Professor C (camren)

16.5 - Jauregui (Part 2)

Lauren had only managed to suggest that Jessica would sit in in one of Camila's classes, and that she'd take care of the semantics and inform the professor so as not to take her by surprise. Jessica was just about to mumble her umpteenth gratitude but had snapped her mouth shut, and shot up to her feet to acknowledge the professor instead with fear clouding her eyes.

"Good morning, professor." Jessica muttered hastily in an attempt to prevent her voice from wavering as panic settled in, rendering her jaw stiff and useless.

"Good morning." Camila reciprocated despite both Lauren and Jessica's expectations, sparing the student the briefest glance as her chocolate pools searched for Lauren's disbelieving ones that were steadily morphing into the light of approval and what seemed to be delight.

It was nothing short of a miracle as Camila had never once given students the same courtesy; even the meager once she'd spoken to colleagues were dry and tasteless. She would only hum or grunt, depending on the severity of her ostensibly perpetual sour disposition. Frankly, she didn't know what possessed her to speak, she was just too eager to engage in a conversation with Lauren.

Slowly, the psychologist lifted herself off her seat as her eyes remained upon Camila's. Her actions were poised and calculated while a steady smile formed upon her lips, almost as if she was deliberately seducing Camila into erasing nearly every single thought in her mind, including Lauren's name at the door.

Lauren didn't question why Camila was in her office nor did she remember that it was the professor's birthday because her disheveled mind had been infiltrated by her emotions.

Among the chaos, she was just admittedly ecstatic that Camila was there.

"I'll go ahead, Miss Lauren." Jessica's quiet voice brought the pair from their wistful daze. She would have noticed the shift in the office had she been braver to look up. "Thank you for your time."

"Are you sure?" Lauren forced out despite the overwhelming need to swallow.

"Yes, Miss. Thank you."

"Anytime, sweetie." She smiled kindly, hopeful that their conversation had appeased her student even in the slightest. "Call me if you need anything."

Jessica only nodded; fearing that if she created another sound, Camila would erupt, which, at the moment was quite farfetched. She slung her bag's strap over her shoulder and quietly left the two with the most insignificant click of the door.

The silence was consuming, almost as if it was the calm before a withering storm. Both women remained where they stood as they scrutinized each other and processed the blatant fact that they were in the other's presence.

It was as if they had met for the first time in almost nine years and it was quite the opposite of the actual day they crossed paths in the beginning of semester. Their hearts were heavy but were never still, and the ache they felt was more of a yearning instead of the bitterness and resentment Camila unleashed upon the Lauren outside of that lecture hall.

Meeting again was beautiful despite the shattered pieces, the looming chaos and the persistent pain. Because at some point, they were whoever they were when Lauren left their apartment.

And from there, they could only move forward.

"Professor." Lauren all but whispered as she climbed out of the pits of her trance, and somehow managed to saunter over to Camila in the process.

If it wasn't for Lauren speaking up, Camila would have missed her presentation altogether. And if it was up to Camila, she would have loved to wallow in their uninterrupted connection and relish in Lauren's presence but nothing would have kept her in a daze when she heard something that was quite distasteful.