Chapter 83
"Terry, not many people know about my marriage and I'd rather keep it on the down-low for now. Could you keep it a secret for me?" Teresa looked at him earnestly.
"Why?" Terry was blindsided by the news and managed a weak smile, "Getting married is such joyous news, and it seems like your husband is quite the catch, adores you too."
"He… is quite something, and he's good to me," Teresa admitted, pressing the issue, "So, can you keep a secret?"
"You just mentioned your husband's name... Gabriel. Isn't that the same as Unity's husband? And isn't he the sole heir to Capital Construction and Nebula Consumer Products?" Terry suddenly asked, a curious glint in his eye.
Teresa smiled lightly; there were moments when explanations seemed like labyrinths, too convoluted for simple words. Moreover, Terry wasn't Diana; Teresa could not unveil everything to him, so she breezily said, "A common name, probably a namesake. We should get going; I need to use the restroom."
With that, Teresa strode ahead without waiting for his reaction. She knew Terry was no fool, and he probably had figured it out, taking the call of “Mrs. Garcia” into account as well.
But really, what did it matter? She had no intention of clarifying anything.
Terry watched her with a frown, reflecting briefly before hastening to follow her.
...
Teresa's trial lecture was scheduled for 2 p.m., consisting of two sessions with a fifty-minute class each and a twenty-minute break in between.
The freshmen, eighteen or nineteen, still had a touch of youthfulness, but few were the quiet types. They seemed much more mischievous compared to their predecessors.
"Miss, you're so gorgeous and young. Are you sure you're here to teach us?" a cheeky student spoke loudly to Teresa who clutched her textbooks approaching the podium.
Gazing at the bold young man, Teresa, with a smile, replied, "Well, you just made me feel all kinds of wonderful, saying I'm pretty and young. As a thank-you, I promise not to call on you during class."
"Miss, pick me, pick me! I'm all about your type!" another boy shouted eagerly.
While the boys at the back were buzzing with excitement, a man wearing a baseball cap and a mask casually walked in, dressed in light-wash jeans and a navy hoodie. He was tall and had a commanding presence.
Yet, the huge classroom was filled with over a hundred students from four different classes and some faculty members gathered to listen. The lecture had not officially commenced, and many were standing, chatting animatedly. Teresa was giving her first lecture as a teacher, nerves fluttering inside her. She was so focused that she failed to notice the man who had slipped in and taken a seat at the back corner.
"So, when you say you like 'my type,' are you talking about me as a type of girlfriend?" Teresa asked the boy who had just called out, her tone still light and humorous.
"Yeah! Miss, do you have a boyfriend? If not, maybe you could pick one of us to try out."
Laughter spilled across the classroom.
"Pick me, Miss, pick me!"
"Hey, don't forget about me! I'm pretty good too!"
A chorus of exuberance filled the classroom, yet no one seemed to notice the man in the back corner. His deep eyes shone with intense brightness as he fixed his gaze on Teresa, his expression unavoidably darkening.
These kids, still in shorts and barely out of diapers, were actually setting their sights on his wife — a ludicrous fantasy!
The bell suddenly pierced the air, signaling the start of class, but the excitement was palpable and many of the boys struggled to calm down.
"Alright, everyone, let's settle down," said the Department Head, taking the stage with a calming gesture as the chatter subsided. "This here is your new German teacher, Teresa. She's also an alumna, six years your senior. She recently earned dual master’s degrees in German Language and Literature from the renowned University of Jena in Germany. Not only is she a stunner, but she's also a real brainiac. Fluent in German, Japanese, and French."
Laughter bubbled up from the students as the head finished the introduction, with one calling out, "Wow, Miss, you're so amazing!"
Standing beside the Department Head, Teresa scanned the room, her lips curving into a confident, radiant smile, her bright eyes sparkling.
"Yep, your very own Teresa here is quite impressive," continued the Department Head, grinning broadly. "She's got her own unique tricks for learning languages, so you all better treat her well and maybe she'll share some of her secrets with you."
"Miss, you're so beautiful and talented; how do you expect the other girls to compete?" Another boy couldn't hide his excitement. Just moments before, Gabriel, in a baseball cap and face mask, was seated right behind this particular student.
Consequently, when Teresa followed the voice to its source, her eyes unexpectedly clashed with Gabriel's.
Teresa's smile briefly stiffened upon seeing him, but it lasted no more than a split second before she was all charm again, answering with a smile, "With the head and all of you singing my praises, I'd be ashamed if my classes didn't live up to the hype."
"Rest assured, Teresa, I have the utmost confidence in you," said the Department Head, looking at her fondly.
In the back row, nestled in a corner, Gabriel squinted at the Department Head. Something about the man, despite his scholarly appearance and glasses, struck Gabriel as sleazy.
Teresa greeted him with a smile. "Thank you, Sir. I'll get started with the lecture then."
"Sure, go right ahead." The Department Head returned the smile warmly before making his way to a seat at the back.
As he moved to the back, the Department Head couldn't help but notice Gabriel, with his baseball cap and mask, hardly looking the part of a student. That's what drew his attention.
After the Department Head found a seat, Teresa connected her prepared presentation to the computer, launched it, and began the lecture...
