LOVE SCANDAL : My Professor's Secret

LOVE SCANDAL : My Professor's Secret

CHAPTER 9: The Query

I did not sleep that night.

I sleep with phone on my chest, but my eye open till 2 AM. Every five minutes I was checking school group chat. Video of car kiss have moved from department group to main school gist group. UNILORIN GIST 2024/2025 with 1.2k members.

My roommate that saw me come down from car already tell whole hostel that professor and nine points girl confirm relationship.

Morning come fast. I wear white shirt and black skirt like school say for disciplinary panel. My leg was shaking inside skirt.

Damola call me at 7 AM.

Amara, have you eat.

No.

You must eat small, he say. Query will be long.

I cannot eat, I say. My stomach is turning.

I am outside your hostel gate, he say. Come out.

I run out. His Camry was parked far again, but today he was not hiding. He wear same white shirt and black trousers, like we are going to same court.

He give me small bread and yogurt from eatery.

Eat inside car, he say.

We drive to school together. Today nobody salute security man, security just open gate and look at us with pity face.

We reach Senate building where query panel will sit. Many students was already standing outside to watch drama. When they see us come down from same car, they start whispering loud.

They are even wearing matching white.

She follow him come.

Love is wicked.

Inside hall, it was cold. AC full. Big table with five people sitting. Dean of Student Affairs in middle, HOD of MLS, woman from JUPEB unit, one man from counselling, and one admin officer typing.

Dean look at us and say, Why are you two entering together. We call you separately. Amara first.

Damola say, Sir, we are involved together. We will face together.

Dean hiss, You are still teaching us how to do our job even while on suspension. Professor, sit outside. We will call you.

Damola want to argue, but I touch his hand small and say, It is okay. I will go first.

He go outside and sit on bench. I can see him through glass door.

Query start.

Amara, Dean say, yesterday panel tell you to end immoral relationship with your lecturer. You refuse. Instead you go to kiss same lecturer inside school toilet and inside car park in front of department. Do you know offense you commit.

I stand, hands shaking, holding my query letter.

Sir, I say, I did not plan to kiss inside school. But I cannot lie that I do not have feelings for him. We start as fake, but now it is real. I know it is wrong for student and professor, but I am ready to face consequence.

JUPEB woman ask, Fake ? What do you mean fake ?

That was when I explain everything. From birthday lie, to fake boyfriend agreement, Rule One to Rule Ten, to mother video, to church. I explain all with tears.

When I finish, counselling man remove glasses.

So you mean all this scandal start because you tell your mother you have boyfriend because you feel pressure at twenty two.

Yes sir, I say crying.

Admin officer was typing fast.

HOD stand up angry. Amara, you score nine points in JUPEB and you are supposed to be serious student. But you turn school to Nollywood. Church, panel, toilet, car park. What next. Hostel.

Dean raise hand for HOD to sit.

Amara, we will not rusticate you, Dean say slowly. Because your result is good and you have no carry over. But we will give you final warning and community service for one month. You will sweep Block C every morning before class and submit essay on moral conduct. If any other scandal happen again this semester, you will lose admission. Do you understand.

Yes sir, I say, wiping tears. Thank you sir.

And about Professor Damola, Dean continue, that is not your business. Go outside, send him in.

I walk out, leg weak. Damola stand up fast.

What did they say, he ask, holding my shoulder.

Final warning and sweeping, I whisper.

He breathe out. Thank God.

He enter hall. I sit outside waiting, hearing raised voices inside. HOD shouting, Damola answering calm. Then Dean shouting. Then long silence.

After thirty minutes, he come out. Face tired but smiling small.

What did they say, I ask.

He hold my hand in front of everybody outside hall, not caring.

One semester suspension without pay, still stands, he say. Plus they will move me from MLS to general studies unit after suspension. I will not teach your set again.

I feel chest pain. Because of me, they move you.

Because of us, he correct. Not because of you. And general studies is still teaching. It is okay. I still have job. You still have admission. We survive.

We walk out of Senate building together, holding hands. Students outside that was waiting for gist start clapping small and laughing.

One boy shout, After query na still hand holding. True love.

We enter car. I was supposed to sweep Block C next morning, but today I feel light, like heavy stone leave my chest.

Damola start car and look at me.

Real girlfriend, he say, you face panel alone and you did not run. I am proud of you.

Real boyfriend, I say, you wait outside for me even though they tell you to go.

He laugh and drive slowly.

Where to, he ask.

Go and buy broom, I say. I need to start sweeping tomorrow.

He laugh loud and drive to market, still holding my one hand while driving, with white shirt both of us wearing, like uniform of people that survive shame together.