"I've missed you Sam" Michael said in a low voice that had a rough edge to its tone. His eyes carried so much meaning that only the person the emotions were for, could ever understand.
"I…I've…this is just not right Michael" Samantha said as she removed her hand from his and stood up on her feet.
"We are done with that area of us. That…that chapter of us is closed Michael and it's better it remains that way" Samantha said, looking at Michael as she rubbed her palms that were clammy on her dress. Her palms only become clammy whenever she is nervous or whenever she tells a lie.
"I do not think you believe what you just said" Michael said calmly as he angrily shoved his hands into his pockets.
Sitting at the edge of her table, she rubs her right arm with her left hand and looks at their shoes before looking at Michael's face, "you do not know what I…"
Before she could complete her statement, Michael took a step that closed the distance between them.
Cutting off her statement he said, "Since I entered this office, all my mind could fully concentrate and think of is having you on this table mama. You sitting pretty and I doing dirty in between those lovely legs of yours. Lie to my eyes that you are totally anti that…" Michael said and he tilted her jaw upwards so her face was on him and her eyes, on his.
He bent his neck and inched his head closer to her face. He planted a kiss by the side of her neck and she took in a sharp almost breathless inhale…
He guided his lips and planted another on her earlobe before taking the lowest part of it into his warm mouth and nibbled on it. Samantha's right hand went up to his back and held onto his shoulder as her beautifully manicured nails dug into his shirt.
Michael was about to place his lips on hers as he saw her face…her closed eyes, her slightly opened lips, and her shallow breath…Samantha was his…again.
As he was about to capture her lips with his, her phone began to ring. The ringtone from the phone broke the jinx of whatever mood Michael had put effort to have them in - not knowing when such an opportunity would be again - and Samantha's eyes immediately flew open as she excused herself from their position and went for her phone.
"Hello!" Samantha said to the person on the line and Michael turned to the window in anger and slight befuddlement and ran a hand through his hair. Why did the phone have to ring AT THAT MOMENT?!
"JOE! Is he okay? What happened to him?" Samantha asked hurriedly, panic clear as day in her voice. Michael turned around to her and tried to listen in on the conversation as he saw the level of distress her face carried. Whatever news she was hearing was not good at all! He went closer to her and he heard the crying of a child at the other end of the phone as well as the voice of an elderly woman.
"What were you guys freaking doing? I can hear his voice and he…and he…you know what, I would be there now. Text me the location of this clinic or the amusement park where it happened and I would be there soon. Please do that now" Samantha said and as the call ended, she reached for her coat, her bag and her car key.
"What happened?" Michael asked.
"Joe is in some kind of trouble while I was fooling around here," Samantha said.
"Sam…" Michael said in a warning tone. She was not meant to say that.
"What? It is the freaking truth Michael and you know it. Please, let's maintain the distance needed for the both of us to preserve our sanity and unity as teacher and student."
"You should not talk like that Sam. I know you are not in a good mood currently but why don't you take a deep breath and I will take you to this clinic.."
"Save it! Do not come here acting as a father to my Joe. He is comfortable with me being his mother and father. Stop trying to fill a part that is filled…"
"What has gotten into you Samantha? Why are you even speaking like this? Stop trying to be too strong. It is alright and very normal to be weak and allow others into your weakness. Stop being…"
"I won't have you lecture me Michael Jordan. I do the lecturing and it would remain that way. Now see yourself out of my office and out of my life and this time around, I mean it. Do not try any sneaky games around me, don't try to look out for me, DO NOT FREAKING CARE FOR ME! I know you are the one that made Andrew Darrien put up that show in class…"
"Yes I was but what makes you think it is because of you?" Michael asked his voice, matching the angry one she was currently using.
At his question, Samantha's lips were sealed and she stared at him wide eyed.
"What makes you freaking think it is because of you Samantha. All I have ever done is love you and try all I can to make you see that but…but I guess all that ends now. Everything I do, comes across as childish to you and it's fine. I have always tried to fight through and against it and make you see reasons but who was I stupidly deceiving." Michael said as his breath came out angrily and with short pants, he made his last statement to Samantha.
"It would never happen again Miss Samantha" Michael said and gave a small bow before walking towards her door, opening it and slamming it on her.
