My Place- Randall Carpio Love Story

Tutorial to Ethics and Politics

"Remind me again why we're taking this class?" Remi whispered to Jess as they entered their only shared class.

"Because we didn't have a single class together all of freshman year and I am so tired of not knowing anyone in these gen ed. courses," Jess explained as they entered the small square room.

The long tables were coordinated in a giant square around the room. Each table had two chairs on the outside so they all faced the middle of the room. The far wall had a long, green chalkboard with random quotes and policies written on it.

"Okay, but by did we have to take this for our political science? Why not something more... interesting?" Remi prosed as they moved to the right table closest to the chalk board. The table across the walkway from them was already filled with a boy and girl- whom seemed to be dating by the way the tanned beauty hung all over the bleach-blond hunk.

Remi noticed the boy had piercing blue eyes, but his blond hair made them slightly lackluster. They would have stood out more with a darker hair tone.

Remi set her bag on the table before she sat in her chair and looked at Jess.

"Because, I heard from an upper classman that this class is easy. The Professor is a bit of a wacko, meaning we're gonna discuss more and lecture less."

Remi pursed her lips at the tantalizing idea of an easy class. "Okay, fine," She decided as she pulled out a notebook and pencil. "But I have the drop date circled in my calendar. If this class doesn't improve by then, I'm jumping ship."

"I'll throw you a life preserver," Jess joked dryly. 

She smiled as she clicked her mechanical pencil to pull some lead from it, then set it over her notebook before she gave Jess all of her attention. "How sweet of you," She played along with the joke. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were keen on me, Jess Daniels."

Jess started to laugh, but she wasn't able to add anything witty before the professor walked through the open door. He had a brown leather satchel in one hand and a white coffee mug in the other. His jet black hair was gelled away from his tan face, showing his tired eyes and the bags that hung heavily under them. He walked lifelessly into the room, past the students on his way towards the chalkboard. 

"Alright, settle down," He instructed them tiredly as he set his satchel in a chair that was pushed up against the back wall. Remi turned to watch him, but she only saw his back and drawn in shoulders. From that she could tell that he was overworked, or an alcoholic... or both. "This is your tutorial group for ethics and politics..." He looked at the board, then dropped his head and let out a lofty sigh. 

Remi turned around in her seat and gave Jess a wide-eyed glance. She leaned towards her as she whispered, "I may need that life preserver."

"My name is Professor Cameron Foley." He addressed the class as he stepped into the walkway dividing Remi and Jess from the couple. "Uh... you can call me Professor Foley." He lifted a hand to squeeze the bridge of his nose. Remi pursed her lips as she watched him. There was something about him that made her feel awkward and slightly pitiful. "Uh... okay, housekeeping-" He dropped his hand as he stepped towards the inner square. "Office hours are 3:00 to 3:45 every Thursday unless following a holiday, then it's the Tuesday preceding the next scheduled lecture, provided that lecture doesn't fall on an even-number day, in which case, office hours are 4:00 to 4:45..."

"What?" Remi whispered to Jess. "He's kidding right? This is some elaborate joke?" Her eyes flitted between their professor and Jess. 

Jess merely shrugged as she watched Professor Foley with a dissatisfied glare.