The Student Teacher Affair

5: Clashing judgements

Mercy’s POV

I arrived at Joshua’s apartment, ready for another day of project work. As I walked up to his door, I saw him standing there with yet another woman. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. How many women did he juggle?

Joshua saw me approaching and, with an exasperated sigh, said, “Just wait inside. I’ll be there in a minute.”

I nodded and entered his apartment, but curiosity got the better of me. I peeked through the window and saw him give the woman a flirty peck before she walked away. I rolled my eyes again and turned back to the room, trying to push the image out of my mind.

Minutes later, Joshua came in and sat down across from me. We started working, but I couldn’t shake the thoughts running through my head. It must have shown on my face because Joshua suddenly said, “You can say what’s on your mind, Mercy. Stop judging me.”

I laughed, unable to hold it in. “Do you collect women like Pokémon or what? I’ve seen you with three different women this week.”

Joshua’s expression darkened. “That’s none of your business.”

I shrugged, still smiling. “Just making an observation.”

He glared at me. “The women I see don’t care, so why should you care on their behalf?”

“Because it’s entertaining to watch,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “And because you’re my project partner, and I can’t help but wonder what kind of person I’m working with.”

Joshua scoffed. " Mercy. It’s easy for you to judge me, but how do I know how many men you’re seeing low-key?”

I shook my head, chuckling. “Nice try, Joshua, but you can’t divert the attention to me. I’m just here to get this project done.”

He leaned in, a smirk playing on his lips. “And I’m just here to do the same. So let’s keep our personal lives out of it, shall we?”

We both laughed, the tension easing slightly. Despite the mean comments and teasing, there was an odd camaraderie forming between us. It was like we were both trying to figure out where we stood with each other, testing boundaries.

As we worked, the banter continued, lightening the mood. It was strange, but I found myself looking forward to these sessions more than I cared to admit. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Joshua than I had initially thought.

The afternoon sun filtered through the thin curtains of my room, casting a warm glow over the modest space Gracie and I shared. We were sprawled on our respective beds, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation. Our chatter bounced back and forth, a comforting rhythm to our friendship.

“Did you hear about Kemi?” Gracie asked, her eyes twinkling with gossip.

I grinned. “Oh, do tell! What did she do this time?”

Gracie sat up, her face animated. “Apparently, she threw a huge fit at Tunde’s party last night because he was talking to another girl. Like, a full-blown meltdown.”

I laughed. “Classic Kemi. She always needs to be the center of attention.”

We continued to exchange stories, laughing and gasping at the antics of our friends. It felt good to unwind and forget about the pressures of school and the never-ending project with Joshua.

“Speaking of drama,” I said, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips, “you wouldn’t believe what I’ve seen this past week.”

Gracie’s eyes widened with interest. “Oh, spill the tea, girl!”

I leaned in, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “So, you know Joshua? I’ve seen him with three different women this week. Three!”

Gracie’s mouth dropped open. “No way! Seriously?”

I nodded, a smug satisfaction washing over me. “Yeah. He’s low-key a slut.”

Gracie burst into laughter, clutching her sides. “Oh my God, Mercy, that’s too much. But honestly, it sounds like you’re a bit jealous. Maybe you want to be one of those women?”

I scoffed, waving her off. “Eww, absolutely not. I don’t even find him attractive.”

Gracie raised an eyebrow, a skeptical look on her face. “Come on, Mercy. You’ve been spending a lot of time with him. And let’s be real, Joshua is an attractive man. He’s got that dark skin, sharp jawline, great body… You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”

I rolled my eyes, but a slight blush crept up my cheeks. “Please, Gracie. I’m not interested. We argue all the time. He’s insufferable.”

Gracie smirked. “Sure, whatever you say. But I think you’re lying to yourself. Admit it, he’s hot.”

I sighed, trying to ignore the truth in her words. Joshua was undeniably handsome. His dark skin had a rich, warm tone, and his jawline could probably cut glass. Not to mention his fit physique, which he didn’t shy away from flaunting. But his arrogance and our constant bickering overshadowed any physical attraction.

“Fine,” I said, giving in slightly, “he’s not bad looking. But that doesn’t mean I’m interested. We’re just stuck working together, that’s all.”

Gracie’s laughter filled the room again. “Keep telling yourself that. You’ll believe it eventually.”

I shook my head, a small smile playing on my lips. Gracie always knew how to get under my skin, but she also knew when to drop it. Sensing I was done with the topic, she switched gears.

“So, what’s the plan for the weekend?” she asked, stretching out on her bed.

I was grateful for the change in conversation. “Well, there’s that art exhibition on Saturday. I was thinking we could check it out.”

Gracie’s eyes lit up. “Yes! I’ve been dying to see those new pieces. And maybe we can grab dinner afterwards?”

“Absolutely,” I agreed. “It’ll be a nice break from all this school stress.”

We spent the next hour planning our weekend, discussing everything from the latest fashion trends to our favorite movies. It was a relief to talk about something other than school and Joshua for a change.

As the evening wore on, our conversation gradually wound down. Gracie eventually fell asleep, her soft snores filling the room. I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling and replaying our earlier discussion in my mind.

Was I jealous of those women Joshua had been seeing? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that I couldn’t stop thinking about him, despite my best efforts. His smug smile, his sharp wit, the way he challenged me… It was infuriating and, at the same time, oddly intriguing.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I couldn’t afford to get distracted. The project was my priority, and I needed to stay focused. Whatever I felt about Joshua, it didn’t matter. I just had to survive working with him and then we could go our separate ways.

With that resolve, I closed my eyes and tried to drift off to sleep. But even in my dreams, Joshua’s dark eyes and infuriating smirk haunted me, leaving me more confused than ever.