The Student Teacher Affair

Chapter 14: I'm crazy about you Mercy

Joshua's POV

I woke up with a knot in my stomach. Today was the day of the presentation, and I felt an odd mix of excitement and nerves. It wasn't just about the competition; it was about Mercy. She had poured her heart into this project, and I wanted to ensure we gave it our all. This meant a lot to her, and I couldn't let her down.

After getting dressed, I headed down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Mercy was already there, looking stunning as always, even in her casual attire. She had an air of confidence about her that I admired.

"Morning," I greeted, sitting down across from her.

"Morning," she replied, giving me a small smile. "Ready for today?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I said, trying to match her confidence. "How about you?"

She nodded. "I'm nervous, but we've prepared well. We just need to do our best."

"We've got this," I assured her, even though my own nerves were still fluttering. "Let's make this presentation something they won't forget."

After breakfast, we headed to the venue, which was conveniently located in the same hotel. As we walked in, the atmosphere was buzzing with energy. Other participants were milling about, making last-minute preparations. I could feel the tension in the air, but I focused on staying calm for Mercy's sake.

When our turn finally came, we stepped onto the stage. The lights were bright, and the room was filled with expectant faces. I took a deep breath and glanced at Mercy. She gave me a reassuring nod, and we began our presentation.

Mercy's eloquence was captivating, and her passion for the project shone through every word. I followed her lead, adding my insights and ensuring we hit all our key points. We worked seamlessly together, and I could see the judges nodding in approval.

When we finished, there was a moment of silence before the room erupted into applause. We stepped back, relieved and proud of our performance. Now, all we could do was wait for the results.

As the judges deliberated, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for what we had accomplished. Then, the moment came. The judges began announcing the winners, starting from third place. My heart pounded as they moved to second place.

"And second place goes to... Joshua and Mercy!" the judge announced.

Out of thirty participating duos, we had come second. It was a fantastic achievement, and it meant we still received a substantial reward.

Without thinking, I pulled Mercy into a hug. It was spontaneous and heartfelt, and for a moment, we just held each other, savoring the victory. When we finally pulled away, there was a brief, awkward pause before we both laughed.

"Second place isn't so bad, huh?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"Not bad at all," she agreed, grinning. "Especially considering we started out hating each other."

"Hate is a strong word," I said, smirking. "More like intense dislike."

She laughed, and we walked out of the hall together, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

That evening, there was an after-party to celebrate the end of the competition. The atmosphere was relaxed, with people mingling and congratulating each other. I spotted Mercy across the room, looking stunning in her evening attire. Gathering my courage, I approached her.

"Dance with me?" I asked, extending my hand.

She looked surprised but took my hand. "Why not?"

As we danced, the atmosphere shifted. There was something undeniably electric between us. Our usual snarky comments turned into playful flirtation.

"You clean up nice, Mr. Joshua," she said, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Well, Miss Mercy, you look absolutely breathtaking," I replied, pulling her a bit closer.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you flirting with me, sir?"

I smirked. "Depends. Is it working?"

She laughed, and we continued to dance, the tension between us growing more palpable with each passing moment.

"You know, I never imagined we'd be here," she said, looking up at me.

"Neither did I," I admitted. "But I'm glad we are."

She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "You're not so bad when you're not being a know-it-all."

"Same goes for you, Miss Perfectionist," I teased.

We danced for a while longer, the music and the moment making everything else fade away. The flirtation between us became more intense, each comment laced with double meanings and hidden truths.

"You look like you're having fun," I said, leaning in slightly.

"I am," she replied, her voice soft. "Are you?"

"More than I expected," I admitted.

As the song ended, we stood there for a moment, just looking at each other. The connection between us was undeniable, and I knew I had to tell her how I felt. But before I could say anything, she pulled away, smiling.

"Thanks for the dance," she said, and walked off.

I watched her go, feeling a strange mix of emotions. I knew I couldn't let this moment slip away. Later that night, after the party had died down, I found myself standing in front of Mercy's hotel room, knocking on the door.

When she opened it, she looked surprised but let me in.

"Joshua? What's up?" she asked, closing the door behind me.

"Mercy," I started, my voice barely above a whisper, "I've been trying to find the right time to say this, but I'm beginning to realize there's no perfect moment-just the truth."

She looked at me, those beautiful eyes wide with curiosity, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to continue. "The truth is, you've become everything to me. You're the first thought in my mind when I wake up and the last one before I fall asleep. When I'm with you, everything feels right, like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."

I reached out, taking her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin against my palm. "I've been a fool, Mercy. I've spent so much time convincing myself that this-what we have-wasn't real or that I didn't deserve it. But I can't lie to myself anymore. I have fallen for you,completely, hopelessly, and I don't want to spend another day pretending that I'm not."

I watched as her eyes softened, and I couldn't help but smile, the weight of my confession lifting off my chest. "I'm crazy about you Mercy and I don't know where this will take us, but I want to find out. Together."

For a moment, Mercy just looked at me, her eyes wide and shining under the soft glow of the lights. I could feel the tension in the air, thick with anticipation, as if the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for her to speak.

Then, she smiled-a smile that was both soft and radiant, a smile that reached deep into my soul and settled there.

"Joshua," she began, her voice a gentle whisper, almost as if she were afraid the words might shatter if spoken too loudly. "I've tried so hard to ignore it, to pretend that what I feel for you isn't real. But I can't anymore. The truth is... I feel the same way."

My heart skipped a beat.

Her hand slipped into mine, our fingers intertwining as if they were made to fit together. "I'm crazy about you too, Joshua. I don't know where this will lead us, but I know I want to find out, with you. So, yes... I feel the same way. More than you could ever know

Before she could say anything else, I closed the distance between us, capturing her lips in a kiss. It was long, intense, and everything I had imagined it would be.

When we finally pulled away, she looked at me, breathless.

I know this confession seems to early in the story 🌚 but I still have a long way to go so i don't want to waste your time😊