Tenisola: When Love Defies

Chapter Four: Never Expected

Tayi and I found a seat in the front row, the low hum of students chatting fading as the lecture hall settled. The heavy scent of dry-erase markers. As we settled in, I kept replaying the events from the previous night, my stomach doing uneasy flips. The room felt colder than usual, and my palms were damp, the faint rhythm of my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

When Professor Tenisola walked in, I could feel a wave of discomfort wash over me. The sound of her voice—smooth and confident—made my stomach knot again. "Good afternoon, my name is Professor Tenisola Babatunde, and I'll be taking you marketing management this semester."

The moment our eyes met, my heart stuttered. I tried to shrink into my seat, my eyesA quickly darting to the desk in front of me. Why did she lie to me? I thought, staring at the wooden surface as memories of last night came flooding back, each one more confusing than the last. She’s my professor? My mind was a whirlwind of unanswered questions.

Tayi leaned closer, her lips curling into an impish grin. "You’re acting like you’ve seen a ghost," she whispered. The words were light, but the underlying concern in her voice made me pause for a moment.

I turned to her, my voice barely above a whisper. "That’s the Tenisola I told you about, the one from the club." My throat felt tight as I spoke, the weight of what had happened pressing down on me.

Tayi studied her for a moment, before whispering again, "She's hott." Her voice was filled with admiration, and I could practically hear the wheels turning in her head. She was clearly more interested in Tenisola than the class itself.

"Do you mind sharing what's more important than my lecture to the whole class" professor Tenisola asked Tayi and I

***

As the last of the students filed out of the classroom, my anxiety intensified. The air felt thick, heavy with the tension I couldn’t escape. I sat there, frozen for a moment, as I was about getting up I heard her sayqq

"Stay behind for a minute," Tenisola's voice was calm, but I could hear the edge of something in it that made my pulse quicken.

I sat back down, trying to steady my breathing, but my hands betrayed me as they shook slightly. The hum of the fluorescent lights above seemed unnaturally loud in the silence.

"I was looking forward to seeing you again," Tenisola said with a smile. "I didn't expect it to be so soon."

"I thought you didn't recognize me," I replied, taking my seat again. "Your reaction earlier was surprising."

"I apologize," Tenisola said, meeting my gaze.

"Why didn't you tell me you were my professor?" I asked, still upset. "You said you were a student too."

"I'm sorry, Damilola," Tenisola said. "I had no idea I'd be teaching you."

"So that made it right for you to lie to me, I think it's best if we keep our relationship professional," I said, standing up to leave. "You're my professor, and that's it."

Tenisola stepped in front of me, gently taking my hands. "Please calm down. I understand this is awkward, but I have to maintain a professional image."

"I accept your apology," I said, looking at her. "But I need some space."

"When can I see you again?" Tenisola asked.

"I'm not sure," I replied, pulling my hands free and leaving the classroom.

I walked out of the lecture hall and found Tayi waiting for me, smiling mischievously. "Your girlfriend is hot!" she exclaimed, emphasizing the word "hot."

"She's not my girlfriend," I corrected Tayi. "I can't date someone who lies."

Tayi raised an eyebrow, looking at me like I was missing the point. "Lie? Would you have told her you were a professor if you met at a club?" she asked.

Just then, Tenisola walked out of the lecture hall. She exchanged a brief greeting with Tayi, who addressed her as "ma." Tenisola smiled and replied, "Afternoon," before walking past us, deliberately ignoring me.

Tayi turned to me, a sly grin spreading across her face. "You were under her last night, I can see why you are glowing. Please don't mess this up for us. She's got money, and she'll spoil us rotten."

I shook my head, trying to make Tayi understand. "You don't get it. I can't be with her. She's my professor – our professor. It's wrong in every way."

"Wrong, how old does she look?" Tayi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"If I had to guess, I'd say she's either 35 if she's young or 40 if she's old," Tayi said, eyeing me mischievously. "And how old are you again? 24, right?"

