Nina
I went back to our tent, as he said, and brought out the ring from where I kept it.
I had just removed it for a day because I thought since we had this agreement now, he wouldn't force me to wear this ring anymore. I could wear it whenever I wanted.
If you ask me, a marriage isn't symbolized by the ring or all this stuff but by the agreement between the two couples to stay with each other.
I had agreed to be his wife for as long as the field trip would last. But why did he have to be so angry just because I wanted to get some rest from it? I am not a ring person, you know.
I was thinking all that as I made my way back to the cafeteria, where he was waiting for me.
I just hope that he and Mike have not continued arguing with each other.
I didn't portray the guy as being so nosy. If I want this thing to work, then I should definitely have to also tell him that I am the professor's wife.
I don't know what he might think of me after that, but hey, why did I care?. We just met today and we practically didn't know much of each other and soon, we'll be on our way.
He is a pretty nice guy, though, and I was glad I found him when I did; otherwise, who would have known what would have happened? And for that, I am indebted to him.
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't see what was unfolding in front of me, and the next thing I knew, I was crushed into someone's chest.
For the second time in the same night, I wanted to scream out, but then it was only my professor again.
But why was he hugging me all of a sudden?.
It's not like I vanished and appeared all of a sudden.
"Gosh! I never thought I'd missed you, my darling; I'm so glad you're back," he says.
Huh!.
He pulls away from me and then smiles at me and I smiled back. Well, for once I am glad that he isn't in his foul mood anymore.
He leans in to my ear.
"Whatever I do, just play along, ok" he whispers.
What does he mean by that?.
But I was soon to find out what he meant as the next thing I knew, he had crashed his lips onto mine.
I was taken aback by his actions the a while but as his lips starts exploring mine, I was lost, literally lost.
I followed suit and started kissing him back to the point that I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss.
All the world around us has faded away and all I could feel is the sparking emotions that are erupting from my core as he expertly dominates my mouth.
Soon, I let out a gasp, and my mouth opened, and so he subconsciously slid his tongue into my mouth and tried to take dominance over my tongue.
Wow! My mind dances.
He tastes like mint, the freshly plucked type, if you know what I mean.
Just like that, he pulls away. I was starting to miss his gentle touch when it hit me.
Oh my goodness! What have I done?.
I have actually kissed my teacher just now. I had kissed him back, and to make matters worse, I actually enjoyed it.
Oh, you stupid Nina!. What has gotten into you now?.
Not to mention the fact that it was his very first kiss.
I wanted to be angry right now, but at what precisely?
For him, who initiated the kiss, or for me, who let him and also enjoyed it.
Gosh! My brain is malfunctioning right now.
"I missed you so much; I thought I had lost you for good; you had no idea how worried I was," he says, pulling me into another hug again.
Awkward!!! What is really going on with this dude today?.
Did I say that my brain was malfunctioning before? Well, I was wrong. When I saw all the people standing there, watching all the show unfold before them, my brain short circuited.
I literally saw black for a few seconds.
I have given a show of life to all these people. A show they would never forget.
He lets go of the hug and then wraps his arms protectively around my waist.
"And I'm never going to let you out of my sight again," he adds.
I looked around, and even though it was dark, I could still see some of the expressions on the people's faces.
Some were in absolute awe of what just happened, and I would even hear them whisper.
"Gosh! They are so in love; did you see the way he kissed her?" they comment.
"Yeah! He really does love her," some say.
I wish.
Some were throwing jealous looks at me, as if they wanted to be in my shoes and would give anything to attain that.
Well, all they need to do is ask, and I'll gladly oblige. Well, that's a lie, and I know that. At least that's what I would have said days ago, and I stood by my words.
They still don't know how hard it is to be in my own shoes.
If they knew, they would have been happy that they were in the position that they are,or maybe not.
The rest of the group, well, one of them, to be exact, looked like he was about to explode as he saw us walking towards him in the cafeteria. No doubt he has also seen what unfolded.
But why is he angry?.
The professor's came back to mind. What was said to me right before he kissed me?
Wait a minute, did he pull off all this just to be out on a show in front of Mike?
I know Mike didn't believe we were a couple, but did he really have to go to this length to prove to him that we were?
For a minute there, I thought that he had actually missed something and that all the emotions being expressed were true. But then, it was just a show. Everything about us is a show.
My heart fell at the realization of that.
"Where's the ring?" he asks.
Oh yes! The ring. I forgot to even put it on.
I picked it out of my pocket and tried to put it on, but he stopped me.
"No, my darling, let me," he says.
He collects the ring from my hand, and to my surprise, he kneels in front of me, like he was actually trying to propose or something.
"Your hand," he says, looking up to me with a smile on his face.
I extended my left hand to him, and he lifted it up.
He slowly slipped the ring into my finger once again, and it fit just perfectly, like it did the first time.
He leans down and kisses my fingers.
"There you go, perfect," he says.
Yeah! It's so perfect.
Too perfect to be real, even.
"Never remove it from your hand, for me, please," he begs in a very soothing manner.
I felt my heart melt at his gesture.
Something must have definitely broken inside of him while I was gone, and maybe that's why he is behaving this way.
He is behaving like a teenager experiencing their first love, which is so gross, if you ask me, considering his age.
With that, he gets up and pulls me to my food once again.
I am sure the food is cold by now.
Lily and the rest have decided to excuse themselves for the night, and they didn't even say good night.
"Excuse me," he calls out to the waiter.
The middle-aged woman walks over to her with a smile plastered on her face.
I can also see all the admiration she has for us. Well, enjoy it while it lasts.
"Please could you brew some coffee for her? She will be so dehydrated after this stress today," he says.
"Of course, sir, just give me a few minutes," she says.
She turns to leave, but then turns to us again.
"I am really happy for you, sir, and I'm glad that you have found her; not all are this lucky," she says.
"Thanks very much," he says.
And what does she mean exactly by saying that not all are lucky?
But I guess I won't get the answer, as she turns and walks away once again.
"I didn't know you had made such an impression on all these people; they were really worried about you being gone," he says after she is out of sight.
"We'll, I guess I have rubbed off on them; I'm likable," I decided to follow along.
"Yeah, that you really are," he says, and his eyes look a little bit distant.
"But don't ever do this again, ever," he says.
"Of course I won't," I assure him.
I'm not a fool anyway.
After that, we all fell silent until the waitress came out with our coffee.
She places it on the table and waves us good night.
I am not a fan of coffee, but I guess I really do need one today after all the adrenaline rush I had.
I reach out to pick up my coffee when he beats me to it. I try taking the other one, but he pulls it away as well.
He extends the coffee to my mouth, and I have no choice but to oblige. And anyway, there's nobody here to judge.
He made sure that I had taken all my coffee before he took his.
Finally, I started feeling sleepy, and all the mosquitoes out there were not helping either.
I get up to leave, but he stops me.
He swept me off my feet and carried me in bridal style.
"What are you doing, sir? I can walk," I say.
But he didn't even listen to me.
Just as he turned, I saw a person still standing like a statue, and when I looked close enough, it was Mike.
Mike, but what's he still doing here?.
I couldn't ask him, though.
"Good night," I call to him still.