Professor C (camren)

16.5 - Jauregui (Part 2)

For an empath, it was one of the worst things Lauren had to hear.

Lauren could almost predict Jessica's answers word-for-word. It seemed as though the student had rehearsed it prior to the meeting but regardless of the frequency she had uttered them, it never got easier. The weight of her words remained to be a burden on her shoulders and Jessica had grown helpless with each day that passes by. Asking her neighbors to check on her mother while she was occupied with work and school had become a little too much that each time she looked into their concerned eyes, she felt as though she was the useless drunk who could not stand a day without alcohol.

Why couldn't life be easier? It wasn't fair to offer a consolation in terms of building strength to overcome and lessons learned from adversity considering some never make it out alive.

"It'll get better. I promise you." Lauren assured her with such certainty despite how the news rattled her. She was trying to be hopeful that in those months that she hadn't seen Jessica, progress would have been observed in her mother. "But in the meantime, I'm here for you and no matter what it is you need, I want you to come to me. Is that okay?"

"Yes, miss. Thank you." Jessica offered the psychologist a warm smile and for now, it was enough.

Lauren allowed her student to wallow in her thoughts and busied herself with organizing her chaotic table. Some of Pebble's coloring materials were still there and even her sketch of Camila was tucked within a folder to keep it safe from any more creases.

She was being respectful of Jessica's privacy and was aware of the necessity to step back for a moment to digest certain things on her own. It was an understandable request and Lauren would have allowed her days up to months to ponder on whatever it was that troubled her granting Jessica would come to her should her situation ever become unbearable.

However, when the student spoke again, Lauren was in for a surprise.

"What is it like in...Professor C's class?" Jessica mumbled reluctantly, aware of the ice cold gaze Camila would shoot to every single person who dared to cross paths with her.

As if Lauren needed it, Jessica's question was the third reminder of it being Camila's birthday.

Then again, the fourth one was not just any other reminder and Lauren was in for a surprise.

-

Meanwhile, Camila was blazing through speeds imaginable with her high stilettos and constricting pencil skirt. The difficulty to take it up a notch was a haughty reminder that it was a terrible idea to be wearing them when she was well aware of the rush she was in. Three inches lower would have been much more convenient, and a little more allowance for movement would have been highly appreciated.

However, Professor C was always up for a challenge and practically annihilating it.

And as expected, her stride still possessed an intrinsic poise and for some reason, her silky mane remained polished as it flailed behind her gracefully. Her chin was held high, of course. She left the near ominous sound of her clicking heels in her tracks that managed to haunt those with the displeasure of hearing them.

And contrary to Lauren's assumptions, the sound was what filled Camila's ears while she trudged through the marble tiles of Lafayette Community College, following a path to room 115...the psychologist's office.

Camila had been mentally preparing herself since receiving that phone call the previous day. She had finally been scheduled to present in front of a panel that would spell her fate, and her borderline-conceit self-confidence was allowing her to treat that day as any ordinary one. Apprehension was wasteful and useless when the contents of her dissertation were more than just factual, they were tested findings in real-world business - not a hypothetical one.