Unspoken Love

Longing and Restraint

Mondays had become a highlight for Eva, and she would eagerly take her usual seat next to the teacher's desk, her anticipation growing with each passing minute waiting for Sir Steven to enter the room. 

During the lecture, they both maintained their professional demeanor, with minimal interaction as Sir Steven focused on the presentations. However, whenever a student was presenting their work, and the lights of the room would be dim, their eyes would discreetly meet, and an unspoken connection passed between them. In those stolen moments, they could sense the mutual desire that simmered beneath the surface, making their shared Monday lectures a bittersweet blend of longing and restraint. 

Eva would feel her heart race whenever she stole glances at Sir Steven and Sir Steven would be equally affected by Eva's mesmerizing presence. The battle that they both were fighting within their own selves was unknown to the rest of the class. 

The situation became even more complex and ironic as neither Eva nor Sir Steven were fully aware of the depth of their feelings for each other. Their unspoken attraction and emotional connection were undeniable, yet neither had openly acknowledged or discussed the nature of their emotions. It was as if they were both engaged in a silent, mutual dance of desire and longing, without clear awareness of the true extent of their feelings. Neither Eva knew what effect she had on Sir Steven, nor did Sir Steven know that Eva too was thinking about him as more than a teacher. This added an additional layer of intrigue and uncertainty to their already complicated relationship.

As the weeks passed, Eva excelled in her other subjects, and she was determined to do well in the novel's subject as well, for multiple reasons, one of them being her desire to leave a good impression on Sir Steven. She had been spending her mornings in the library, diligently preparing for her upcoming presentation.

The day of her presentation was drawing near, and the tension in the classroom was noticeable as the last group finished their presentation. Sir Steven stood at his chair, focused on the paper on which he was marking the presentations, not looking towards Eva. 

'The next presentation will be the last, and that's Eva's,' he announced, his attention still on the paperwork. Eva couldn't resist stealing a quick glance in Sir Steven's direction when he mentioned her upcoming presentation. But she quickly averted her gaze back to her book, trying to hide her nervousness and maintain her composure.

'Yes, Sir, next Monday will be the last presentation,' Sylvia confirmed, and the rest of the students began packing their bags, as it was already four o'clock.

Sir Steven continued still avoiding Eva's gaze, 'I have marked all the assignments that have been submitted so far, but I will return them to you once Eva is done with her test as well. After that, we still have some texts left to cover from the course outline. We can go through those together before the exams begin.' 

As the class came to a close and the students began packing their bags, Eva took a deep breath and gathered her courage. She walked over to Sir Steven's table, her heart racing with anticipation. It was their first direct interaction since the incident beside Eva's car, and the air seemed thick with unspoken tension between them.

'Excuse me, Sir,' Eva said, her voice trembling slightly.

Sir Steven looked up from his work, and his heart quickened as he met her gaze. He straightened up and replied, 'Yes?'

Eva felt a rush of nerves but continued, 'Sir, I wanted to ask when the test would be. On the same day as my presentation or the next week?'

Sir Steven, avoiding direct eye contact, consulted his papers and responded, 'Yes, it will be the next Monday after your presentation,' all the while focusing on his notes and not looking up at Eva.