LOVE SCANDAL : My Professor's Secret

LOVE SCANDAL : My Professor's Secret

Chapter 4: Same Room

I thought I would sleep alone in that big guest room.

The room was very big, bigger than my whole hostel room. The AC was very cold and the bed was too soft. I was already happy and feeling like a big woman. I removed my pink gown and wore the big white t-shirt Professor Damola gave me. It was so big it reached my knee. It smelled exactly like him. That expensive perfume mixed with soap.

I was about to sleep and switch off the lamp when the door opened gently.

Damola entered with a small pillow in his hand and a frown on his face.

What are you doing here, I whispered, sitting up quickly and pulling the t-shirt down to cover my thighs.

My mother, he said, looked very annoyed and tired. She said couples cannot sleep in different rooms in this house. That it is taboo in our family house during the birthday celebration. She said if we sleep apart, her sixtieth birthday will not be complete and our ancestors will be angry.

I sat up straight. So we will sleep together. On the same bed.

On the same bed. But nothing will happen. I will stay on my own side, you stay on your own side. Remember Rule number three and four. No kissing on lips, no touching private parts. Nothing will happen.

I nodded quickly but my heart was already beating like a talking drum inside my chest. Gbim gbim gbim.

He locked the door gently. He slowly removed his white native top. He was wearing black singlet inside. God. His chest was broad. His shoulders. His arms. I have never seen a man like that close before.

Stop looking, he said without even looking at me.

I am not looking. I quickly looked away at the wall. My face was hot.

He laughed. For the first time since I met him, I saw him laugh a real laugh. Not a professor's strict laugh. Real, soft laugh that made his eyes small.

You lie too much, Amara. You lie too much.

He climbed the bed. He stayed far at the far edge near the window. I stayed far at my own edge near the lamp. There was a big space in the middle that two more people could sleep there comfortably. We were doing like we were not in the same bed.

We were silent for a long time. Lagos was noisy outside, cars honking, generator sounds. But inside the room, only the AC sound was blowing.

Amara, he called after like ten minutes. His voice is low.

Sir. I mean Damola.

Why did you agree to this. You could have said no and walked out of my office that day. Why did you say okay.

I thought about it for some time, looking at the ceiling.

Because everybody already judged me, I said quietly. They called me runs girl in the department group. Even Tunde blocked me without hearing my side. I have nothing to lose anymore. And you were the only person that looked at me and said you will help me find who posted the picture. You were the only person that believed me.

He turned to face me in the dark. In the dim light from the window, his eyes were shining.

Nobody has ever trusted me like that before. Students are always scared of me, he said.

I trust you, sir.

Damola.

Damola, I corrected.

He moved small closer to the bed. Not too close. Just small.

Can I tell you something, he said, voice low. I saw you before that day in my office. During the JUPEB final exam. You were crying outside the exam hall because your calculator was spoiled and you were begging people. I gave my invigilator an extra calculator to give to you. You did not even know it was me.

My mouth opened wide in shock.

That was you. That small black calculator. God, I thought it was God that sent it that day. I scored two points in that practical exam because of that calculator. That two points gave me nine points total. That nine points gave me MLS.

He smiled small in the dark. I know. That is why I was very angry when I saw your file showing seven points. I knew you deserved nine. I knew how hard you worked.

I did not know what to say. My heart was melting. So this man, this fine professor, has been watching me since JUPEB days. He knew me before I knew him.

You like me, I asked before I could stop my mouth. The question just jumped out.

He kept quiet for a very long time. The AC kept blowing.

Amara, go to sleep. Tomorrow is a long day. My mother wants to take us to church for thanksgiving by seven am.

He turned away from me and faced the window. But he did not move back to the far edge. He remained close. I could feel his back heat.

I closed my eyes but I could not sleep. His smell was everywhere. On the pillow, on the shirt I wore, on the bed sheet.

Around 2 am, I felt very cold. The AC was too much for my skin. I was shivering small inside his big t-shirt.

In my sleep, I did not know when I moved. I did not plan to move.

When I opened my eyes by 4 am, everywhere was still dark, I was no longer on my side of the bed.

I was on his chest. My head was on his chest. My leg was across his leg. His hand was on my waist, holding me. And the big t-shirt I was wearing had shifted up to my thigh, exposing my skin.

I froze completely. I could hear his heart beating under my ear. Slow and strong.

He was still sleeping. Breathing slowly and deeply.

I wanted to move away. I really wanted to move. But I did not want to move. For the first time since this scandal started, since a picture was posted, since Tunde blocked me, since everybody called me runs girl, I felt safe. I felt warm. I felt protected.

Then his phone rang. Loud. His mother's ringtone.

He woke up sharply. He looked down and saw me on his chest. I looked up and saw him.

We just stared at each other for like five seconds. No talking.

He did not push me away. He just whispered, his voice rough from sleep.

You broke Rule Five.

What is Rule Five, I whispered back, my voice shaking.

No real feelings allowed.

My heart stopped beating for a second.

He removed his hand from my waist slowly, very slowly like he did not want to remove it. He stood up from bed.

Mum is calling us for morning devotion. Wear your pink gown again. We will talk later.

He went inside the bathroom and closed the door.

I remained on the bed, my heart beating fast like a drum, his big t shirt still smelling like him, his warmth still on my skin, and Rule Five already broke on both sides and we both knew it.