The Student Teacher Affair

Chapter 9: Confessions and Confusions

Joshua’s POV

The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over my apartment. I settled into my chair, laptop open, and waited for the video call to connect. My elder brother, David, lived in London, and our weekly catch-ups had become a cherished routine. The screen flickered, and his familiar face appeared, a broad smile stretching across his features.

“Hey, little brother!” David’s voice boomed through the speakers. “How’s Nigeria treating you?”

“Hey, Dave. It’s been good. Just recovering from Uncle Adeyemi’s 60th birthday bash. You should’ve been there.”

David chuckled. “I wish I could’ve made it. How was it?”

I leaned back, recalling the vibrant celebration. “It was wild. You know how our family loves a good party. The music, the food, the dancing—it was all spectacular. Everyone was there, and of course, Mom was in her element.”

David grinned. “Sounds like a typical Yoruba party. So, any interesting stories from the event?”

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to mention the highlight. “Actually, yeah. There was this girl—Mercy. She’s a student of mine. Mom seems to have taken a liking to her.”

David raised an eyebrow. “Mercy, huh? You’ve mentioned her before. Quite a lot, actually. What’s the story there?”

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “There’s no story, really. She’s just…around a lot. We’re working on this big project together, and she’s kind of unavoidable.”

David’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Oh, come on, Josh. You can’t fool me. Every time we talk, you bring her up. Are you in love with her or what?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Love? You know I don’t do love. It’s just that we spend a lot of time together because of the project. That’s all. And she’s…well, she’s something else. Annoying, mostly.”

David didn’t seem convinced. “Right. Annoying, sure. But you talk about her with this weird kind of excitement. Admit it, there’s something there.”

I scoffed, leaning forward. “There’s nothing there. Mercy is my student. The university has strict policies against any sort of relationship between lecturers and students. Besides, she’s infuriating. Always has some snarky comment ready.”

David leaned closer to the camera, his face serious. “You can try to convince yourself all you want, but from where I’m sitting, it sounds like you’re more into her than you realize.”

I shook my head, frustrated. “Drop it, Dave. There’s nothing between us. I don’t even like her. She’s just a means to an end with this project.”

David shrugged, letting out a sigh. “Alright, alright. I’ll let it go. For now. But remember, sometimes the things we try hardest to deny are the ones we feel the most deeply.”

We moved on to other topics, chatting about his life in London, his work, and our family. But David’s words lingered in my mind, an uncomfortable echo I couldn’t shake off.

---

The next day at school, I tried to put the conversation with David out of my mind. I had a full schedule, and there was no time to dwell on what he’d said. But as I walked through the courtyard, I spotted Mercy and Michael. They were standing close, laughing at something, and the sight made my stomach churn unexpectedly.

Michael was her childhood friend, and their camaraderie was evident. He was charming, with an easy smile that seemed to light up Mercy’s face. They looked good together, and I hated how that made me feel.

I approached them, plastering a neutral expression on my face. “Morning, Mercy. Michael.”

Michael turned, still grinning. “Morning, Mr. Joshua. We were just catching up.”

Mercy gave me a cursory nod. “Good morning, sir.”

I couldn’t help but notice the ease with which they interacted. It was so different from the constant tension between Mercy and me. “Well, I hope you’re not too distracted from the project,” I said, trying to keep my tone light.

Mercy rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. “Don’t worry, Mr. Joshua. I can multitask.”

Michael chuckled, sensing the underlying tension. “We won’t keep you, sir. Mercy and I have some things to discuss.”

I nodded curtly, watching as they walked away, their heads bent close together. A strange sensation twisted in my chest—jealousy. But that was absurd. I had no reason to be jealous. Mercy was just a student, and Michael was just a friend.

Still, the sight of them together nagged at me all day. I found myself thinking about David’s words, about how I might be denying something deeper. But that was ridiculous. I wasn’t the type to fall for a student, especially not one as frustrating as Mercy.

As I headed to my office, I couldn’t shake the image of them laughing together. Maybe David was right. Maybe there was something there that I didn’t want to acknowledge. But it didn’t matter. I had a job to do, and personal feelings couldn’t get in the way.

Mercy and I had a project to finish, and that was all that mattered. I would keep things professional, no matter how complicated they seemed to get. Because in the end, that was the right thing to do. Or so I kept telling myself.

When I finally reached my office, I sat down, letting out a frustrated sigh. This was getting too complicated. I needed to focus, to push these distracting thoughts aside. But as much as I tried, the image of Mercy and Michael together lingered, a constant reminder of the confusion and jealousy I couldn’t quite shake.