The Professor

Badly Kept Promises and Complete Honesty

Adriana

When all my classes are done I head to the bus stop for work.

It's almost dark and most people don't even have classes right now so there's almost no one in sight.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Mr. Park.

"Going somewhere?" He asks.

"Yeah, work." I say, walking again.

He keeps pace with me easily as the rain starts again.

"I can give you a ride." He offers.

"No thanks, really. You were kind enough to drive me home last night, and even to school today. But really, we fucked, and it was amazing, don't get me wrong, but it happened and now it's over." I say, trying to show no emotion as we reach the bus stop.

He laughs. "You don't want to be in a relationship with me, I get it, but can we at least be friends?" He asks.

I know what he is trying to do but sadly, I want him in my life. So I give in. I nod.

"Promise?" He asks. I take his outstretched hand and shake it.

"Promise." I smile, poking his nose and shoving my hands in my coat pockets.

Without warning he picks me up and starts carrying me somewhere.

"Good, because friends are allowed to drive friends places." He says happily.

He sets me down in front of his car and I frown at him.

"Mr. Park-" I start.

"No no no. We definitely can't be friends if you keep calling me that. It's Adam!" He says, opening the car door and indicating for me to get in.

He closes he door behind me and goes around to the driver's side.

"Fine," I say as he leaves the parking lot and drives further into the city.

"Adam, you really don't have to drive me places. That's what the bus is for." I pull out a cigarette and light it, rolling down my window too.

Adam reaches over and pulls it out of my grasp, taking a long drag and then throwing it out the window.

He exhales smoke and doesn't look at me.

"No smoking in my car." He's says.

I glare at him. "You can't control me, I'll smoke if I want to!" I cross my arms like a child.

"Don't be immature Adriana." He sighs as he pulls up in front of the tattoo shop.

"I don't remember you thinking I was immature when you were fucking me! Twice!" I say angrily, putting my hand on the door handle and preparing to jump out.

"Maybe you should consider your own immature ways of fucking your students, before you go criticizing mine!" With that I get out of the car and slam the door behind me, huffing and speed walking through the rain to the shop.

I hear him drive away as I enter the shop, and I close the door, leaning against it and letting tears fall down my face.

"Oh, A!" Tommy exclaims, running towards me.

He embraces me and I sob in his arms, too confused to feel embarrassed.

"Babe, what happened?" Tommy asks me after a little while.

I let him lead me to a seat and pull my rain jacket off.

I look up at him with big, teary eyes, and I know he understands.

"You drove him away. Literally." Tommy states, rolling his eyes in the direction of the street and leaning back in his own chair.

"You've got to stop doing this to yourself. Just because your dad left your mom doesn't mean every guy is a deserting scumbag." He says.

Tommy suddenly gets off his chair and kneels in front of me, taking my hands in his. "You've got to let yourself be happy, Adriana."

With that, he stands up an walks back to the counter.

"You have the night off. Go home!" He calls without looking back.