Chapter 11

Roselyn's POV

I can remember vividly, that particular day he confessed his feelings to me, although I had before then, had a suspicion about it, but never thought that seriously about it, simply disregarding it as just a likeness he had for me for being a teacher who went out of her way to mentor him academically, and emotionally.

He often expressed his admiration for me through subtle means like writing essays, or poetry tailored about me. He sometimes draws images of me in his sketchbook, handing them over to me as a gift, but I never thought deeply about them, merely seeing him only as a student.

However, I was sometimes captivated by his wit and intellect, but I still had my boundaries intact.

It wasn't until the day he finally made known his feelings for me but before then, there have been these whispers and gossip from the students concerning my closeness with him but as one not guilty as charged, I didn't let that deter me.

So on that particular day as we travelled on the plane for a school trip in New York, he suddenly left the place he was sitting with his fellow student, and joined me at the empty seat beside me.

“Why are you here, Ivan? And not with the other kids. Are you aware that the seats here are only reserved for the teachers accompanying you guys with me to the trip?” I had asked him.

“I'm aware of that, Miss Roselyn. However, you are only five teachers in number, and they've all taken their seats beside each other, leaving just the seat beside you out

I guess none of them wish to sit beside you, huh?” He had asked, causing me to let out a small laugh.

“You would do the same if you were them, Ivan. I mean, I'm boring, not fun to be with and more like an outcast here!” I answered without thinking much about it.

“That's not true, Miss Roselyn. Only if they manage to come close to you will they be able to understand just how good your company is, and their misunderstanding about you will quickly go away” He expressed with a warm smile at me.

“Is this coming from the place of experience, Ivan. You also had that misunderstanding about me before now” I commented.

“Yeah, I did, and I keep regretting not coming to know you earlier ever since” He answered, as we both shared a laugh concerning that.

“So, why are you here? Don't tell me it's all to be in my company?” I queried, seizing him up.

“That’s one of the reasons, Miss Roselyn, however, I want you to look into this literature question with me. I've been finding it difficult to arrive at the right answer for it” He had requested as I quickly took the textbook from him, looking into the question for him.

After helping him arrive at the answer to the question, and answering several other questions, I gave him some assignments to do, and fell asleep while he was working on them. That was precisely when my head rested on his shoulder, someone, probably capturing us with a camera, the photos used in framing and scarring my wedding with Raymond.

“Why did you not wake me up, Ivan, and allow me to sleep away like that?” I queried Ivan upon waking up to my head resting perfectly on his shoulders as I immediately jagged up from him.

“I think it's time I let you know of my feelings for you, Miss Roselyn. I've been postponing it for a long time now, but after what happened today, and seeing how negatively you just reacted concerning it, I would rather not postpone it any further”.

“I'm in love with you, Miss Roselyn, as if my heart is going to burst, and I don't even care if it burst. I've never had this kind of feeling before in my entire life, and I've only come to learn what love is, after falling so deeply in love with you, Miss Roselyn”.

“My heart races whenever I see you. It beats rapidly like a drum every time. I even see you in my dreams too, and I'm afraid I don't know how to unlearn the love I've come to know of. I wish someone can teach me how to, but as it stands now, it will be impossible for me to get over you, my love for you.” He finished, and I was too startled to say a word about his love confession to me. I never expected it. Never in my wildest mind, would I have thought a student would fall in love with me, more so, he isn't even ashamed to confess his feelings to me?

‘What have I done? Just what in the world did I do? I'm the one who caused it. It is totally my fault. I should have known my limit, and not get too close with a student, with him. If only I hadn't, then we wouldn't be talking about this right now.

“I knew you are an unusual kind of kid, but I never knew you were this crazy, Ivan. What were you thinking, letting yourself develop feelings for me? Don't tell me you think I would come to good terms with it, Ivan?”

“Well, in case you don't know, we are worlds apart from each other. In age, and in title. And I can never have anything to do with you in terms of love. This kind of love you seek cannot happen. Not in my days! And I don't wish to have anything to do with you from now on, Ivan. You will have to get yourself another tutor and mentor in literature. Or not to worry, I will have my colleague take over your class from me”.

“It is all for your own good, Ivan. Get rid of that darn feeling you have for me as soon as possible!” declared. Now if you will excuse me” I added, signa

lling at him to leave my presence at once.