After today's lecture was over, I was packing up my stuff, Lydia sitting at the extreme part of the hall working on her laptop, my students were already leaving the lecture hall. After I was done, I realized that a student was left and she was approaching me.
“ Sir.... I have something to speak with you, privately....”.
“ Go on, I'm all ears ”.
She made a sign with her eyes, trying to let me know that Lydia was still sitting there, both of them looks quite exactly the same age, really young, one was working for me while the other was a student.
“ She's my personal assistant ”.
I said that, my eyes on her, those word caught her attention, making her to look up from her laptop, her attention now on us, I knew that saying that definitely would catch her attention. “ But Sir..... I'm not comfortable if she's eavesdropping, really want to share this with you only.....”.
I don't know what so special that my personal assistant has to leave, but since it's her request, I guess I should grant it, with just giving Lydia another look, she understood what I meant with that look, she carried her stuff and made her way out of the hall, no sign of getting offended with the request, not that she have, but some people will feel some kind of frustration towards the young girl for making such request.
“ Sir.... I really love your teaching and the way you speak about life like you've seen it all, really interesting and comfortable..... I just want to ask whether you would be willing to get lunch with me?....”.
Yeah, I know that I am a fine young handsome man, looking tall and muscular, looking after my health and all that, but my student asking me out was out of the equation, they're much like my little brothers and sisters whom I share life experiences with for them to learn and understand, but having her ask me out, was definitely out of the equation. I don't blame her though, she's making her move because she believe she saw something she wants in me and our age difference wasn't much apart, maybe she's even my age but looks younger, I don't know.
“ Here's the thing dear, I am your lecturer and you're my student, so I am just going to pretend that this conversation never happened immediately I walk out of that door, so will you..... Our relationship is meant to be professional, it's best to remain that way than any of us feeling uncomfortable towards the other. I'm not mad at you though for asking me out, but neither am I okay with you asking your lecturer out, I believe you understood what I am saying. You're dismissed ”.
She left, she was carrying a heavy eyes like she was about to break the dam, I am definitely not mad at her for trying, but I am her lecturer and possibly mentor looking by the way she has complimented me, I hope that relationship returns back to the way it was used to be, lecturer - student relationship where she's like my little sister and I am her older brother teaching her about life experiences, I'm grateful she's one of the few girls in my class, trying to better herself and look at life the right way, but asking me out, that's not part of the kind of lecturer I want to be.
The fact that I was thinking about Lydia when the young lady approached me was bewildering, how could that be possible?, am I been biased?. I could have possibly grabbed the chance if that was Lydia trying to ask me out, looking beyond our professional status, but when it's another person, a student of mine, rejection was the only option, I couldn't get myself to accept the offer, what would their parents even think?, The send their daughter to the university and a lecturer is having his way with her?, No.... For that part, that's not me.
Stepping out of the hall after the girl has just left minutes ago, I saw Lydia distance away from the area like she just never wanted to hear about that conversation at all, I would have loved it if she had listened to the conversation, and yet, I wouldn't have loved it too because it will result to a lot of questioning, possibly.
Getting back to the office, I have myself few clients that I am to attend to today, they're definitely her for some pep talk to motivate them, to listen to guild lines that would help in solving whatever was bothering them. It's almost getting late and I'm almost behind time for my first appointment for the day.
The driver Lydia had employed for me was the best, it looks like whatever she does turns out to be perfect, the driver does exactly what he was expected to, sealing his mouth shut. I'm not much of a conversationalist, so I'm not good with talking during the drive, just try getting my head straight in What's before me or what else I am supposed to do with my time.
My phone started buzzing in my pocket, bringing it out, the name on the screen was Benita, I wasn't expecting her call, she doesn't even call, it's something that happens out of the blue moon, just happen.
I spoke with her and she told me that she was back in the house for a short period given to them, she said it's a three weeks space of time, so she would be heading back after then, she called to let me know that she would be spending the third week at my home, first week at our parent's home, second week at Jack's, and mine was the third, at least I have enough time to prepare for her short visit, definitely missing her, like a lot now.