Read The Algorithm :: 1.3 The Morning After

Ben and I decided we should arrive at class separately. Obviously, Ben (being the teacher) would be on time and I would slip into class a few minutes late. Besides, I had to "Pink Panther" myself out of the house evading an already ticked-off Sophie. I watched Ben walk down the pavement towards North Campus in a blue corduroy suit. It looked perfectly tailored as if the panels had been measured to his impeccable figure rather than selected from a wrack at Macy's. The fabric hugged him in all the right places. I conjured up tantalizing thoughts of Ben as I got dressed and headed for the front door when I heard a familiar voice: "Ehm...Nico." Sophie stood behind me at the top of the stairs. My hand froze on the bronze handle of the door. I turned slowly to see Sophie leaning against a large wooden post. "Sophie..." was all I managed to say. "Save it. It's obvious what happened here." An expression I could not quite place spread across her face. While she looked clearly upset, her reaction was much tamer than what I expected for me ditching her to spend the night with her father, regardless of how attractive he was. Shaking myself from my haze, I decided to take the safe route. "It is?" I said cautiously. "Ugh. Obviously, you're here to apologize." Sophie glared at me. "Obviously..." I said. "Yep. You ran out last night and you're here to apologize." Of course she thought this was about her. I jumped on the out. "Yep..! Yes! I am so sorry for leaving." I decided to cater to her ego. "I was out of my league last night. You were just wonderful and I found out Mr. Clark was your dad and I was scared. I am so sorry, Sophie." That last part was sincere and it must've worked because a satisfied look appeared on Sophie's face. "Yeah, whatever." She said smiling.

I left with a small wave and overexaggerated bow to "the Queen". I checked my watch as I ran to class. 11:01. Man, I was going to be more than "a few minutes late."

I slipped in the back eyes glued to Ben...erm...Mr. Clark. He was writing problems on the board. Oh no. I was so lost. Maybe he could give me some private tutoring or maybe he could lay ever so enticingly on my—"Mr. Alvez?" I looked up suddenly rejoining reality. "Nice of you to join us, Mr. Alvez." Mr. Clark said as the room filled with mild laughter. "So? Any minute now, Mr. Alvez." What the heck did he ask me? It was so hard to focus on anything right now. I spent yesterday with my teacher's daughter, spent all night with said teacher, escaped the clutches of said daughter, and now had to answer said teacher's dumb questions. Why was Mr. Clark doing this to me anyway? "Sir?" All eyes were on me and my dumb answer. Mr. Clark's light gray eyes scanned me and I could swear I saw a flicker of a smile in them. "I pushed the test from today to next Tuesday and decided to use today for review. You were so kind as to join us 40 minutes late and missed out on the chance to participate thus far. I thought you could show us how to answer question 18 from last night's homework." "Question 18?" I said buying myself time. "Question 18." Mr. Clark did not miss a beat. Question 18 from the homework I did not complete because I was with Mr. Clark riding, sucking, bucking, and f—I stopped my thoughts in their tracks. "Sure thing." I said and made my way down to the board.

After astonishing everyone by correctly answering the math problem, I returned to my seat taking a little extra care to wiggle my butt as a middle finger to Mr. Clark and his attempt to make me look like a complete fool or whatever that was. The class was over now. My victorious problem-solving was the finale for the day. I made my way to the front of the class to talk to Mr. Clark who was currently talking with another student, a student who was clearly throwing herself all over him I might add. I could hear their conversation. "Sure, Kayla. I can help with that. Why don't you follow me to my office and we can get that started?" The girl, presumably Kayla, nodded and laughed at a joke nowhere to be found. Mr. Clark walked past me with the flirtatious student on his tail. Her strong advances and his allowance made my blood boil. Was I invisible to him? I wanted to say, "Hello, it's me the student you passionately made love to last night. Remember me?" Mr. Clark walked a few more steps until the flirty girl grabbed his arm and said, "Oh Professor, I think Nico wanted to talk to you. My thing can wait a few minutes." Though she was promiscuous, she was also considerate. My heart softened a little at her act of kindness however small. Now, Professor Clark would have to talk to me. "Oh. Mr. Alvez. What can I do you for?" I looked at him with bewilderment. My life completely changed in less than 24 hours and the man mostly responsible for it was acting oblivious. I wanted to say, "Oh, Mr. Clark, I was wondering how to put my life back together. Y'know? After you f--ked my brains out and left me in the house with your crazy daughter. That's what you could do me for." But, I settled on, "I could use help on a math problem." Mr. Clark gave a slight nod in response and kept walking. I assumed he meant to follow him and Kayla to his office.

Mr. Clark assisted Kayla first, giving a critique on a research study she wanted to apply for with the college. She graciously took his advice, hugged him, and chaotically left the office. I sat in silence during their interaction. I was carefully preparing my response—no, rant at the man before me. Mr. Clark rose from his desk chair to close and lock the door to his office behind Kayla. Great, I needed privacy to tell this man off.

Mr. Clark leaned back against the door and looked at me deeply. Our eyes locked, he cross the small room to the chair I was sitting and planted his lips firmly on mine. While the kiss was passionate, it did not deepen into a sexual frenzy. It was sincere, sweet, and smooth. Before pulling completely from me, he gave me one more soft kiss. It was almost as if he was saying sorry. "Uh..hm. What—" "I know you have a lot of questions. I know you're probably really angry at me." So far, the tall brilliant man was right on point. "I called you out and ignored you because I did not want anyone to get suspicious of our relationship." I nodded for him to continue. "I realize I may have overdone it." "No kidding." I finally said. "I'm sorry, baby." Baby? We're still doing this thing? Literally, five minutes ago, I was ready to tell this idiot genius off. "You know math problems are predictable. They have correct answers. They fuel algorithms that make machines work. They take people to the moon. They perform life-saving surgeries." Ben stood before me utterly confused. "And..?" He said grabbing my hands. "And this is not a math problem. At least not like one I've ever seen." Ben laughed. "That's because it's not one." I blushed. Did I just make more of a fool of myself? "You're so cute." I'll take that as a no. "Look, Nico. We met a few days ago. We had mind-shattering sex. I have a daughter and am 10 years older than you." Ben said. "You thought the sex was mind-shattering?" I said. Ben nodded. "Mind-shattering good or mind-shattering bad?" Ben playfully knicked me. "The point is...I am not saying we're destined fated mates or something, BUT I do like this and you like this. I'd like to see you again at some point and I promise I will work on the balance between being your professor and your...um...guy-you-see-socially-for-now." I winced at how temporary Ben laid this thing out to be, but I knew he was right to do so. I should be relieved that he wasn't a psycho trying to commit me to him for life and I should be relieved that he was still willing to see me again after this crazy day. Logical. Optimistic. Calculated.