professor because of those blanked-out episodes that you have in my class, Hero. So yes, there’s a part of me that’s about ready to damn cry!”

”Oh fuck, I didn’t know I’m already making you feel that way. Damn it… I really am sorry…”

”If you’re really sorry give me the truth… please.”

Hero sighs deeply, I’m sorry Lyra but I really still have to lie to you…

”What I originally told you really IS the truth, Lyra. I suddenly have genius scenes in my head and I write them down for the production company that I work for part-time. I don’t know why I bonk out in your class though. Maybe I get more inspired when you’re with me, I’m not sure. But I didn’t realize it only happens in your class. I honestly, HONESTLY thought that I do it in other places too. Please, you HAVE to believe me!”

There, I really hope she buys that or else I might lose her as a professor and even as a friend as well...

It feels like forever before the troubled female speaks. And when she does, Hero feels so relieved.

"Ok, I believe you. But you better not be lying or I'll never trust you again."

He lets out a sigh so long, he suddenly realizes that he's been holding his breath while waiting for her answer, "Scout's honor. Even if I'm not a scout."

"Well, you've got military training so I guess that counts. And you are a biker, right? I mean, you do have your own motorbike?"

"Yeah, I did tell you that before. But... uhh... what's that got to do with this?"

"Well, this is your chance to make up for all that BS that you've been doing in my class. I would normally get a cab or a Grab, but there's rush hour and it's already late so..."