Chapter 4

By the 3 O'clock the next day, Richard met Prof. Grace in her office. "Good afternoon Ma'am," Richard greeted as he entered the office. 

"Good afternoon, how are you doing," she asked.

"I am doing okay," Richard responded.

"How are your studies?" She asked again.  

"Excellent ma'am" Richard responded. "Good, that's what I love to hear," Prof. Grace said. "So, have you decided yet?"

"Yes I have, but only if it will be three times in a week," Richard conditioned.

"Three times is quite enough," the Professor agreed.

"Please sit there and let me finish some of my work before I will take you to my house and introduce you to my daughter," she added and Richard sat on a cushion opposite to her. She worked for about 30 minutes before she finally finished.

"Sorry I've kept you waiting, we can go now," Mrs Grace said as she stood up.

She walked out of the office with Richard behind her and headed towards the faculty car park. They entered her car which was a white Range Rover sport and drove out of the faculty. 

She drove the car for about 10 minutes before arriving at her house in the staff quarters. It was fenced with yellow flowers with a small space left for the entrance. It is painted white and has sliding windows. The doors were black, and the veranda was completely covered in white tiles.

All the houses in the area were similar in structure and were arranged in queues. Prof. Grace parked her car in front of her house and walked towards the entrance of the house with Richard walking behind her.

When they entered the living room of the house, Richard was so impressed by its beauty. All the cushion in it were white and the painting of the walls was blue. "Rebecca!" Prof. Grace shouted as she sat on one of the cushions. 

"Yes mum," answered a thin voice from one of the rooms. "Please sit down," she gestured Richard with her hand.

About 5 minutes later, the girl walked into the living room. She was wearing a zebra T‐shirt with black skinny jeans. Her hair was all loose falling on her back with a headband. 

The instance Richard made eye contact with her, his heartbeat increased. Even though it was the fourth time he was seeing her, he felt as if it was the first because of how beautiful she looked. She looked so much different from they argued when she was wearing a school uniform. 

"Welcome back mum," the girl said standing before her mother.

"Thank you, what were you doing in the room?" Prof. Grace asked.

"Nothing mum," she answered.

"Alright, meet Richard; he is going to be your Mathematics and Physics teacher," Prof. Grace introduced. 

"What? Are you serious mum?" Rebecca asked looking completely shocked as she turned to look at Richard. 

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Prof. Grace retorted with a serious face.

"But mum he can't be my teacher, just take a look at how young he is. What do you people will say if they see him as my teacher?" Rebecca asked with a tear about to fall from her eyes.

"I have made my decision and that's final. If you don't want him as your mathematics teacher, then your grades should improve," Prof. Grace conditioned. 

"But mum, I am in SS2, how can someone like him teach me?" Rebecca questioned, and this time, tears started falling from her eyes.

Seeing her reaction, Richard felt he shouldn't accept the role of being her teacher. He was about to speak when Prof. Grace continued talking.

"For your information, this boy had the best result in the whole faculty of engineering. You should be honoured to have him as your teacher," Prof. Grace said and Rebecca ran to her room crying.

"She is not serious, she doesn't like studying at all," Prof. Grace complaint after Rebecca left. "But I think it will be better to find a better teacher for her since she doesn't seem to like me," Richard suggested. 

"No Richard, you will be the one to teach her. Let her improve her grades if really she doesn't want you to be her teacher," Prof. Grace insisted.

"Please, report her to me if she shows any sign of disrespect towards you," Prof. Grace added.

"Alright, ma'am" Richard agreed.

"Rebecca!" she called but there was no answer. 

"Don't let me call you again," the Professor warned. 

About a minute later, Rebecca walked out with tears all over her face. "Go and get him something to eat," Her mother ordered and she turned with a frowned face and walked to the kitchen.

"Please no need for that, I ate before we came here," Richard said as he stood in order avoid more awkwardness.

"Oh please Richard, do eat something. Was it not after you had 2-hour lectures that I brought you here? Just sit and wait for her to bring something for you to eat," Prof. Grace insisted.

Richard sat back on the cushion waiting for Rebecca to return. About 5 minutes later, she returned with some food on a plate. 

It was cooked spaghetti and beans with stew. She was facing the ground as she walked to him. She dropped the food on the ground in front of him and turned to leave when her mother called her.

"Don't you have manners? Go to the dining room and get him a stool, "her mother commanded and the girl walked angrily towards the dining room.

Richard was very uncomfortable with the way Prof. Grace was ordering her daughter around because of him. He was pretty sure that he has to pay the price for everything later. She returned with the stool and kept it close to him and turned to leave the living room.

When she got to exist in the living room, she turned and glared at Richard with a very unfriendly look and continued walking. At that moment, he knew a very serious war was going to happen between them.

He started eating the food she brought and found it very delicious; he wanted to make some compliments on the food, but he won't dare say things to Prof. Grace about her daughter.

After he was done eating, he stood up to leave. "Thank you, ma'am, I am so grateful," Richard appreciated.

"Don't mention is dear," Prof. Grace replied. "So when are going to start the lesson with her?" Prof. Grace asked. 

"By tomorrow in the evening," Richard said. "Alright, I will be expecting you," Prof. Grace replied. 

Richard walked out of her house and headed towards his dormitory. It was then that he came to appreciate him being at the extreme of the school close to the staff quarters. He walked by the side of the road as he headed to his dormitory.

Despite spending months in school, it was the first time he had been to the staff quarters. He looked around and wondered how fun it will be living in a place like that with all the house similar. 

As he was walking his way back to his dormitory, he met Janet going to the staff quarters. She was walking with three girls who happened to be her friends.

Immediately she saw him, she quickly looked away. They walked past each other as if they had never met. 

It was after they walked a certain distance that one of the girls called out Richard's name. "Can we have a word with you?" the girl questioned. 

"Please Carol, what's the meaning of this? Have a word with him? Who does he think he is? I know of many boys many that are more intelligent and are not arrogant, so please let him continue being arrogant," Janet said angrily.

Immediately Richard heard that he furiously walked towards Janet. He stood close to her and they looked at each other angrily. 

"If you have known a boy that was as half-intelligent as I, you wouldn't be this dull, pathetic, arrogant and stupid bitch. Just because you are beautiful, don't think you can use anyone the way you like," Richard insulted.

Upon hearing that, Janet extended her hand and slapped Richard. The sound of the slap echoed the whole environment. Richard placed his right hand on his right cheek where she slapped him with his face turned away from her. 

The whole place was quiet watching was happening. Richard slowly turned and saw Janet in tears. Before he could do anything, Janet collapsed on the spot, and her friends quickly ran to her. 

Richard instantly became confused about why she collapsed. 

"Please, we need help," one of Janet friends shouted.

Richard did not take them seriously because he didn't see any reason why she should collapse. If there is there anyone to collapse, he should be the one, he thought.

Soon, people gathered around them and she was taken into a car with her friends. The car headed towards the University clinic which was located somewhere in the centre of the university. 

About 15 minutes later, Richard went to the clinic and was told that she was taken university teaching hospital. 

It was then that he realized that the problem was more serious than he expected. He asked the nurse for an explanation on why she collapsed, and she explained to him that she had a heart problem that makes her react like that whenever she is angry. At that moment, Richard regretted fighting with her and wished he hadn't said those things he said.