Love in the Time of Vanity Fair

Chapter 5: Vanity Fair

Albert Bandura theorized that human beings learn from one another. To understand people, we have to observe, imitate, and model. Learning analysis could only be done through reciprocal interaction amidst cognitive, behavioral, and environmental stimuli.

The key to a well-conducted research is time. For the paper, I am currently working on, an in-depth understanding of the context from which my upcoming subjects will be hailing from is of utmost importance. And that is what led me to stand in front of my mirror, all glammed up, with bated breath.

...

After Ian went back from Spain, we resumed meeting every Saturday but his presence during the weekdays weaned out. It's a little weird to not see him after having settled into a routine of seeing him almost every day but it was what it was. He was getting a little busy not only with his restaurants but with the family business.

"Nagpapamiss lang iyan," Kathleen suggested which I ignored... mostly.

I went to the university a little early today to avoid traffic. There was a groundbreaking for the new building of the Psychology Department hence the mandatory presence of the entire faculty and staff.

The cool November air was blowing as I stepped out of my car and met with Kathleen on the way to my office. I could understand her insistence on staying in my office instead of hers but I guess the company was welcome, except I will never tell her that or I will never hear the end of it. It's been a long-running debate between the two of us, one she was keen on winning by ignoring my arguments. I didn't really have any reason to press on the issue since she was stubborn and sometimes, it's also nice to be able to talk to someone than be drowned by the deafening silence only interrupted by the occasional whir of the printer.

I was fixing my things on my desk while she settled on her usual spot when her eyes bulged at something. I looked towards the direction of the object of her attention and smiled meekly while maintaining my silence, pretending like I didn't notice anything that could've have been amiss.

"Isabella, tama ba 'tong nakikita ko?" she asked, slowly emphasizing every word.

"What do you see ba?" I asked while feigning ignorance causing her to arch an eyebrow.

I turned towards the shelf and nonchalantly said, "Oh that. That's my old copy which I brought here last week."

How was I going to explain to her that I have a first edition of Pride and Prejudice? But, as expected, she didn't buy my lie. Instead, she went closer to the shelf and took the first book before I could stop her and her shrill scream filled my office

"Bruha! Ba't may First Edition ka ng Pride and Prejudice dito?! Saang museum mo ninakaw to?" she shouted in surprise, continuously without taking a breath in between. I could only wince.

"I didn't steal that," I murmured defensively to her but at the same time, not really wanting to explain the presence of those books. But if looks could kill, I would have already been buried six feet below the ground

Kathleen was a Janeite, a very devoted person for the works of Jane Austen. She stared daggers at me, obviously waiting for an explanation, and knowing her, she will not stop until she gets one. She may crazy most of the time but for the things she is passionate for, she was ready to fight.

I let out a sigh and carefully weighed the appropriateness of the words that came out of my mouth. But realizing that there was no other way around it, I told her the truth. "Ian gave them to me nung umuwi siya from Madrid."

And she screamed again, her eyes filled with playfulness this time. "OMG grabe na talaga iyang jowa mo! Una, yung chocolates tapos ngayon eto, baka mamaya house and lot na ha! Tanungin mo nga kung may kapatid iyan," she reacted animatedly without pause. I felt my cheeks heat up "Uyyyy you're blushing. So jowa mo nga siya?"