Not long after, Alberto’s phone kept ringing, which indicated that there were many notifications on his phone. Alberto tried to ignore the notification because he planned to see it later, when they were in a traffic jam.
“Alberto, your phone is ringing! Don’t you want to see the notification first?” Vega asked Alberto, because, for Vega, maybe Alberto wanted to see the notification first.
“No, Vega! I’ll see the notifications in a traffic jam!” Alberto refused. Not long after, the notification rang again-three times in a row.
“Don’t you want to take a look first? Perhaps there’s a very important notification.” Vega guessed that there was an important notification that Alberto received.
“Ah! No! I don’t need to do that! I’m driving a car. I’m afraid something bad will happen to you if I look my phone, Vega.” Alberto always instilled this in himself. His principle is that he can’t use a phone while he is driving a car.
“Oh, Alberto. Just stop for a second! Then, see the messages!” Vega ordered.
“That’s okay for me.” Vega said.
“But, how about your condition, Vega? You are sick. Your illness is getting worse.” Alberto was really worried about Vega’s condition.
“Ah! Just let it be! Just wait a moment! That’s no problem at all. After all, I’m already sick,” Vega explained, prompting Alberto to drive his car into a nearby supermarket.
Then there was silent for a moment. Alberto immediately opened his phone and looked at the notification. He saw a lot of spam calls from Lorena.
“Oh, Lorena! I’m sure she really misses me. Because of that, she keeps calling me,” said Alberto in his heart.
He also read a lot of spam chat from Lorena.
Lorena: [Hi, Alberto! Where are you now? Can you come to my class for a moment? I really miss you and really want to see you.]
Lorena: [Are you in your class?]
Lorena: [Are you okay? I really miss you, My love.]
Alberto immediately wanted to answer, “Yes. I’m fine, Lorena.” But he held it in because he was afraid that Lorena would call him right away.
Lorena: [Why aren’t you asking my permission and telling me before you go to the hospital with Professor Vega? Someone said it’s urgent, but why didn’t you tell me that you want to take Professor Vega to the hospital? She can go to the hospital by herself. She doesn’t need you. Who are you? Are you Professor Vega’s boyfriend? I’m your girlfriend, Alberto! Are you married to Professor Vega? I really hate you!]
He wanted to explain it to Lorena. But he was afraid that Lorena would call him at that time, scold him on the phone, and cause more problems. He was afraid that it would make Vega feel dizzy and think about it too hard. Therefore, he chose to explain it later.
“Ah! If I explain later, she’ll understand,” thought Alberto. After that, he saw a lot of spam chat from Dario.
Dario: [Alberto, where are you?]
Dario: [Hey! Where are you?]
Dario: [Hey! Come to our class quickly!]
Dario: [Have you read the class group chat?]
Dario: [Professor Hugo will come today in an hour from now.]
His eyes bulged as he read the chat. Alberto’s breathing started to become erratic. His heart was beating fast. Alberto felt panicked, but he tried to calm down by exhaling slowly and repeatedly.
Alberto was familiar with Professor Hugo. Professor Hugo is a professor who is famous for his assertiveness. He has the courage to expel every student who is late coming his class and to give each student a zero for attendance that day. Even though the student can enter his class, there must be a clear reason that Professor Hugo can accept. Not infrequently, some students argue with Professor Hugo just to be allowed to study in his class.
After that, Alberto continued reading the chat from Dario.
Dario: [Are you okay? Are you crazy?]
Dario: [Where are you now?]
Alberto immediately answered Dario’s message. “I’m on my way to the hospital to take Professor Vega. Professor Vega is sick. You know that, right?”
“Yes, I know, but you have to come back soon if you don’t want Professor Hugo’s wrath for another forty-five minutes.” Dario replied.
“Well, come on, Dario! Just ignore it! Professor Vega’s condition is so serious,” said Alberto. Alberto immediately opened a class group. He saw that many of his friends were panicking because Professor Hugo came into their class.
“Guys, Professor Hugo will come to our class in an hour from now!” Nicolas, as the person in charge of chemistry lessons taught by Professor Hugo, informed them that at that time Professor Hugo would come.
“Oh, my god! Will Professor Hugo be there?” Dario asked Nicolas in disbelief and shock.
“Yes. Professor Hugo will come to our class.”
“How about Alberto, Col?” He has to take Vega to the hospital. Dario was worried about Alberto.
“Yes. That’s true. I’m also outside of my class now,” said Hermano.
