Coming to an update course was an everyday thing. However, the girl offering the course was even younger than me.
That hits you in subtle ways.
That made me notice that I wasn't the promising man of the newest generation in the business like I used to be. I was an established person, a name in the industry... not one of the kids anymore. Sure, I had aged well due to a balanced diet and making workouts one of my habits. Still, that didn't change the fact that I had aged. The word was an affront. In this era, we're taught to be afraid of growing older and I did fall prey to it.
The young teacher stood before us, head high and reminding me of myself in a feminine way. I liked her. Then, before the first period was done, she said, "as I had told you, I'm new in the state. I'm going to leave this jar here. Fill it with papers where you write names of places you think I must visit to know my way around here and have a good time. See you in 30!"
After coming back, she pulled the papers out of the jar and began reading aloud, "The Irish Pub..."
She got a bunch of nods and murmured agreement.
"Lena's Kebab... Rox... Peace monument... Golden Dragon Dumplings," then her eyes went wide. She turned the paper around and showed the suggestion to the class, "seriously? 'My bedroom'?"
That got a chuckle out of most, a few cat calls here and there, she swept the room with her eyes, dangerous, and I was smiling like a wolf when she looked at me. There was no way she didn't know who wrote that.
Instead of getting a well-deserved dismissal of the course, she took the high road.
"You know, it's in the rules, I can't socialize with any of you outside the class," she stared at me for half a second while saying it. Then, for added effect, she said a quite sarcastic and even hurtful, "nice try, though."
She continued with the class but kept stealing glances at me and I kept looked back at her. The way her expression darkened when our eyes met, though, made me think that maybe I hadn't been that funny. I could get in trouble, being a grown man. The issue could easily be pressed into harassment so I decided I would apologize for it. I was, after all, a grown man. Taking responsibility for my actions was a given.
The course was done for the day and I stayed behind.
"Yes?"
"I wanted to apologize," I said. "Sincerely. I'm used to being the funny guy and people normally take my inappropriate comments with humor, but I understand if it wasn't welcome. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"Look, rules are rules... but it's already forgotten."
"Thanks."
The rest of the course, the following days, I behaved well. Exceptionally so. One of those days, as I was wasting time in my favorite area of downtown, I saw her with a bored expression, just walking.
I caught up and said, "hey! There's an eatery I'm pretty sure you don't know just around here and it should make your day better. I won't tell anyone you're socializing with me."
She quickly accepted after I made her see I was just trying to compensate for being an ass before and we ended up in the curry place I told her about. Indian, Japanese and British variations of the dish were available; I learned she was vegan.
"A masterfully shitty day due to things back home", she had dubbed the day before ordering a beer. And another. And another. And yet another one... by the time she was done, she was sloshed. I tried walking her but I ended up holding her by the waist on her way back.
When we got to her place, she pulled my arm and said she wouldn't be able to walk up the stairs. Actually, she wasn't even able to get her door unlocked without help. I opened it up for her and she pulled me in. I actually tried protesting. She kissed me and I attempted to say no. She pressed her body against mine and I still tried to be the decent guy...
