Getting a divorce was very easy: if you were a college lecturer, immersed in books, liked your job and had very little money. Experience had led him to that conclusion. He didn't blame his wife for walking out on their five-year-old marriage and finding a guy with loads of money, but tried to come to terms with life and its vicarious twists.
He was walking home after class when he heard a familiar voice, bringing him back to the present.
"Hey, prof. looking nice today," the voice said. .
That came from his former student; short chubby, spectacled and small boobs did not add up to attractive. She was wearing a blue jeans and a loose white shirt to hide her figure.
"Hi," he acknowledged.
"Care for a cup of coffee,?" she asked and he accepted as he did not want to upset one of his best students who, he believed, had a crush on him.
"What are you doing now,?" he asked her.
"I work for a magazine and am editing articles, and I need your help a bit. Since you were so aloof and introverted and never give me your phone number, I thought I could meet you here in person," she smiled sarcastically.
She was still flirting and the crush was still alive, though it was three years since she left college.
"Ya, sure," he said and they walked towards a coffee shop. She was walking too close but he ignored it as coincidence.
"How is your wife?" she asked casually after they ordered coffee.
"She left me for a better man," he said.
"I am sorry. Some women have no taste. I mean I would never have left you, I mean a man like you," she sniffed and that made her remark sound frank and genuine and at 35 he needed all the compliments that came his way. He sipped coffee quietly.
"You are a literature guy and I need some help and since it is Friday and all that....What if I came over to your place? "
He nodded, not minding a little bit of company, having spent lonely sleepless weekends for too long.
"Right away,?" she asked not bothering to hide her glee and he nodded.
Later at his place, he changed to boxers and T-shirt and they settled down on a couch. She ordered pizza for them and they ate and edited, rewriting sentences and adding and removing words here and there. It was strenuous work and they decided to take a break. He took beer cans out of the fridge and offered one to her.
"Hey prof, can I be direct with you?"