Warning: R/18
I proceeded straight to our room for my next class. We have a laboratory session today, and I knew I would see him again. I brushed off what he said earlier, quickly pushing it to the back of my mind.
Upon reaching the door, I adjusted my glasses before turning the doorknob. My classmates greeted me loudly, standing on the side with three mannequins arranged on the table in the middle.
I found a spot and walked, but my classmates simultaneously greeted me again, this time looking behind me. My heart rate increased, but I kept walking and took my place in a dimly lit area.
Professor Zaiden stood in front with a CPR mannequin on the table, creating a buzz of excitement in the room as nursing students, including myself, gathered for the demonstration.
I stared at Professor Zaiden as he stood there with his glasses on.
"Today, we'll be covering the basics of CPR – Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation," he began. "This skill is vital for any healthcare professional, especially nurses. Now, let's start with the initial assessment."
He demonstrated checking for responsiveness, tapping on the mannequin's shoulder and shouting, "Are you okay?" We watched attentively, mentally noting the steps.
"As a nursing student," he continued. "you'll often find yourself in situations where immediate intervention is crucial. Now, observe the chest rise and fall, or in this case, the mannequin's chest."
He explained the importance of checking for normal breathing and the correct hand placement for chest compressions. I observed closely, eager to learn these life-saving techniques.
"Remember, in an emergency situation, efficiency is key. Perform chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute," Professor Zaiden emphasized as he demonstrated the proper technique.
After the demonstration, he asked each of us to try, and eventually, it was my turn. He stood beside me, and I felt nervous as everyone's eyes were on me. They probably expected me to make a mistake, but it didn't happen.
"Very good, Ms. Valencia. Next student to demonstrate?"
I took a deep breath and returned to my previous spot. We all looked towards the door as someone knocked and a girl peeked in. My eyebrows furrowed because I recognized her.
"Professor Zaiden? Can I talk to you?" She had that overly polite tone. She approached, and even though they were still inside the laboratory, the girl couldn't contain herself and immediately grabbed his pulse. I felt a sudden pain, seeing how much they cared for each other. Professor Zaiden was smiling at her. I never experienced that with him, not even once.
I clenched my fist. That woman's smile would disappear someday. I'll erase it.
-----
I angrily threw my belongings onto the bed in my apartment. I've been restraining myself from confronting the girl who held Professor Zaiden's arms and even hugged him earlier. She's really testing my patience.
I tousled my hair, angrily crying. He's mine alone! Professor Zaiden is mine! I'll take him, and tomorrow, he won't be able to resist me.
I glanced at my phone and smirked. I have one ace up my sleeve, but I won't use it now. I'll seduce him until he begs me to stay with him. If he doesn't want to separate from the girl, well, I'll find a way to make him search for me.
I approached the body mirror and quickly undressed. Without a mirror, I casually fixed my messy hair with my fingers. I didn't have a mirror now, but with a little adjustment, I could steal him again.
The next day, I planned to use contact lenses. It's my second time using them, and my second time applying a bit of makeup. We only wore white uniforms for nursing, but I intentionally unbuttoned the top two buttons. I fixed my medium-length hair and curled the ends, even styling my bangs to showcase my forehead. I added a bit of blush, lipstick, and even applied some eyebrow makeup. I learned all of this from YouTube.
I also used my new bag that my sister bought for me last week. After getting ready, I closed the door securely before heading out.
Even in the jeepney, people couldn't help but stare, especially the men. They glanced at my seat, and a married couple even got off early because they were arguing, all because of the attention I was getting.
When I arrived outside our university, I got nervous because I knew many would notice me, especially without wearing glasses. Still, I brought them just in case.
I walked confidently, not even looking at the people staring at me, especially the men who used to tease me. They couldn't recognize me, judging by their confused faces. I don't know why because it's just glasses that covered my face.
Oh yes, they know me as the "crazy nurse" here. They barely looked at me, wondering why I pursued nursing if they think I have a mental disorder. They're foolish.
I arrived just in time outside the classroom, and Professor Zaiden had just placed his laptop on the desk. I smiled and entered the door.
"Good morning, Professor."
Almost everyone looked in my direction. They fell silent, scrutinizing me.
"Who is she? Is there a transferee?" The person shrugged.
The guys had a different look on their faces, especially one I knew too well. Professor Zaiden turned to look at me, clearly surprised when his gaze landed on me. I just grinned and went straight to my seat.
There was a buzz of whispers when I sat down because who else would sit at the far back? Only me.
"What the fuck? Valencia? Damn, she's gorgeous," I overheard the guy who used to bully me say.
"If this is how beautiful the crazy one is, it's better that way. She's even sexy!" I just smirked at my classmate's comment, especially when he glanced at me while saying that. I pretended to ignore it and took out my notebook.
Professor Zaiden cleared his throat as it seemed the discussion got more animated, and it was evident I was the subject of the conversation. I met Professor's gaze, but it looked like he was avoiding eye contact with me. He started speaking, and I noticed he appeared to be sweating. Why? The room was cool enough. I kept my eyes on him, and finally, he looked at me, the gaze lingering for a few minutes while he continued talking.
I nonchalantly adjusted my hair to showcase my neck. I glanced at him again and noticed he paused in his speech, just looking at me.
"Sir, what about-"
Our eye contact was interrupted when someone asked him a question. He calmly answered, and I secretly smiled. After he finished discussing, he gave us a short quiz. Some complained about the fast quiz after a discussion. Luckily, I listened to him, and I only got two wrong. He collected our short quizzes to record them, so we lined up to submit one by one.
"The class ended, and there's no class later. Teachers are having a meeting. So, you may rest early today."
Everyone cheered at Professor Zaiden's announcement, but I didn't react and was busy planning how to captivate him today. Should I go into his office? But I don't have a reason.
"Uh, Ms. Valencia. I have something for you to do before you go home. Follow me to my office."
My ears perked up at what I heard. What he's going to ask is a blessing in disguise. I resisted the urge to smile and just nodded. He furrowed his brows at my reaction. I won't let him know what my next move is.
"Okay, Professor."
Everyone's eyes were still on me as I left the room. I took a deep breath outside because it felt like they were suffocating me with their looks.