Maria sat at the edge of the flowery bench farther away from Arnold. She was curious and a bit unsettled about his reason for asking her to join him on breakfast this morning.
This could be considered Maria's first time eating alone with the opposite sex so she was unsure of what to discuss with him.
When she was still at the University, she would always eat alone or with Lexis and sometimes together with Lexis boyfriend Kobby who was a senior studying medicine in their university. She never accepted to dine alone with any man because of the increasing rape cases that occurred at school.
Maria ate the sandwich and drank the milk that Arnold gave her silently while been alert at the same time. She didn't want to be seen by anyone least rumours spread around about her. She was the most scared of rumours because it had once almost destroyed her life.
When her mother cheated on her father leading to their divorce, news spread all over her school and her life became hell. A lot of her classmates back then and some teachers started treating her badly saying she only had a pretty face but a nasty character. People referred to her mother and said she was going to grow up and become exactly like her mother.
A lot of time had passed since then and things became a lot calmer when she changed schools and met Lexis who became her friend that never left her side.
But, even though a lot of time had past, the trauma from back then was deeply engraved in her. She couldn't shake off that anxious feeling easily and act normal.
Arnold noticed the woman beside him was nervous and trying to be farther away from him and felt bad. He just wanted to have breakfast with her and in a way start pursuing her but it looked like she was not comfortable around him.
''Miss Lee, I am a gentleman. I won't do anything to you. You can eat comfortably''. Arnold said.
Maria looked at him and felt guilty. She didn't know that her actions were so obvious.
''I'm sorry. I have never had breakfast with anyone of the opposite sex before''. Maria said making Arnold look at her in shock. He never thought that far about her.
Arnold was not the only one shocked. Ad-Din was also shocked as he eavesdropped on them from behind the closed door. He had ran there intending to interrupt whatever was going to happen there. Who knew he was going to hear such shocking yet refreshing news?
''Really? I'm so sorry. I didn't know that. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable? It wasn't my intention to barge into you like that. Is just that, since you said the last time that you didn't have a boyfriend, I was thinking of pursuing you''. Arnold said straightforwardly leaving Maria flustered.
''Huh? You are quite straightforward, Mr. Arnold''. Maria said awkwardly.
''I know. I don't like going in circles or beating around the bush. So I always say what's on my mind as it is. I feel that it is much easier that way than pretending or keeping my feelings to myself. I really like and admire you, Miss Lee''. Arnold added.
''Oh, well. It is easier''. Maria looked at Arnold. She really admired the man he was and wished she felt the same way about him. Maria wasn't someone who played with people's feelings so she wanted to be honest with him too.
''Mr. Arnold, you are a good person. When I first arrived here, you made me feel welcomed and comfortable. I have a really good impression about you but…''
''You are rejecting me, right?" Arnold interrupted her and forced a smile.
''I'm sorry but I don't feel that way about you''. Maria said.
''Don't dismiss me just yet. It hasn't been long since you came to this school and you have only known me for a short time. I know I was rush in telling you about what I felt. But, why don't you study me first? You can put me on probation and watch me first. If after a month, you still don't like me enough then you can reject me afterwards:'. Arnold said and drank his milk.
''Okay. I will do that''. Maria answered honestly. After all, it was a month's time. Anything could happen within a month and she wasn't sure if her mind would change or not but Maria didn't want to dismiss what he said. If she were to out rightly say no, he would view her as a snob. Also, Arnold wasn't bad looking at all.
''Thank you''. Arnold said ''you can finish your breakfast and come down. I will take my leave first''.
Arnold said and turned to go and saw Ad-Din at the door. He was standing in front of the door.
''Ad-Din Denarius?'' Arnold mentioned his name surprised.
''Did I interrupt something? I just wanted to get some fresh air before classes began. I can go back and give you some privacy, Sir Arnold''. Ad-Din said and looked ahead at the woman who had turned to look at him.
His timing was perfect and accurate. He only pretended to have chanced upon them but in all honesty, he wanted them to see her. He wanted to see the reaction Miss Lee would have when she found out he saw her.
''Oh, no. I was just leaving. Miss Lee is having her breakfast. You can accompany her until she is done then since she is your teacher anyway''. Arnold said and smiled at Maria before leaving. He left no room for Maria to protest.
Maria removed the straw from her lips and stood up ready to follow Arnold when Ad-Din spoke.
''He said I should accompany you to finish your breakfast, Miss Lee:'.
''Yes, he did but I am already satisfied. I am going to throw the rest away''. Maria said looking away.
She didn't expect to see him there of all places. What was he even doing there? Did he hear everything she said to Arnold just now? A lot of thoughts ran through Maria's mind and she wanted to leave there at all cost. When she heard his voice just now, she felt her heart going weak. Why did he have to have such a deep beautiful voice. It made her knees weak.
''You shouldn't waste food like that at all. Do you know how many people wake up without food to eat?'' Ad-Din said and snatched the remainder of the food in Maria's hand and sat on the bench.
Maria turned and looked at him as he ate the sandwich she had just bitten into and drank the milk from her straw. He did it without a care in the world and even looked up daringly at Maria with an amused grin
Maria flushed and tried to snatch the food from him but he was faster than her and lifted his hand higher and stood up.
''Hey, that's mine. How could you eat that?'' Maria was beyond perplexed as she spoke.
''Why? Can't I even eat the food you wanted to throw away too? And, don't you know is rude to snatch or interrupt someone who is eating?'' Ad-Din said.
''You…this is our fifth time of meeting but you are so shameless. Do you even realise I am your teacher?'' Maria said and straightened her shoulders trying to look tough.
''No one said you were not my teacher, Miss Lee. If you weren't my teacher, I would have acted even more shameless than this towards you''. Ad-Din said and started moving closer to Maria. Maria instinctively stepped backwards.
''What are you doing? Let me warn you, I might look small but I am still your teacher and someone who is older than you. I will report you to the Dean if you don't stop right now" Maria asked nervously.
She had seen this kind of scene in movies before, where men cornered women and flirted with them but she never thought it would happen to her and that to with a student. What was worse was that her heart was beating crazily as she hit the wall and Ad-Din put his two hands against the wall trapping her completely.
What kind of situation was this? Maria thought. What if someone were to see them like this? What would people think of her then?
''You…you better stop misbehaving and let me go before someone sees us like this''. Maria said.
Ad-Din looked at the door besides them and pulled it closed, locking it before saying ''now you don't have to worry about anyone seeing us, Miss Lee:'.
Maria looked at him annoyingly and pushed him aside before opening the door to go away. Maria was so angry beyond words.
''Lunatic, how could he do that to me? How dare he flirt with his teacher just because he is handsome? Gush, making me all flustered for nothing''.