Laura Gray walked down the long corridor and stopped in front of the door marked Room 403. She was about to knock when her eyes caught the words written on the plaque, “out of office for today.”
She hissed at herself, knowing she came late. It was well over one hour after the time Professor Paige said he would be around to attend to postgrad students in the email he sent out.
Laura was a master’s student, and the next semester would be her last semester on campus.
“Well, I hope Prof. will be around tomorrow.” She thought to herself and started walking away. Laura noticed him leaning against his car, talking with Dr. Harrison the moment she stepped outside into the foyer.
She smiled to herself and quickened her steps towards him. “Good evening, Prof. Daniels, good evening Dr. Harrison,” she greeted both of them with a tentative smile when she got to their side. “I was just coming from your office, Prof. I’m sorry I came late. My manager at work stretched my shift.”
“Hey,” Dr. Harrison greeted cheerfully. She turned to Prof. Daniel’s and said. “Guess I will see you tomorrow, then.”
“Yeah,” he gave her a fond smile. “Tomorrow, say hi to Grant for me, will you?”
“Okay, I will goodnight,” the lady said and walked away.
“Prof., can you still attend to me?”
“You said you left work late?”
“Yes, Prof.” she replied.
“Okay, that’s alright,” he checked the time on his wristwatch. “Young lady, I’m afraid I can’t stay longer anymore. Do you have any free time tomorrow?”
Her eyes closed over with anxiety.
“I can see you won’t,” he said kindly and reached out his hand. “You just give your folder. I will go through and get back to you through the email.”
“Oh my God,” Laura’s features brighten up. “You are going to do that for me? Thank you very much.”
Trevor nodded with a smile. That gave him the opportunity to study her well. He only started teaching her last semester and his gaze fell on her on the first day of the class. It took him enormous strength to concentrate in class that day and on subsequent days until the semester ended.
That wasn’t the first time he was attracted to his female students in his fifteen years of teaching, but the pull towards this girl was so different. He knew the feeling wasn’t just for a fling.
If he should have anything to do with her, it will be for the long haul. And he didn’t want to go there. Rather, he thought he wasn’t ready yet for any emotional entanglement. So he told himself to keep off her, and he had made a success of it for the entire semester.
Trevor was happy she didn’t catch him looking at her when she looked up and handed him the folder.
“Thank you so much, Professor.” She said as she handed the folder over to him.
“It’s my pleasure,” he gave her a little smile. “You are welcome, Miss. Gray, goodnight.” He snatched the folder off her hand and quickly got into his car.
She dashed him one last look and went away.
“Trevor,” Professor Paige called out his name. “Get a grip on yourself, man.” He breathed a shuddered breath as he started his car engine and drove away.
Ever since he lost his fiancee, Daria, three years ago in a plane crash, his feelings became totally numbed until the day he set his eyes on Laura. Although, the university had nothing rules against professors dating or even getting married to their students.
He felt he was not ready to replace Daria in his heart. To him, it would mean he had accepted the fact that Daria was gone and he wouldn’t be able to see her again. He had never allowed himself to find closure after Daria’s death.
Trevor’s phone rang in his pocket when he was riding the elevator to his fifth-floor apartment thirty minutes later. He brought it out of his pocket, thinking it was his best friend, Carl, calling.
Looking at the screen, it was his mom. He smiled fondly and swiped the screen just in time to step out of the elevator and make his way to his apartment.
“Hi mom,” he answered, his voice muffled by the sounds of the bustling city outside.
“Trevor, my dear, how are you?” his mother’s cheerful tone came through the phone.
“I’m good, just got off work,” he replied, nodding a greeting to the doorman.
“That’s wonderful. Listen, I just wanted to remind you about your aunt Hilda’s birthday tomorrow. You must call her and wish her a happy birthday.”
Aunt Hilda was their late father’s younger sister who had been so supportive of him, his older brother and their mother ever since their father died.
Trevor sighed internally. He had completely forgotten about his aunty’s birthday. He was only looking forward to the birthday lunch on Sunday. “I will, mom. Don’t worry,” he promised, with a smile.
“And also, don’t forget lunch on Sunday. I’m going to call your brother to remind him too.”
“That’s okay, mom,” he changed his phone to the other hand.
“You know Emily Townsend is around for the summer.” Mrs. Daniels started saying, “why don’t you call her and ask her to come with you to lunch on Sunday? I don’t want you to be the odd one out. I’m sure your cousins will bring their partners and, of course, your brother is coming with his wife.”
Trevor blew out a frustrated breath as he punched in the digits to open his front door. He didn’t want to deal with the awkwardness of bringing Emily along. They were an item back in high school until their sophomore year in college. Though they still send each other messages once in a while, he wouldn’t want to give her any false hope.
“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll bring my girlfriend,” he rolled his eyes. It was that or his mother would invite Emily by herself.”
“What did you just say?” His mother asked, her voice full of excitement.