It comes and goes

seven

Camila's POV

I went to my apartment and packed a light bag with some of my clothes and toiletries and then headed to my parents' house just 30 minutes outside the city, in the suburbs. I needed the comfort of my family in the middle of this frenzy.

I told my mom about what had happened. About Mr. Mendes offering me his job, not about his son accusing me of sleeping with his dad. She was thrilled to hear that and congratulated me right away, but that wasn't what I needed. My head was a mess and I was hoping someone could put it in order or at least give me some perspective.

"Can I come in?", my dad said at the door of my room.

"Yeah, of course", I replied and sat on my bed.

"Your mom told me about the job offer. Are you excited?"

"Uh... I guess, I don't know. It's a big job".

"Do you feel capable of doing it?"

"That's the thing. I don't know if I can".

"You've always put too much pressure on yourself, hija. I know you are capable of this and so much more. If this professor trusts you with his class, he might have his reasons", he smiled.

"But what if I do something wrong?", I asked.

"Then you fix it. And if you definitely decide you are not up to it, then you quit".

"You make it sound so easy".

"Life isn't easy, but if you don't take risks, then life is also boring. Give it a chance, I know you enjoyed tutoring, maybe you'll like this as well".

He kissed my forehead and then left closing the door behind him.

Maybe... maybe I could try this.

I slept on my childhood bed, trying to decide on something to give an answer tomorrow. It was a big deal and it was freaking the hell out of me. It was on my plans to teach in the future, but not like... so soon in the future. I wanted some experience first. But what if this was the experience I was craving? After all, it would only be for a couple of months until Mr. Mendes gets better.

I drove back to my apartment on Sunday afternoon after having lunch with my family. I had the habit to crash at my childhooh house every other weekend or so and just relax. When I got into my place I grabbed my phone and called my professor, feeling my heart on my throat.

"Camila?", the voice I wasn't waiting to hear answered.

"Hi, I need to talk to my professor".

"Uh, he's asleep. Do you want to leave a message?"

"Well... Yeah. Tell him I'll take his offer".

"Will you teach his class?", he asked. Of course he knew about it.

"I will. Goodbye now".

"Thank you for doing this".

"This is for him, not you", I clarified to him.

"I know", he replied quikly. "I wish I could just apologize to you..."

"Goodbye, Shawn".

"Goodbye, Camila", he said with a sigh.

I knew I deserved an apology and an explanation, but that the moment, I didn't want anything from that guy. You could say I was being resentful but I didn't care. He made me feel like the biggest loser on Earth and that feeling was not going anywhere soon. I even thought of asking him out before all this for God's sake...