"So, what's wrong?" Tayi asked, still not getting my concern.

"Our professor is what's wrong!" I exclaimed, frustrated. "If I get caught, I'll be expelled, and she'll lose her job. She won't be able to afford those fashionable clothes anymore."

Tayi gave me a sideways glance, her eyebrows raising in mock disbelief. "You’re worried about rules? Dami, you only have one more year left. Play it right, and you might get everything you want."

I couldn’t bring myself to agree with her. The idea of crossing that line was too much to bear, especially knowing the consequences. But still, a part of me wanted to believe Tayi. She made it seem so simple.

Tayi pulled me away, and we walked back to her the hostel and went to her room. "What do you want to eat?" she asked.

"Spaghetti," I replied, sitting on her bed.

"Are you going to cook it?" she asked, retrieving the spaghetti from her storage.

"Fine, I'll cook," I said, taking the spaghetti from her.

Tayi smiled mischievously. "Okay, Mrs. Babatunde," she teased, taking my place on the bed.

Shade walked into the room, her expression somber. She had just returned from a difficult weekend, having lost her stepmom in a tragic accident. The weight of her grief was palpable, and the atmosphere in the room shifted to one of somber solidarity.

She pushed open the door and was immediately enveloped in a warm hug by Tayi, who sat on the bed beside her. Tayi held her tightly, whispering words of comfort as Shade's body shook with silent sobs.

I joined in, offering my condolences. "We're so sorry, Shade. We're here for you." I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, trying to convey my support.

Shade looked up at us, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I just feel so lost right now. She was more than just a stepmom to me."

Tayi and I exchanged a sympathetic glance. We knew that Shade's relationship with her stepmom was complex, but we also knew that she loved her deeply.

"We're here to listen, Shade," Tayi said, her voice filled with empathy. "Take all the time you need to grieve. We'll support you every step of the way."

***

A week had passed, and we were lounging in Tayi and Shade's room when Tayi decided to bring up the topic of Tenisola again. "Shade, guess what?" she said, her voice dripping with excitement.

Shade, always up for some juicy gossip, sat up straight. "What?" she asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

Tayi grinned mischievously. "So, Tenisola is a total boss, always dressed to kill in androgynous outfits. And our friend here," she nodded towards me, "was, ahem, enjoying her company that night she claimed they just ran into each other."

Shade listened intently, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Hmmmmm, what's the biggest shocker?" Tayi asked, pausing for dramatic effect.

Shade's eyes widened. "Is Tenisola a guy or something?" she asked, looking at me with a mixture of surprise and amusement.

Tayi chuckled. "No, but here's the kicker: Tenisola's full name is Tenisola Babatunde, and our new in-law just so happens to be our professor in our department."

Shade's expression changed from surprise to shock, and then she burst out laughing. "I can imagine how awkward that must have been for Dami," she said, still chuckling.

Dami had made it clear she didn't want to pursue the relationship anymore, fearing the consequences of being with a professor. Tayi filled Shade in on the details, her voice filled with excitement. "She doesn't want to get expelled!" she said, emphasizing the word "expelled" with a dramatic flair.

Shade chuckled, glancing at me with a knowing look. "Expelled? When you play your cards right, no one will ever know," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling like I was the punchline of a joke I didn't find funny. My two friends continued to tease me throughout the day, their playful jabs and winks making me feel like I was trapped in a never-ending nightmare.

Finally, I'd had enough. "I'm out of here," I said, standing up to leave. "I need some peace and quiet."

As I walked out of their room, Shade called out, "Make sure you don't run into the professor today!" Her words were followed by the sound of their laughter, which echoed in my ears, I felt like a joke. The laughter from Tayi and Shade still echoed in my head, their words playful but carrying an undercurrent of judgment. The weight of their teasing pressed on my chest as I made my way back to my room, wishing for some semblance of peace.

When I finally reached my door, I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, but there was no peace waiting for me inside. The silence in my room was almost as suffocating as the laughter I'd just left behind.