Chapter 12: The confession
904 Words
Mercy's POV
The final meeting before our big event in Abuja felt like a ticking clock. Every moment seemed to stretch longer than usual, each second a reminder of how close we were to presenting our project. I walked to Joshua's office with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. This meeting wasn't just about the project; it felt like a moment of reckoning.
I knocked on the door and Joshua's voice beckoned me inside. He looked up from his desk, his eyes meeting mine with that familiar intensity that always made my heart skip a beat.
"Hey," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Hey," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "Ready for our final prep?"
I nodded, sitting down across from him. "Yeah, let's get this done."
We dove into the details of our presentation, fine-tuning every slide and rehearsing our parts. It was clear we both wanted this win badly, and our combined determination created a tangible energy in the room.
"So," Joshua said, glancing at me as we wrapped up the last slide. "Are you feeling confident about the presentation?"
I shrugged, forcing a smile. "As confident as I can be. You?"
He nodded. "I think we've got a good shot. Your sections are solid."
I looked down at my notes, my heart pounding. I had to tell him. If I didn't, I would regret it forever. "Joshua, can I tell you something?"
"Sure," he said, his tone cautious.
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "The reason I went home... it wasn't just to clear my head. It was because I thought I was going crazy. Because of my feelings for you."
Joshua's eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked completely stunned. "Mercy..."
"I'm crazy about you," I blurted out, my voice trembling. "And I know it's insane because you're my lecturer and we argue all the time, but I can't help how I feel."
He opened his mouth to say something, but words seemed to escape him. The silence grew unbearable, and panic set in. What had I done?
I let out a nervous laugh, trying to backtrack. "I'm just kidding, Joshua. I just wanted to see your reaction."
Joshua blinked, his expression shifting from shock to confusion, and then to relief. He laughed awkwardly. "You really had me going there, Mercy."
I laughed too, though it sounded forced even to my own ears. "Yeah, I thought it would be funny."
We fell into an uneasy silence, both of us too aware of what had just been said and unsaid. Joshua cleared his throat, shifting back to our usual dynamic. "Well, let's hope we can pull off this presentation without any more surprises."
I nodded, grateful for the change in topic. "Agreed. No more surprises."
After a few more minutes of discussing last-minute details, we wrapped up the meeting. I grabbed my bag and stood up, feeling a mixture of regret and relief.
"See you in later," Joshua said, offering a small smile.
"Yeah, see you," I replied, turning to leave.
As soon as I stepped outside, the reality of what I had done hit me like a ton of bricks. I had confessed my feelings, then taken it back as a joke. What kind of twisted game was I playing with myself?
I hurried back to my dorm, needing to talk to someone who would understand. Gracie was sprawled on her bed, scrolling through her phone when I burst in.
"Gracie, you won't believe what I just did," I said, flopping down on my bed.
She looked up, raising an eyebrow. "What now?"
"I told Joshua that I was crazy about him," I confessed, my voice trembling. "And then I panicked and said it was a joke."
Gracie's eyes widened. "You did what?"
"I know, I know," I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I'm such an i***t. He was speechless, and I freaked out."
Gracie sat up, her expression a mix of amusement and sympathy. "Mercy, you have to stop playing these games. What did he say?"
"Nothing," I replied miserably. "He was about to say something, but I cut him off by laughing and saying it was a joke. And then we just went back to our usual comments."
Gracie sighed, shaking her head. "You need to figure out what you want. This back-and-forth is driving you both crazy."
I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. "I know. But what if I do like him? He's my lecturer, Gracie. And the school has strict rules about this sort of thing."
"Do you care about the rules more than you care about your feelings?" she asked gently.
I stared at the ceiling, feeling more conflicted than ever. "I don't know. I just wish things were simpler."
Gracie moved to sit beside me, her hand resting on my shoulder. "Nothing about love is simple, Mercy. But you deserve to be happy. And if Joshua makes you happy, maybe it's worth the risk."
Her words echoed in my mind as I lay in bed that night. The truth was, I did care about Joshua. More than I wanted to admit. But was I ready to face the consequences of those feelings? That was a question I wasn't sure I could answer yet.
For now, all I could do was focus on the competition in Abuja and hope that somehow, everything would work out.
- Writer
