SEVEN. THE COLD PROFESSOR

Anthony's silverstone car pulled over at a bus stop that was not too busy. He turned to Shanon then made a gesture for Shanon to get out of his car.

“We can't be seen going to campus together. I hope you don't mind me dropping you off here.”

“Right. We have to keep our marriage a secret. Don't worry, I'll walk to campus. I am used to it."

Shanon quickly unfastened her seat belt and grabbed her bag which was lying on the passenger seat. She got out of the car without even looking at Anthony. She thought they didn't need to perform any farewell rituals. It would have been too awkward for them after Anthony's outspoken eviction. But, Anthony's voice stopped Shanon, who was just about to close the car door.

“I have meetings and some work at the office. Go home yourself by taxi or it's up to you how you want to go home. But I will definitely have dinner at home. So, get dinner ready before eight.”

Shanon nodded slowly and slammed the car door hard. She didn't care if Anthony thought she was angry. The fact, she was furious. She was annoyed because she was treated like a child as well as a servant. Anthony kept ordering her this and that, like she was a stupid girl who couldn't think for herself with her common sense.

Anthony's car drove away, leaving her alone at the bus stop. Shanon sighed softly. She glanced at her watch and sighed in relief because she still had ten minutes before Mr. Angelo’s class started. She would walk quickly towards campus. Or if necessary, she would run because Anthony dropped her off at the bus stop which was still quite far from her campus.

“Shanon! Hey, get in the car.”

“Sarah! Oh God, I want to kiss you and hug you. You are my angel of help."

“Yeah, I am. Get in the car quickly before we're both late."

Shanon had never felt so happy when she met Sarah. She was only halfway to campus, and her entire body was already drenched in sweat. Summer in Boston was more than just hot weather and the hot sun burning your skin. It was very hot. Damned Anthony for leaving her at that bus stop.

“Hey, how are you?”

"Not so good," Shanon sighed softly as the air conditioner began to cool her body.

“A day without you on campus really sucks. I'm lonely, you know. I miss you."

"I miss you, too. A lot happened in my life in the twenty-four hours after my stepmother told me about Avery's condition.”

"What happened to you?"

“I met a strange stranger who was fierce and always bossing me around. He is a total jerk. I was really unlucky to deal with him.”

"Who is that man?"

“Umm... I don't know his name,” Shanon grinned stupidly.

She rubbed her finger where her wedding ring had been. Luckily, she didn't make a mistake and took off her wedding ring before going to campus. But she couldn't resist telling Sarah a few things. She needed to release the stress before she went crazy because of Anthony.

"Do you like that guy?"

"Of course not. He's just a strange man who makes my life difficult.”

“This is the first time you are so excited to talk about a guy. I thought you liked him."

“No way! He's not my type at all," Shanon snorted in disgust at the thought of Anthony and all his assholes. But, she had to admit that Anthony had physical beauty and charisma that was hard to resist. Last night, she gave her virginity to Anthony like a fool.

“By the way, I want to ask you something a little personal.”

“What is this about? Just say it," said Sarah while still concentrating on driving.

"Umm... When you were dating Robyn, did you ever... you ever..."

Sarah raised an eyebrow curiously. She parked her car in the student parking lot, then turned off the car engine.

"What? You really became strange after meeting that strange man.”

“You and Robyn... Have you ever had sex?”

Sarah burst into laughter when she heard Shanon's question and when she saw her blushing. She patted Shanon's cheek twice and told her to hurry out of the car.

“You're getting nervous and blushing just because you want to ask me that?”

“Hey, don't insult me. I am less experienced than you.”

They walked together across the campus grounds and moved towards the main gate. Some students walked hastily ahead of them with panicked faces because they were late, while others looked more relaxed or some students formed small groups to gossip in corners of the campus corridors.

"Well, why don't you try dating and having sex with your boyfriend?"

“Sarah! Lower your voice. Why are we talking about me? I asked about you.”

“Okay, okay. What do you want to know? Robyn and I had sex several times. Actually, he was a great guy in bed. Unfortunately, he cheated on me and I don't want to date a man who is greedy for women.”

“At least, you were saved from that bastard. How do you anticipate pregnancy?”

“Of course, with pills. You can find it easily at the pharmacy, or you can go to the gynecologist.”

“O-oh, okay.”

Shanon lied to Anthony about taking the pills. She never had pills. How could she possibly have the pill if she had never had sex with anyone except Anthony? And now, Shanon started to panic because she hadn't taken her pills after hours of sex with Anthony.

“When do you take pills after having sex with your ex?”

“I had taken it before I had sex with Robyn. The sooner, the better," Sarah shrugged her shoulders gently.

“W-what about women who don't take pills hours after sex?”

“Of course they will get pregnant. Tsk, having unprotected sex is really stupid and reckless.”

They continued walking towards their class and Sarah didn't notice the change in Shanon's face. She was busy babbling about her love life which had failed over and over again, and she was planning on dating a man older than her, instead of dating spoiled and immature young men.

“Shanon, look at the professor. Oh my God, he's so handsome this morning. The dark gray shirt and tie suited him very well. Ughh... I really want to bite his biceps. How lucky the woman who once became his lover was."

Shanon suddenly felt nauseous, and she ran frantically towards the nearest bathroom. Sarah confusedly followed Shanon into the bathroom and saw her vomiting in the sink.

"What's wrong with you? Are you sick?”

"I'm fine. Please, wait for me outside. I'll... hoeks.”

Shanon tried to calm her panic and washed her face in the sink. She looked pale and pathetic after vomiting. She hadn't eaten anything since this morning and had only had a few sips of milk. She suddenly felt sick when she saw Anthony.

“Oh God, what if I get pregnant?”

“Shanon!”

“Sa-Sarah.”

Shanon looked at Sarah in the mirror with a shocked face. She didn't realize that Sarah had been standing by the door all this time and wasn't actually waiting for her outside.

“I-I can explain to you. It's not what you think.”

Sarah didn't seem to hear her words. She walked over to Shanon and shook her shoulder hard.