Page 26 of Storm
Rose laughed giving me a high five, while Mirelle became miffed.
Annoyed, she stated,
“Yeah, go on laugh at me. What is my fault, if I thought God makes such pieces only as visiting faculty, and not permanent Professors, to let us sigh in anticipation every day! And I just think it’s his first job because he is young and stylishly dressed unlike our shabby middle-aged Professors.”
I smiled at her, holding back a frustrated sigh and tried explaining nicely yet unable to bite back sarcasm due to my irritation over her oohing and aahing,
“So this can be his second or third job for all we know. Nonetheless, why do we care? He is not going to give his salary to us. The question is, if he is going to enter in this classroom before the year ends or not? Ten minutes have already passed since the lecture was supposed to start. But, your Mr Young and Handsome, is still in the corridor itself. Does he walk that slowly or has no idea about the location of our classroom? If he is searching, then please go and tell him this is the room.” Grumbling I went on, “Had to get up so early in the morning and now lecture is not getting started.”
“Oh please! You just have a problem with waking up early. Otherwise, have you missed a single lecture since past two weeks? Also, don't be so harsh. Of course, he must be aware which classroom is ours. Prof Philip must have told him. Just, Prof Miss Gracie from ‘Public Relations and Advertising’ is talking his ears off since he stepped into the corridor. It is not the guy's fault. It’s his first day, cut him some slack.”
Waved off Mirelle distractedly, her eyes glued outside the window.
“What did you mean when you said he looks like a complete package to you?” Rose said turning to look out of the window.
Mirelle just shrugged, “His attire looks branded. He seems to be Mr Moneybags and as you saw, he has that face...” She gave a fake shiver, as if in a fantasy.
“Right, a complete package...” Rose’s voice gleamed dreamily. “Of course, Prof Gracie is advertising herself to him. Who wouldn’t?”
Now I was bored. I had never been part of a more senseless conversation than this in my entire life!
I got off the desk yawning, not from sleep, but due to their yap-yap and giggles.
“Great that you jumped off yourself, before I had to make you...” Aya scoffed as she took a step towards me.
I got confused, but did not ask, realizing quickly it was her desk.
“You see, I don’t fancy your sexy ass in my face rather than the hot guy your little troop has been steaming over.”
“Aww...You find my back sexy, Aya?” I smirked, making her scowl.
Before Aya could say anything, Rose snapped at her, “We were steaming over? You clearly are more interested in him, that’s why, you...”
“Oh yeah, I heard you, having no other choice given your volume in this silent half-sleepy class and so did he.” Aya’s eyes danced in mischief as she whispered cattily, “Heard you.”
Seeing shock evident on my friends’ faces, she pushed Rose off her desk, shrugging in delight, “Maybe!”
Next moment, Mirelle scrambled impatiently saying in a loud stage whisper,
“Hold your breaths! Yours truly, Mr Whatever is coming!”
We quickly made our way to our desks. There was a hushed silence in the class, as everyone was intrigued about the new Professor.
He entered the classroom and passed by the rows of students to reach the teachers podium. Just as he was about to walk past us, I turned my head for a glimpse and was beyond shocked. I had to be freaking dreaming yet again!
“He is the Professor?” I whispered to Rose, who sat on the chair beside me.
“Yes. Why? What happened?” Rose stared suspiciously at my stunned face.
I am quite sure I looked blown.
“Nothing...Nothing at all.” I squeaked, gulping hard.
By the time he kept his book, laptop on the desk and turned to address the students, I had already applied a defence mechanism by keeping my textbook open in front of my face. You know, if I could not see him, so can't he theory? At least until the moment he was done with his introduction, and I absolutely had to.
From the corner of my book, I peeked out to find that unlike other Professors who use the chair, he was sitting on the desk, completely relaxed and in a casual posture.
He was engrossed in the students attendance file in his hands. I knew the moment he looked up, I’ll have to remove the book, and we would be face to face, as I was sitting right in front of him. I cursed the choice of my seat, while dreading the moment he’d call out for everyone’s attention.
