The Student Teacher Affair

19: In love

Joshua's POV

Returning from the weekend trip with Mercy, I found myself carrying an unfamiliar weight of excitement, a buzz that refused to fade even as I settled back into my apartment. The weekend had been more than just a birthday celebration-it had been transformative. It felt like the last piece of the puzzle had finally clicked into place, and now the picture was clear: I was in love with Mercy. The girl I once couldn't stand, the one I constantly sparred with, had become the person I couldn't imagine my life without.

I tossed my bag onto the couch and let out a deep breath, the memories of our time together washing over me. The way she'd surprised me with the trip, the thoughtful gift, and most of all, that night. It had been everything-intense, intimate, and meaningful. I couldn't stop replaying it in my mind, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips every time I thought about it. Mercy had planned everything so perfectly, and for once, I had allowed myself to just be-no walls, no defenses. Just me and her.

That evening, I had my usual weekly video call with my brother. It was something we did religiously, a tradition we had kept alive even with the distance between us. I dialed his number, and within moments, his face appeared on the screen, grinning as always.

"Josh! How was the big birthday weekend?" he asked, leaning forward as if he was about to hear the most exciting story ever.

I leaned back in my chair, trying to play it cool, but the excitement was clear in my voice. "It was... incredible. Mercy surprised me with a trip to this beautiful resort, and we just spent the whole weekend relaxing and enjoying ourselves."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Mercy, huh? You two seem to be spending a lot of time together."

I hesitated, knowing that this was the moment I had to come clean. There was no use hiding it anymore. "Yeah, actually... We're dating."

For a moment, there was silence on the other end of the call, and then my brother burst out laughing. "I knew it! I knew there was something between you two. You've been talking about her way too much for it to be just about work."

I couldn't help but laugh with him, the tension easing as I finally admitted it out loud. "Yeah, you're right. I don't know when it happened, but I fell for her. And it's not like anything I've ever felt before. I thought I couldn't stand her, but now... I can't imagine not being with her."

My brother's laughter softened into a knowing smile. "Josh, you've always been a bit of a hard nut to crack, but I'm glad you've found someone who gets you. Mercy sounds like she's good for you. Just don't mess it up."

"I won't," I assured him, feeling a sense of certainty in my words. "She means too much to me."

The rest of the conversation flowed easily, the usual banter and brotherly advice exchanged. But even after we hung up, I couldn't shake the feeling that things had shifted. I was finally in a place where I was ready to embrace whatever this was with Mercy fully.

The next day, I had a plan. I had bought tickets for an art exhibition in Lagos weeks ago, knowing how much Mercy loved art. It was something that had come up in our conversations before-how she grew up surrounded by art, her parents taking her to galleries and exhibitions as a child, fostering her passion. She had told me once that she wanted to turn that passion into a career, and I couldn't think of a better way to show her how much I cared than by supporting her dream.

When I picked her up for the exhibition, she was beaming with excitement. "I can't believe you got tickets for this! I've been wanting to go for weeks," she said as we drove through the bustling streets of Lagos.

"I know how much you love art," I replied, glancing at her with a smile. "And I figured it would be a nice way to spend the day together."

When we arrived at the exhibition, the atmosphere was electric. The gallery was filled with people, the walls adorned with vibrant paintings, sculptures, and installations. It was like stepping into a different world, one where creativity and expression were the only things that mattered.

As we wandered through the gallery, I introduced Mercy to the owner, a middle-aged woman with an infectious passion for art. "This is Mercy," I said, gesturing to her. "She's got an eye for art that puts most of us to shame."

The owner smiled warmly, shaking Mercy's hand. "It's always a pleasure to meet someone who appreciates the arts. I hope you enjoy the exhibition."

We spent hours in the gallery, moving from one piece to the next, discussing the different styles and techniques. Mercy was in her element, her eyes lighting up with every new discovery. I loved watching her like this-so animated, so alive.

At one point, we stopped in front of a large painting, a vivid portrayal of a Lagos street market, bustling with life and color. "This one reminds me of you," I said, my tone teasing.

She turned to me, eyebrow raised. "Oh really? And why is that?"

"Because it's full of life, just like you," I replied with a grin. "And it's a little chaotic, but in a good way."

She laughed, playfully shoving my shoulder. "You're such a charmer."

We continued to banter as we moved through the gallery, stealing kisses here and there when no one was looking. It was easy to forget about the outside world when we were together like this-just us, enjoying each other's company.

By the time we left the exhibition, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the city. We walked hand in hand back to the car, the day's events playing over in my mind. It had been perfect-just like everything else with Mercy.

As we drove back, I couldn't help but feel grateful for everything that had led me to this moment. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be, with the person I was supposed to be with.

When we reached her dorm, I leaned over to kiss her, my hand gently caressing her cheek. "Thanks for today," she whispered against my lips, her voice soft.

"No, thank you," I replied, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. "For everything."

We lingered there for a moment, neither of us wanting to say goodbye, but eventually, she slipped out of the car and waved as she walked towards her dorm. I watched her until she disappeared from view, a smile still playing on my lips.

As I drove away, I couldn't stop thinking about how lucky I was to have her in my life. And as much as I wanted to take things slow, I knew deep down that I was already in too deep.

But for the first time, I was okay with that. Because with Mercy, it all just felt right.

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