Professor C (camren)

16 - Jauregui (Part 1)

"Honey, you have to calm down." Lauren playfully scolded, shaking her head in disapproval, which didn't hinder Ida's enthusiasm.

"No, I can't because get this, Professor C is loosening up." Face gaping, Ida paused just enough to let her frantic words settle in. It was quite amazing, considering she ceased in her own accord despite the seething zeal within her. "You know what she did last week? She smiled at me! She smiled, Miss Lauren! She never smiles." Her expressions morphed into that of perplexity as she intently gazed into Lauren's face as if she'd find the answer there, only to narrow her eyes at the very end. "Is it because of you?"

Lauren should have probably seen it coming but she didn't. She was so caught up in her annulment proceeding that she had forgotten that Ida had developed a dislike for Camila after some unpleasant run-ins with the economist. That recipe would guarantee a spot in Ida's headlines and Lauren carelessly overlooked that little detail.

Her mouth steadily dried up into a shriveled mess while her pulse rattled her bones. Ida had just unknowingly apprehended a victim of love, who was gripping on her paper cup tightly as if it would be the weapon that could save her life.

And in reality, Lauren could spill her seething coffee on Ida's face and she could just make a run for it.

But that would be cruel, not to mention immature. And Lauren Jauregui is a grown woman.

"No." Lauren responded hastily, creating a suspicion to flourish in Ida and she didn't want that. "She has an old friend in town. You know what those do. You meet a friend and all you do is relive those golden days." She reasoned with as much conviction she could muster, and thankfully, Ida bought it.

"Speaking of friend, yeah, I've seen her around. That tall girl seems to know you, though."

"Oh, yeah." Lauren nodded, confirming Ida's meek insinuation. She took a sip of her vanilla latte and ran her tongue over her lips, taking her time to provide the best answer. "The three of us went to the same high school. Well, just senior year for me."

"Why didn't you tell me?" The tone in Ida's voice made Lauren cringe. She was ostensibly offended to find that the psychologist may not have trusted her enough with the information.

"Up until we met in January, Professor C and I weren't really on...speaking terms." Lauren stammered, twisting and turning the cup in her hands and swallowed thickly. Somehow, that little conversation had turned into an interrogation. "I thought bridges have been burned because we were practically strangers when we met again. I wasn't even sure if she would acknowledge me, you know? Apart from our jobs, I thought we wouldn't have anything linking us."

Ida's furrowed brows gradually unstitched only to climb up to her hairline as she began to worry about Lauren. Something about the way the psychologist's face dropped caused a discomfort to arise in her. Ida realized that even if they were friends, there were still details in their lives may never come up in their conversations, especially if they were sensitive subjects.

And knowing Lauren, the psychologist was bound to keep things to herself.

Ida did consider the fact that she goes to Lauren each time to merely gossip and share some shallow chit-chat about the undertakings along the halls of the community college. It would make her less trustworthy as she would freely and maybe, insensitively run her mouth.

Regardless, Ida is loyal to Lauren and she may pry so much but she knew her boundaries.

"How come?" She dejectedly mumbled, frowning.

"Things happened years ago." Lauren set her cup on her desk and reached to brush her hand through her hair. She slumped her shoulders down and flashed a pathetic tight lip smile Ida's way. "The kind that I wish I could have prevented so that I wouldn't spend years and years thinking of what could have been. At the time, you just think it was the right thing to do to preserve yourself and then when you realized you could still fight through, fate decides you're too late, even if it was just a day."

"It's better now, yeah?" Ida prodded gently, not quite sure how to respond should Lauren give her a negative. When Lauren nodded, she let out a sigh as a smile crept up on her lips. "Good. I'm glad."

Lauren returned the gesture, quietly grateful that Ida pushed the brake pedal before she had to ask for her privacy or explode with rage. She was not willing to lose an ally who had been one of the few things that gave her life in Lafayette a little normalcy.

"How much do I owe him?" Lauren asked upon remembering that she and Ida had not discussed the bill. "I'm so glad it could be done quickly." She was about to reach for her purse when Ida's voice stopped her.

"Don't worry about it, Miss Lauren. You know I have been waiting for this for a year." Ida grinned, nudging her brows cheekily.

"No, Ida. I can't let you pay for it. Is the college paying?"

The chairman's secretary merely smiled, ignoring Lauren and leaving her slack-jawed despite the commotion going on whirling in those troubled green eyes. She reached for her cup and took a sip casually as if Lauren had not just asked her a question.

Lauren could only shake her head and smile at Ida. It was one of the things she loved about her friend, her thoughtfulness.

"Thank you, Ida. Really. Thank you." Lauren expressed as she looked at her friend in relative disbelief. She chuckled when she found Ida flash her a smirk and all Lauren could think about was her gratitude for the woman and that necessity to repay the favor. "Hey, do you want to go grab some lunch after? My treat."

"Oh, you bet!"