Loving Professor Tuazon

V

To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.
...

We arrived at the mall, but my thoughts were still stuck on what happened earlier. I couldn't get Prof. Tuazon's face out of my mind. Why does she affect me so much? This is nothing like I used to be around people. I sighed again-my third time in the last ten minutes.

"Okay ka lang ba?" Aurelia asked, her brows furrowed with concern.

"Ah, oo," I replied quickly, forcing a smile.

"You keep on sighing. Are you sure?" she pressed. I nodded, eager to change the subject.

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"May bibilhin. Tara na," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward a shop that sold cameras. Right, we're photography students, so a camera is a must. I sighed again, knowing I couldn't afford anything in a place like this.

"May nagustuhan ka ba?" Aurelia asked, scanning the shelves.

"Hindi naman ako tumitingin eh. Tsaka, ang mahal, hindi ko afford," I admitted.

"Sinabi ko bang magbabayad ka? Pili ka na," she insisted.

"Ha? Ano, ililibre mo ko? Ang mahal kaya," I protested, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

"Bilis na, Lora. Isa pa, hindi na tayo friends kapag tumanggi ka, lagi mo na lang akong tinatanggihan." she teased, her eyes daring me to refuse. Reluctantly, I started browsing, knowing she wouldn't back down. Wealthy people really do live differently-no second thoughts about spending so much money.

I finally picked a Canon DSLR, the Canon EOS 250D-great for beginners like me. Aurelia decided to get the same one, giggling that it was our first "BFF twinning moment." She paid for both without batting an eye, then pulled me to another shop. This time, she bought two laptops and a phone. I couldn't help but feel guilty seeing her spend so much money so easily.

"Upo muna tayo dun," she suggested, pointing to a nearby bench. We sat down, and she immediately started playing with her new camera, snapping a stolen shot of me.

"Ginagawa mo?" I laughed, half embarrassed.

"Maganda ka kaya. Look," she said, showing me the photo. "Send ko sa'yo mamaya. Ano Facebook mo?"

"Wala ako nun," I replied.

"Weh? Seryoso?" She looked incredulous, as if I'd just told her I lived on another planet. I flicked her forehead, laughing at her expression.

"Aray Lora ha," she pouted.

"Nakakatawa kasi yang itsura mo," I teased. She understood what I meant and didn't press further.

After a few more minutes of rest, she suggested we grab some food. I knew better than to refuse her invitation, especially with the way she framed it as a blessing one shouldn't decline.

We ended up in a fancy restaurant, where Aurelia ordered grilled shrimp, king crabs, and sushi. She looked at me expectantly.

"Roast beef lang sakin. Allergic kasi ako sa seafood," I said. My allergy to seafood has always felt ironic-something so unattainable in my life, yet something I can't even have.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi na allergic ka sa seafood?" she asked, her forehead creasing with worry.

"Di ka naman nagtanong eh," I replied, amused at her reaction. She seemed genuinely upset that she'd ordered so much food I couldn't share. It's her problem now; she'll have to finish it all.

As we ate, Aurelia kept the conversation lively, asking me about my family and where I lived. I answered her questions, amused at how she juggled chatting and devouring all her seafood. In the end, she managed to finish everything, her appetite seemingly endless.

"Gosh, I'm so full, Lora," she groaned, rubbing her stomach.

I was sipping my juice when she suddenly froze. "Wait, so you mean nakatira kayo malapit sa hacienda ng mga Tuazon?"

"Hindi naman malapit," I corrected. "Sa loob mismo nung hacienda nila."

"So bakit hindi mo kilala si Prof. Tuazon?" she asked. "She's the only daughter of Mr. Joseph Tuazon."

"Hindi naman namin kasi siya nakikita na nagpupunta sa hacienda, palaging yung tatay niya lang," I explained. "Tsaka madami ding Tuazon, malay ko ba kung ibang Tuazon siya." I didn't mention the tension I felt when I first realized who she was-just the mention of her name gave me mixed feelings.

Aurelia paid the bill, and we left the restaurant, her hand still holding my arm as she complained about how stuffed she was. We were almost at the door when she suddenly stopped, and I collided with someone. The scent of expensive perfume was unmistakable. I looked up, and there she was-Prof. Tuazon. Her eyes darted to Aurelia's hand on my arm, and her expression darkened.

I started to apologize, but a voice interrupted us from behind Prof. Tuazon. "Hey Ele, bat andito ka pa sa may pinto," a woman called out, walking up to her. She was just as tall, with fair skin, wearing a crisp white blouse rolled up to her elbows and black slacks. Her messy blonde bun gave her a relaxed air.

"Oh, hi, Aure," the woman greeted Aurelia, then turned to me. "And you are?"

"Lora po," I managed.

"Girlfriend mo, Aure?" she asked Aurelia, who laughed.

"Ate Char, she's my classmate and a friend," Aurelia clarified. Wait-girlfriend? So, Aurelia likes girls too?

"Well then, hi. I'm Charlotte," she said, extending a hand. Before I could take it, Prof. Tuazon stepped between us and pulled Charlotte away. What's her problem?

"Nice to meet you, Lora. See you around," Charlotte called out as they left.

"Sino yun?" I asked Aurelia once we were outside.

"Pinsan ni Prof. Tuazon," she replied.

"Bakit ka kilala niya?" I pressed.

"The Tuazons are one of the long-time investors of Papa," she said casually.

"Sandali, anak ka nung may-ari ng San Pablo Groups?" It finally clicked. No wonder she spent money like it was nothing.

"Yeap. Nagulat ka ba? Hindi ko kasi pinapangalandakan ang family history ko," she admitted. "Mahirap makahanap ng kaibigan kapag ganun."

We reached her car, and I gave her directions to my house. She navigated smoothly through the familiar roads until we stopped in front of my family's modest, one-story wooden home.

"Baba ka muna," I invited her. She agreed, parking outside our gate.

"Nay!" I called out to my mother, who was sweeping outside.

"Andito ka na pala, anak. Sino itong kasama mo?" she asked, eyeing Aurelia.

"Nay, si Aurelia po, kaklase ko. Aurelia, si Nanay," I introduced them.

They got along instantly. Aurelia had that kind of charm-friendly and warm, without the usual airs of the rich. By the time I changed clothes and finished cooking dinner, Aurelia and my mother were chatting away like old friends.

Dinner passed pleasantly, with Aurelia promising my younger siblings a ride in her car the next time she visited. Before leaving, she handed me the camera we bought earlier, plus the phone and laptop she'd purchased.

"Sayong-sayo na 'to, Lora," she said firmly. "And call me Aure or Lia, not Aurelia-it makes me sound old. May sim card na yan, and my number is saved. Text kita pag nakauwi na ako, okay?"

I had no choice but to accept. As I watched her drive away, I couldn't help but feel my world shifting, little by little.

...