Chapter 3

The next day was a very wet day. Richard got caught in the rain on his way to his faculty as soon as he got out of his dormitory.

He quickly ran to building close by because the running water can ruin the new shoes he was wearing. He folded his arms and watched as the rain fell heavily. About 30 minutes later, a girl in her school uniform approached from afar. 

She was holding an umbrella with her right hand, while her left hand was in the pocket of the blue sweater she was wearing. She wore a white sweat hat that covered her ears with black gloves in her hands. 

The combination looked beautiful on her that Richard kept staring wanting to figure out who the girl was. When she got close, he noticed that it was the same girl he had an argument with the other day. They both looked away. 

Albeit Richard is not interested in secondary school girls, something about the girl seemed fascinating. 

The girl sauntered untill she got to her school.

About 15 minutes later, the rain stopped falling making it possible for Richard to walk to his faculty. 

Upon arriving at his lecture venue, he noticed his lecturer already there. There were very few students in the hall due to the rain that fell. "Good morning Ma'am" Richard greeted the lecturer. 

She was a woman in her late 30s. She is fair in complexion and very short in height. She taught Richard in the previous semester and was very fond of him. 

Since the first time she saw Richard, she trusted that he is a boy full of potentials. She was dressed in a long sewn gown that is almost touching the ground.

"Good morning Richard, How are you?" the lecturer questioned. 

"I am doing well," Richard responded as he walked to go and sit. 

"Meet me in my office later, there is something I would like to discuss with you," the lecture announced.

"Alright Ma'am, I will be there," Richard answered, and he proceeded to a sit in the middle. 

"I didn't know you are a good friend of Professor Grace," said a voice behind him. When he turned, he noticed that it Janet sitting behind him. She was dressed in a complete pink outfit that Richard thought she is the prettiest in the hall.

"She taught us last semester, remember? Besides, she is a very simple and understanding woman," Richard replied. 

"I don't think so since her course is the only thing I failed last semester," Janet complained "Really? Maybe you didn't give her what she needed," Richard replied.

About ten minutes later, the hall became filled with students. The lecture continued for more than hours before it finally came to an end. After the Professor left the hall, all the students started leaving the hall including Richard and Janet.

They talked as they walked out of the hall. Immediately they got out of the hall, they were approached by a boy who seemed to be from a very rich family. Immediately Janet saw him approaching, she left Richard and quickly walked to him.

Richard remained behind them with his arm folded waiting for her to finish talking to the boy.

But as soon they were done talking, she walked with the boy to an expensive car that was parked at the parking space and drove away. 

Richard became extremely furious at that moment. It became obvious to him that what Paul told him was true. He decided to address her whenever she approaches him again.

Just then, he heard Richard laughing behind. "This girl has really nailed you," Paul said after he had gotten to where Richard was standing. 

"Have you seen what she did to me?" Richard asked. "Yes I have," Paul replied. "She doesn't really know who I am, I don't care if she is beautifu; I will make her regret it," Richard vowed.

"Don't worry bro, I am with you this time,"

Paul supported. "I will be on my way to professor Grace's office; can you please walk me there?" Richard requested. 

"I am sorry, I have something to do," Paul complaint. 

"Alright, let me go and see her," Richard replied.

After they parted, Richard headed to the office of the professor. He knocked at the door and she asked him to come in. "Good afternoon Ma'am," Richard greeted her.

"Good afternoon how are you?" Prof. Grace asked. 

"I am doing fine," Richard responded. "How is your family?" she inquired. 

"They are all okay."

"So how are you managing your life."

"Well, thanks to the Lord Ma'am, everything is okay," Richard responded. 

"I heard you did very well in your exams," Prof. Grace said. 

"Yes," Richard replied. 

"That's wonderful, I want you to study harder and maintain the same result throughout your stay here," she advised. 

"I will try my best," Richard responded. 

"I have a job for you if you are interested," Professor Grace offered. "What is the job ma'am?" Richard questioned.

"I have a daughter in a secondary school who is very terrible at calculations. I want you to take the job of teaching her," Professor Grace amplified. 

