PSPA

4

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They've always been in each other. -Rumi

I blink several times, hoping I can't see well, but the guy whose tea I threw in his face and kicked his balls doesn't disappear from my classroom doorstep.

I hold my breath, literally feeling myself on fire, and I hold his gaze that promises not to let me get away with it.

He's probably already thinking about how to get his wounds licked by the pride I gave him.

He won't take his eyes off me, and I carry my hand around my neck, feeling the beat accelerate like a locomotive. He came looking for me? What's his role in the school?

Is he a new janitor? I don't think...it wouldn't be so elegant. Only Cavi comes in a suit at school.

Maybe he's the new school warden?

Indeed, the previous warden was very old and the countless times they burst the fire extinguishers at night proves it.

Oh oh, right. Technical!

Maybe it was the camera technician, and...since when do techs get dressed up and have a briefcase in their hands?

A few more anxious seconds pass when finally he stops staring at me and takes a few slow and calculated steps, he puts his briefcase on the desk and takes off his jacket as calmly, as if he had not received less than two minutes ago a strong knee in the balls.

I swallow uncomfortable, noticing that he is holding back more than necessary in class and look at him anxiously, while he puts the jacket on the back of the chair, puts his hands in the pockets of those black trousers that fits to his hips to perfection and inflates his chest, highlighting the muscles that seem to burst in the tight shirt.

I hate to admit that he has a disarming charm, in addition to having a beautiful face, you cn see that he keeps constantly in shape and his insurmountable height makes him unattainable for us mere mortals, out of reach for girls like me.

I bet if there hadn't been that discussion downstairs, he would never, ever have spoken to me. He wouldn't even know I existed.

The technician finally decides to give an explanation to the whole class speechless and says in a sure and loud voice "Good morning, sorry for the delay but I had an unexpected event"

He turns his head and points his eyes at me. I'm so close to grabbing my things and running out of class.

I run away from his eyes and swallow realizing that I'm definitely in trouble the man is not here for me and I'm starting to get a very bad feeling.

Meanwhile, I l search for the courage inside me, which first showed itself in all its bravado, and now hides in the meanders of my body.

He decides to look away from me and finally let me breathe and announces to the whole class almost with arrogance "My name is Bilel Cortada and I am your new professor of mathematics and physics"

Okay, thank you guys...it's been a pleasure to be in this class for four years, but now it's time to step back.

I'm waiting for him to laugh and say that he's actually a vending machine technician and he wanted to do all this to make us laugh, but silence reigns supreme in class.

So this isn't a joke?

No tech disguised as a professor?

Is it all true?

Is this really happening?

It takes me a couple of seconds to make it happen in my mind and by holding on to a gag, I look around.