The Student Teacher Affair

Chapter 13: On the edge

Joshua's POV

The morning of my last lecture before the big presentation in Abuja was a flurry of activity. My mind was racing, not just with the final preparations for the presentation, but also with the lingering awkwardness between Mercy and me. Her sudden confession, though passed off as a joke, had left a mark. I couldn't shake it off.

As I walked through the campus, I mentally rehearsed my lecture for the day. I had chosen "The Odyssey" by Homer, a classic European work that offered plenty of room for discussion and engagement. When I arrived at the lecture hall, I saw Mercy standing with her friends, including Michael. They were laughing at something he had said, and for a moment, a pang of jealousy surged through me.

I approached, trying to keep my expression neutral. "Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, Mr. Joshua," they replied in unison.

Mercy's eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. "Good morning, sir."

"Morning, Mercy," I said, feeling the weight of our last conversation. "Shall we begin?"

We moved into the lecture hall, and I began the class with an overview of "The Odyssey." It was an interactive session, as usual, and the students were eager to discuss the themes of heroism, adventure, and the human condition. But I found it hard to concentrate. My gaze kept drifting towards Mercy and Michael, their interactions, their laughter. It grated on my nerves.

"Mercy," I said, interrupting the discussion on Odysseus' cunning. "What do you think of his methods of overcoming obstacles?"

She looked surprised to be singled out but quickly recovered. "I think Odysseus' intelligence is his greatest weapon. He uses his mind to solve problems rather than brute force."

"Interesting perspective," I replied, trying to mask my irritation. "And Michael, do you agree with Mercy's view?"

Michael grinned, glancing at Mercy. "Yes, I do. Odysseus is a strategist, and that's what makes him a true hero."

Their easy camaraderie annoyed me more than it should have. Before I knew it, my frustration slipped out. "Well, perhaps Odysseus wouldn't be such a hero if he spent all his time flirting instead of focusing on his mission."

The room fell silent, and both Mercy and Michael looked taken aback. I immediately regretted my words. "I apologize," I said, trying to regain my composure. "That was uncalled for. Let's move on."

The rest of the lecture was tense, with the students avoiding direct eye contact. As the class ended, I quickly gathered my things and left, unable to face the questioning looks from the students.

The next day, it was time for our trip to Abuja. I arrived at Mercy's dorm to pick her up. She was waiting outside with her suitcase, looking more serious than usual.

"Ready to go?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

She nodded. "Yeah, let's do this."

As we loaded her luggage into the car, I turned to her. "Listen, about yesterday... I'm sorry for snapping at you and Michael. It wasn't professional."

Mercy raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "It's fine. I guess even Odysseus has his off days."

I chuckled, relieved by her response. "Touché. Let's just focus on the presentation."

The drive to the airport was filled with a mix of small talk and comfortable silence. When we boarded the plane, the tension from the previous days seemed to have eased slightly. Yet, there was still an undercurrent of something unspoken between us.

We landed in Abuja in the afternoon and took a cab to our hotel. The city was bustling with activity, a sharp contrast to the more serene atmosphere of our university. As we checked into our rooms, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This presentation was a big deal, and I needed to keep my head in the game.

Mercy and I settled into our respective rooms, and I took a moment to collect my thoughts. The awkwardness between us hadn't fully dissipated, but we had managed to push through it, at least for now.

Later that evening, we met up in the hotel lobby to review our notes and go over the final details for the presentation. Sitting across from her, I felt a strange mix of emotions. Here we were, about to showcase our hard work, and yet, our personal dynamics had become increasingly complicated.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Mercy looked up from her notes, her eyes meeting mine. "As ready as I'll ever be. You?"

"Yeah," I replied, nodding. "We've got this."

She smiled, and for a moment, the tension seemed to dissolve. We spent the next couple of hours fine-tuning our presentation, slipping into our usual pattern of snarky comments and teasing banter. Despite everything, we made a good team.

As we wrapped up for the night, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. We had come a long way from those initial days of friction and disagreement. Tomorrow was our chance to prove ourselves, and I was determined to make it count.

"Good night, Mercy," I said as we parted ways in the hallway.

"Good night, Joshua," she replied, her smile lingering a little longer than usual.

I returned to my room, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Tomorrow was a big day, and despite the personal complexities, I knew we were ready. We had worked hard for this, and now it was time to show what we were capable of.

Lying in bed, I thought about Mercy's words from the previous day. Her confession, even if it was passed off as a joke, had stirred something in me. I couldn't ignore it anymore. Whether it was jealousy or something deeper, I needed to confront my feelings.

But for now, I had to focus on the task at hand. The presentation was our priority, and everything else could wait. Tomorrow, we would shine. And maybe, just maybe, we'd figure out where we stood once the dust settled.

Side note:Hi guys,hope y'all have been enjoying reading my novel?