Richard became quiet wondering how to he could tell her he doesn't have the time to do that. "I know you are very busy students, but considering the fact that you are an orphan, it will help you. 

Besides, it will reduce the pressure you put on your sister; and I promise I will pay you well," Mrs Grace explained.

"How many times am I going to a teacher in a week?" Richard asked. 

"3 times should be enough, just create the convenient time you think is okay for you," Prof. Grace said. 

"Alright Ma'am, I will think about it," Richard responded. "Okay, Richard, I will be waiting for your reply," Prof. Grace responded.

Richard walked out of her office and met Paul where they were supposed to have their next lectures. It was a practical course in a hall filled with computers. 

They were few students in the hall because the lecture was to take place in 30 minutes to come. He met Paul sitting with a girl beside him who happened to be studying software engineering science.

"Hey Paul," Richard said after he had gotten to where Paul was.

"Hello Richard how was your meeting with the Prof? Paul asked.

"It went well, she wants me to teach her daughter," Richard explained.

"Did you agree to teach her?" Paul asked. "I told her I will think about it," Richard explained. 

"This is perfect, you should accept her offer," Paul advised. 

"Really? I will consider it, though I'm a very busy person," Richard replied.

They talked for some couple of minutes before the lecturer that will be delivering the lectures arrived. The lectures lasted for about three hours before it finally ended.

After the lectures, Richard walked back to his room looking very exhausted. Immediately he entered the room, he fell on his bed trying to fall asleep. "Oh man, looks like engineering is hitting someone," Gabriel said. 

"Is not easy bro, I'm just pretty exhausted," Richard replied.

"At least, you should eat before going to sleep," Gabriel suggested. 

"I don't think I have time to cooking," Richard responded.

"I have some food left, I think you can take it," Gabriel offered.

"Oh thank you so much, Gabriel," Richard appreciated. 

Gabriel stood up from his bed and went to his locker and took the food. Richard quickly collected the food from Gabriel and ate it ravenously. 

He lied on his bed immediately he was done eating. He slept for about 2 hours before his ringing phone waked him. Reluctantly, Richard opened his eyes to see who was calling.

He ended the call immediately he saw that it was Janet calling him. When she tried to call again, he ended the call and switched it off. He continued sleeping until it was late in the evening. 

He woke up and started marking preparation for his night studies. He took some books and put them in his bag along with his laptop. He switched on his phone as he was heading out of the dormitory. Suddenly, he received a message from Paul.

I tried calling you but your phone was switched off. There is going to be a lecture in Hall 2E by 7:00 pm. You shouldn't be late.

He placed the phone back into his pocket immediately he was done reading the text message. He proceeded to the garden close to his campus and brought down his bag containing his books and laptop from his back. He read for about 2 hours until the place started getting dark. 

He put all his books and laptop into his and headed towards his faculty. He then took a taxi in order to get there on time.

Immediately he walked down from the taxi, he turned and noticed Janet by the entrance of the faculty. He quickly looked away after their eyes met. He paid the taxi driver and turned heading towards the entrance of the faculty.

When he got to where Janet, she stood up from the small bench she was sitting and approached him. "I called you and the call was rejected," Janet complaint.

Richard ignored her as if he hadn't heard and continued walking into the faculty. "Hey, I am talking to you," she shouted. 

And still, he ignored her and continued walking. Everybody's attention diverted to them wondering what was happening.

Richard entered the hall and sat on a seat at the front of the hall. Most of the students were there because it was just 15 minutes left for the commencement of the lecture.

Immediately Richard sat down, he turned and saw Janet approaching looking very upset. "Who do you think you are?" she shouted.

At this point, the hall became silent watching them. Richard removed one of his books from his bag and writes and he ignored her.

"I have never seen a jerk like you," she angrily insulted and left where he was sitting. 

After she left, everyone kept asking Richard what happened between them, but he insisted that it was nothing serious. Soon the lecturer arrived and started delivering his lectures. He lectured for about 2 hours until the lecture finally come to an end.