Happy Birthday Professor and Auntie

The photography professor arrived at around 11:25 a.m. She retrieved a USB stick from her bag, carefully inserted it to the computer and clicked the surrounding video file.

The film that the whole class watched was a fascinating documentary surrounding the ordinary routine of a fashion photographer. Along the way, it naturally gave us the more detailed intricacies of the craft, from the lighting and flash photography to the precise adjustment of the lens and aperture.

As class wrapped up, the professor again reminded us about the week's project. She promptly announced that the following Monday would be the deadline for the assignment.

Upon exiting the door, Tricia, Avril and Philly approached me for a direct discussion.

"Regarding the project, all of you must come to the studio as early as 12:00 p.m. this Friday," Philly promptly announced. "Christine and Avril must set up the lights and equipment first while I give Tricia a makeover. That way we can complete the project smoothly. Are we clear?"

"No problem with us," Avril confidently responded.

"I'll see you Friday then," Philly concluded the productive discussion. "Good luck."

Upon concluding this short yet meaningful talk, the four of us promptly went our separate ways. Moments later, I caught up with Michelle following a group meeting of her own.

"Sorry Michelle but Cathy will join me for lunch today," I reluctantly informed her. "This is a profoundly personal matter between the two of us."

"I understood," Michelle remarked thoughtfully. "But don't forget to come back later for film production class, okay?"

"Sure," I nodded in approval.

Consequently, I walked alone on the stairway down to the plaza. Upon reaching the place, my mobile phone suddenly vibrated and Cathy wrote a text message.

"Meet me at the Italian restaurant near the gym. Your professor is with me right now."

After promptly sending her a text with a simple 'okay', I proceeded leisurely to the restaurant where Cathy and my philosophy professor eagerly await. However, I was upset by the sight of the empty plate on the table and walked away.

"What's the matter?" Cathy approached me outside as tears fell from my anguished eyes.

"You didn't even start with me," I tearfully replied. "My previous class ended at 1:00 p.m. But here you are with the professor already finished with lunch. That's why I was so irritated with you."

"Apologies for my eagerness but your professor completed his class much earlier than I thought," Cathy adequately explained. "And my stomach was also rumbling with hunger so we directly went to this restaurant for lunch. Again, sorry for causing you all the trouble."

Cathy sincerely convinced me to rejoin her and my professor back inside the restaurant. Upon sitting down, the professor presented the menu.

"Don't worry Christine," the professor convincingly informed me. "I'll shoulder the payment for you."

I promptly ordered a plate of aglio olio and waited 20 minutes for it to be served. Meanwhile, a local waiter arrived with a delicious slice of chocolate cake and a lighted candle inserted onto it.

"Happy birthday to you," the waiters sang delightfully in unison as they carefully approached my table.

They strategically placed the delicious cake and candle on the table where Cathy was sitting comfortably. It turned out my beloved aunt was celebrating her birthday.

"Staying young and fabulous," Cathy uttered her birthday wish in front of the professor and myself.

After she had gently blown the candle, all of the loyal customers and staff clapped together. The philosophy professor, in turn, flashed a pearly white smile in while I shed some tears of joy.

But Cathy was not the only birthday celebrant present on the table. The professor was also provided a slice of chocolate cake topped by a lighted candle.

After all the waiters sang the birthday song, the professor uttered his own wish.

"My wish is to keep doing what I love," he said.

The professor blew the candle, and he and Cathy promptly took a bite out of the cake. Just then, a waiter arrived and placed a plate of aglio olio on the table.

As I indulged on the pasta, Cathy began revealing to me her connections with the professor.

"Christine, your professor and I have a long history together," she opened up. "We first met back in freshman year of high school."

"I was a transferee from a different school then," the professor continued thoughtfully. "On the first day of class, I was still navigating the whole school when a young, fresh-faced lady suddenly bumped into me. And as it turned out, Cathy became the very woman who encountered me."

"When I initially met your professor, he was as eager and anxious to fit in," Cathy joyfully recalled her first encounter with my professor. "I advised him to calm down and be patient because eventually he would receive some friends along the way. And as fate would have it, we ended up on the same class together."

"That was astonishing," I happily commented on their inspirational story. "No wonder you and my professor enjoy such an excellent rapport with each other."

"But our relationship was more of a business-type than a personal-type," the professor replied heartily. "Cathy and I were never even linked romantically from the start. Our mutual relationship revolved more on school projects, class assignments and studies than love."

"Regardless, the professor and I remain friends long after our high school graduation," Cathy concluded the story. "We still talk often on the phone and social media, not to mention attending a few alumni homecomings."

"Your story truly touched me," I remarked on the friendship between Cathy and my professor. "No wonder friendships like this always make a profound impact on someone."

Cathy and the professor took a few more bites from the cake before experiencing a slight discomfort on their stomachs. They generously offered me the rest of the slices, which I promptly finished.

With our bellies full, we prudently left the restaurant where Cathy was about to head home. Meanwhile, the professor conveyed one final reminder to me.

"Listen carefully, Christine," he said earnestly. "Today was just a friendly chat between you and me. The next time we meet, it will be inside the classroom as teacher and pupil respectively. Are we clear with that?"

"Affirmative sir," I earnestly replied with a chin up.

Cathy then uttered a final reminder of her own before heading home.

"Christine, always behave," she directed me. "Study attentively and wisely avoid any trouble."

"Thanks," I answered back.

As Cathy and the professor vanished from my sight, I walked back to campus for film production class. Another viewing session took place; only this time, a lighter-themed film was shown in front of the class.

At long last, my day ended on a cheerful note. What else will the succeeding day bring?