Chapter 3

I was eating junk food while watching House MD when my phone rang. I picked it up and it was Cristabel calling. 

"About time! I thought you were dead," I said while munching the chips.

"Listen bitch, I was supposed to not call you anymore but this guy harassed me 'cause he didn't want me to send the pictures that you took that night."

"I told you that asshole is the reason why I walked away. He's rich," I said then I giggled.

"This is not funny, Ella! Why can't you take things seriously?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Because becoming like you is boring and stressful."

"Oh jesus christ!"

"Anyway, why did you call me? Are you blaming me that the guy harassed you?"

"No. But I kinda had a deal with him," she said.

"That is?"

"He mentioned that he was a professor on campus and he was looking for an assistant for his... I don't recall what he said. It was like a booth or something."

"And?"

"And I told him that I will accept him not posting those pictures anymore or not sending it to our clients in exchange for you applying for him. And he said deal."

Because of what I heard, I immediately got up from my seat. "What?"

"Ella, you've been jobless for a year. And I can't keep paying you guys rent and insurance with you lying around and watching some stupid series!"

"House MD is not a stupid show," I commented. Her statement kind of broke my heart.

"So you wanted me to work with that asshole?"

"Yeah! At least he was still paying you. And plus, he gave me some money, compensating the damage that was done with my clients that night."

"Look at you. Scolding me about money," I said sarcastically.

"But anyway, he's looking forward to having a meeting with you tomorrow on campus."

"He better feed me with donuts."

"And don't screw this up, Ella! My Mom's pissed at you for lying around and doing nothing. You're like weighing down on us."

"Yeah I know, I'm shit. Thanks for making me realize that."

"I'll text you the address. Clients are here," she said then the call dropped.

Great. Remembering how that guy treated me that night makes me want to puke. But it seems like Cristabel already sold me to the devil, the actual one maybe. I just hope that he's just an asshole that night and was really a nice guy like John Greene from the supermarket.

God! That smile though.

Anyway, my time for that meeting came and I dressed myself with a blouse and plaid trousers like I am applying for work. I tied my hair into a bun then applied some light shade lipstick on my lips. I drove all the way to the campus then looked for his office which was named "Fixing Hearts Request". It was his personal office but it also says in the description written on the advertisement on paper sticking on the announcement board that it was an office where people who have love problems will visit there and ask for the professor for some love advice. My face turned into disgust as I read word for word on the said advertisement. And now it questioned myself if I should still go on or just walk away? But maybe I'm applying to something different so fuck it.

Arriving at the reception of the building, I waited for a few minutes in the lobby. I saw a couple just leaving from the hallway. They were talking and giggling to each other. I guess that booth helped people somehow even if it was a bit of corny.

"Ella Taron?"

I stood up after I heard my name being called. The receptionist told me which room I would go to, then I went inside the hallway. I found the said office where "Fixing Hearts Request" printed on the paper and sticking at the door's window. I knocked on the door twice and the door opened. And that familiar face of a man stood in front of me. He was wearing a white long sleeved shirt with a black vest on it, he was taller than I expected, wearing glasses and his long hair was lying on his neck. He looked so attractive from his looks right now compared to the party. But from the looks on his eyes, he looked really tired.

"Professor Neil Wilson?" I asked. Although we met at the party and that was not a good experience either, I still tried to sound polite towards him.

"Hey kid. Come in," he said then walked away. I was bothered when he called me "kid" but I didn't talk anymore and just stepped in and closed the door. He sat on his desk where piles of files were around and a powered laptop was lying. He typed on it as he told me to take a seat in front of him. 

I waited for him and he kept tapping on his keyboards like I was not there. Then I realized that I have to give him my resume while waiting. I opened my bag and started burying my hands inside of it.

"No need for the resume," he said without looking at me. I stopped and looked at him with a confused look. 

"I am applying for a job, right? Not being a stripper?" I asked, making sure that what I am getting myself into will not kill me. "Or not getting into some shady business like drugs—"

"Just quiet. I'm almost done here," he said, making me stop. I sighed then waited for him doing his thing. Then afterwards, he closed the laptop and looked at me. Finally! About time. Maybe the job is shit. I'll just wait for him to finish talking then leave and never come back.

"I am a psychology professor in this campus and I built this booth for students who wanted to have answers when it comes to love," he explained. Hearing it from a guy like him was so unexpected and sounded so weird.

"Like, is it true that love is like an onion and has its layers that makes you cry?" I asked.

He chuckled softly. "You're funny. No wonder you almost got killed that night by my car."

"And you have to bring it up," I said as I crossed my arms on my chest. "Can I go home now? This job is shit. I don't know what Cristabel was thinking."

"She's your cousin, right?" he asked. I was about to leave from my seat but that question somehow held me off.

"Yeah. So?"

"Sit down. I'm not even done yet," he said as he pointed to the seat where I just sat earlier.

"Even if you don't give me the whole description of the job, it still sounds corny and shit."

"Yeah. The thing is you get a chance to talk to these young people about love and relationships. I'm guessing you have the experience for that job?" 

"Your guess is wrong. I didn't have a boyfriend in my life," I said as I shook my head.

"And that's what I am looking for."

I glanced at him with furrowed eyebrows. "What? I don't get it."

He stood up then walked towards me while looking at me. "You're not pretty, you're young, single and lonely. So usually, people like you can give straightforward answers than most people who are experienced with love and relationships."

"How is that relevant and that was like the opposite of the point of all this."

He snapped his fingers as he laid his butt on the table. "Exactly," he said as he pointed his finger at me then grabbed a folder that was just lying beside his laptop. He gave it to me. "Read this."

I have no choice anyway but to take the damn folder. When I opened it, I saw printed pictures of a girl and a boy who looked happy with each other. Then there was a letter beneath those pictures. It read:

"Sir, I was not happy with my girlfriend. I know I should've left her but she was this kind of girl that would tell anyone dirty secrets and throw dirt on my name around campus. And I don't want to ruin my reputation, especially that I'm a representative star of Standlord University. How do I deal with this and can you please help me? I still care for her but I couldn't take her madness anymore."

"That guy left the letter after the two of them appeared here in my office, asking for my love advice. The girl claimed that the guy cheated, but turns out that he was just making friends with somebody. Which kind of resolved the issue. But then I discovered that letter under the files. That guy is screaming for help and he didn't know what to do."

"So you can't just call them back here and tell them what you think about this whole situation?" I asked.

"No. I hired you because your goal here is to find out if that guy was telling the truth and how the issue will be resolved without smearing his name."

I scoffed then dropped the folder back on the desk. "This is nuts! Plus, how will I do that? Do I just walk in and talk to them?"

"You pretend to be just like them. A student," he said then he gave me a paper which is a student form that needs to be filled up. 

I chuckled sarcastically then glanced at him. "Is this because I looked like a kid, huh?"

He just shrugged then I placed the papers on his desk and I started walking away. "I don't fit for the job, Sir. I might even smack their face before I even tell them they're stupid." Then I made my way out of the door, leaving him silent.