The last time, she walked away but this time…he was the one that was walking away and it hurt more. A part of Samantha felt like she would literally need to do a lot before she could have him, look at her that way…smile at her that way…care for her that way and most importantly…love her and her son that way. She might never get those…again!
'My son!' she thought and she recollected why she was in that foul mood at first. She checked her phone and Joe's Nanny had sent their location.
As she closed her office and hurriedly ran down the stairs, she ran into Professor Chen.
Holding her shoulder up as she had almost fallen and helping her steady her footing on the stairs, Professor Chen looked into the tear stricken face of the newest lecturer in the institution.
"What is going on Miss Samantha?" Professor Chen asked. Samantha did not even know that she was crying and her concentration was on getting to her car and driving to her son.
"What…what do you mean?" Samantha asked and that was when she realized the devastated tone in her voice.
"Nothing sir! I just have to be somewhere now sir." Samantha said and tried to walk away from the scrutiny of the rumoured most handsome lecturer in the institution. She did not need such attention towards herself at that moment.
"I'll take you there. You are in no condition to go anywhere like this. I'll drive you to wherever" Professor Chen said.
"No Sir, I can not ask that of you. You should have a class waiting for you or something. I just can't…"
"I have no class Miss Samantha and do not think you are being a bother!" Professor Chen said as he collected her car key from her.
"I'll drive!"
Samantha could not say anything else and could only take him to her car.
As they drove off, Michael came out from where he was hiding and angrily stormed off to his room.
A lot of thoughts ran through his mind.
'Why couldn't Samantha let him in? Why did she allow Professor Chen instead of him? Was she going to forever see him as a child? Was he never going to feel worthy of having her?
"Fuck!" Michael said as he flung his pillow to the floor and that was when his room mate and friend entered the room.
"What's good man? What's with the angry yell and demonstration?!"
"Never have we ever seen Michael Jordan in a foul mood. Whatever must have caused this reaction, I am dying to know because…only something of great value and importance would ever get you like this!"
Ignoring the taunts of his friends, he changed into one of his gym outfits. Slinging his gym back pack on his back, he plugged in his ear phones, bid his friends goodbye and went to hit the gym…let off some steam.
"Thanks so much Professor Chen!" Samnatha said with Joe in her arms who had a bandaged arm.
"So this is your son right?" Professor Chen asked just to be certain.
"Yes he is"
"Oh! Does that mean you are married? I'm sorry for asking."
"It's no biggie. No, I am not married"
"Cool. What is the name of this little man who just had himself injured?"
"What's your name baby?" Samantha asked her son as she rocked him on her hip.
"Jo…Joel but everyone calls me Joe" Joe said
"I guess I would call you Joe then" Professor Chen said with a laugh and Samantha joined him.
"Thanks so much Professor Chen for today. I am really grateful. But how do you get back to the campus seeing we came in my car and I need to take my son home so he could rest?" Samantha asked.
"Oh that! Do not bother, I already phoned a taxi that would convey me and stop thanking me Miss Samantha. We are colleagues after all and I do hope we can be friends."
"Friends?" Samantha asked, slightly confused. How can she place herself as a friend to the renowned Professor Chen. They were not on the same educational par and she did not want to come across as one that wants to rub no her almost insignificant part in the institution above all.
The taxi Professor Chen called pulled up at the front of the clinic as Samantha was still ruminating over Professor Chen's question.
"I won't go till you answer Miss Samantha," Professor Chen said.
"But the…"
"Friends Miss Samantha?"
The taxi honked for the second time and Samantha hurriedly said the statement Professor Chen wanted so badly to hear - the reason Samantha had no clue of.
"Friends it is Sir!"
"Brilliant! We'll see on Friday then. I gather that is when you have class next!" Professor Chen said.
Samantha was shocked and she wondered how he knew when her next class was going to be. She wanted to ask but the taxi angrily honked again…
"Bye little man and forgive the driver of that car, he is my friend. Chau!"
Samantha could only look on as he jogged to the waiting vehicle and as he threw one final wave at them and the car sped off.
"Want some ice cream my love?" Samantha asked her son who was in pain and had a drowsy and tired look in his eyes.