“Yes, that’s true, but I don’t know either. You know, Professor Hugo is stubborn. If he says that he will come to our class now, then he will come to our class now, and you must come now!” said Nicolas.
“Yes. Indeed, Professor Hugo is a stubborn professor.” Dario said.
Reading messages from his friends, Alberto’s breath became increasingly erratic. His heart was beating faster and faster. Alberto was starting to feel very panicked. His fingers were cold. Alberto was stunned for a moment.
“How should I talk to Vega? How should I talk to Professor Hugo? What should I do?” thought Alberto.
Alberto’s conscience told him that he had to help Vega. On the other hand, he was unsure how to explain to Professor Hugo why he had been invited in.
“What should I say to Professor Hugo later so that Professor Hugo will let me in to his class? Should I say that I helped Professor Vega because he was sick? But I’m afraid Professor Hugo will say that Professor Vega can do it by herself, and I am nothing for Professor Vega. Professor Hugo is a cruel man, except for his family. I’m afraid Professor Hugo will think I’m married to Professor Vega. What should I do?” Alberto was very confused.
He had completely lost his mind and his idea. If another lecturer had suddenly entered his class and taught it, Alberto could say something like that. But that time, the lecturer who entered his class was Professor Hugo. He was just silent. He was confused about what he should say. He was silent for a moment.
A moment later, he thought, “Ah! Just ignore it! Just leave it! He only gets mad at me and my friends in class. I never understood the lesson until now. If I’m later expelled from his class, I’ve just let myself be such a stupid Chemistry student! Indeed, I’m already stupid, and I never be smart in that subject.”
Vega just paid attention to Alberto from her position. Vega immediately thought, “What’s wrong? Why was Alberto so terrified? Is there any problem? If there’s a problem, why doesn’t he tell me or ask my opinion?”
A moment later, she thought, “Perhaps Alberto wants to try to find a solution to his own problem so he won’t burden me. Indeed, Alberto is a very kind person, and he understands me well. I’d rather find out the reason myself than ask him.
Vega tried to find out the reason by observing Alberto. But she didn’t find an answer until she felt that she had to ask Alberto.
“What’s wrong, Alberto?” Vega was still confused by Alberto’s sudden change in emotions. Vega’s question brought Alberto back to his senses. Alberto immediately tried to calm himself down by inhaling and exhaling repeatedly.
At that moment, he also thought about what he should say to Vega. He wanted to tell Professor Vega about his fears, but he was afraid that Professor Vega would become even more worried and forbid him to take Vega to the hospital. Alberto knows Vega’s character so well. She is not easy to accept other people’s help, and he also knows Professor Hugo’s character. He is very strict and reluctant to give help to others if that person is not the person he has a crush on or his family.
Alberto started driving to the hospital as he tried to put the words together. “The problem is a lecturer will suddenly come in and teach 45 minutes from now. I’m sorry, Vega! I can only take you to the hospital. I can’t guide you to the doctor and I can’t wait you at the hospital.”
Hearing Alberto’s words, Vega was very panicked. Vega was afraid that Alberto would be punished by the lecturer, who would suddenly teach Alberto’s class because of her. Vega immediately advised Alberto to immediately find a taxi and take the nearest taxi.
“Okay. Just taking me there! Then you take a taxi, and you can go to campus immediately. Definitely, you can come to your class before that lecturer comes to your class!”
“No, Vega. I don’t need to do that.” Alberto rejected Vega’s suggestion.
“You need to do that, Alberto. You must go to campus immediately so that you are not scolded by your lecturer!” Vega was so panicked and worried about Alberto’s condition.
“But, Vega, your condition prevents you from driving a car. Your body is too weak to drive a car. Today, you have vomited several times.” Alberto explained that he was very sorry for Vega’s condition. He knew how bad Vega’s condition was. He couldn’t bear to let Vega endure her condition alone. If something bad happened to Vega, he would undoubtedly be sad, disappointed, and angry at himself.
“But, Alberto…” Vega’s words were cut short by Alberto.
“It’s okay, Vega. It doesn’t matter. I understand your condition.” Alberto knew that, so Vega would suggest he take a taxi. Because of that, Alberto immediately cut off Vega’s words.
“Indeed, who is the lecturer?” Vega immediately frowned because she was confused and suspicious of Alberto’s attitude, which seemed relaxed by the presence of a lecturer who would suddenly enter his class and instead chose to help her.
“Professor Hugo.” Alberto answered shortly.
The answer immediately made Vega’s heart beat faster and then beat even faster. Her fingers were cold. Her breathing was irregular. Vega was feeling very panicked.