Chapter 18

There was already a teacher in class when the three walked in, he was addressing the class and Mercury stopped in her track as she stared at the man, he turned towards her and immediately she prayed that the ground open and swallow her, his face was enchanting, and she couldn't blink so he won't vanish if he was her imagination. She couldn't even move, she was scared that she would fall as her feet were trembling. Jupiter and Adam stared at her in confusion as they wondered why she was staring at the man.
"Do you know him?" Jupiter whispered to her, but she didn't reply
"Where were you guys?" The man asked looking at Adam
"We were at the library" he answered immediately
"Chloe?" He called, and she stood up "did you say you checked the library?"
"Yes sir. I searched everywhere for them" Chloe answered
"We actually left the library to the garden to complete our punishment which the principal gave us" Jupiter lied through her teeth.
"We had to cut the weeds and outgrown grasses in the garden" Adam added, and the man nodded
"Go inside" he said, and Jupiter dragged Mercury with her as they headed back to the desk.
The man began the class as he solved all the math problems on the board, asking questions and answering questions from the students. He cracked jokes and the class was fun as everyone were laughing, and the girls were staring at him but mostly Mercury who hadn't taken her eyes off him, she was marveled by everything in him, his smiles and laughter were enchanting. He looked so young to be teaching, but that didn't bother her, she frowned when she noticed he hadn't looked her way but was smiling at the other girls and replying their questions. Then he walked to the board and question on it then he turned to the students, looking around for who would solve the problem, some students raised their hands, eager to answer the question but Mercury hadn't even looked at the board to read the question, she just stared at him.
Immediately his eyes met her, and he walked towards her, but this time he wasn't smiling as usual, she bit her lips as he handed her the marker and she got up, walking sluggishly towards the board, she stopped in front of the board looking at the question as she could remember the solution to this problem on the board. When she looked back, she noticed the whole class were looking at her and he was there raising his brows but then she felt reluctant, she turned to the board and wrote the equal sign and wrote the last answer then turned to him.
"Where is the solution to your problem?"he asked curiously
"I don know how to solve it, but my answer is correct" she answered and handed the marker to him before walking to her desk, the class was quiet as they looked at her in confusion.
"If you don't know how to solve it then you're not sure of your answer" the man told her and looked away. She picked up her pen, opened a page of her book and scramble on it, then got up and walked to him at the board where he was already solving the problem.
"Sir" she called, and he turned towards her and she handed the book to him, he looked at it quietly and then looked up at her.
"So why didn't you do that here? Why didn't you solve it on the board?"
"I don't like attention" she answered and moved back to her desk, he watched her till she sat down, she smiled inwardly, she had finally gotten his attention but then he turned to the board to continue the solution and never looked her way again, she groan and cursed inwardly. She wondered what was wrong with him as he smiled with the other girls in the class. She glanced away and tried to act like he wasn't there.
Soon he moved, we are done with the class, he cracked some jokes and the class laughed, she couldn't help but notice Chloe sending him some green lights with the way she winked at him and even some girls were licking their lips and rolling their tongue at him, she felt so disgusted as she stared at them in disdain.
"I'm getting those assignments tomorrow" he smiled and then Miss Sylvia came into the class smiling widely.
"Mr Kenny" she called walking closer to him and rubbing her hands through his sides an he returned the smile "how was your class?"
"I had a lovely class as usual" he replied, "I'm actually leaving now"
"Oh, the canteen is still open, and we could have lunch" she whispered the last words with a smile as Mercury read her lips.
"Sure" he answered, and they walked out of the class and immediately Jupiter and Adam turned to Mercury, both raising their brows at her.
"What's that look for? "she frowned.
"Spill it Mercury", Adam asked curiously
"Spill what exactly?"
"She likes the math teacher" Jupiter grinned, "she's in love with him".
"What?" Both Adam and Mercury exclaimed at Jupiter's outburst,
"I certainly don't like him, not to think of loving him" Mercury defended herself immediately,
"I know what I saw Mercury" Jupiter laughed," you were drooling, dripping and melting for him"
"Okay, I did but he didn't even notice me" she rolled her eyes as she hated the fact that she admitted the truth.
"I'm not sure he'll notice you when Chloe and other girls are trying so hard to seduce him and Miss Sylvia is sending her signals to him"Adam explained and Mercury frowned slightly
"Don't discourage her Adam, he could actually like her soon, he actually got a bit of her attention when she displayed that in front of the class today" Jupiter patted Mercury's back.
"He doesn't even smile when he looks at me" she frowned "and he must be way older"
"He's just twenty-two and you're nineteen" Adam answered
"He's not a full teacher, he's in the university and he's undergoing his industrial training"Adam answered
"You know a lot about him, you're following him up?" Mercury asked
"Not when he's the youngest teacher in school and the female's celebrity crush" Adam rolled his eyes
"But that doesn't change anything for me" Mercury bit her lips
"Let's give him more time and what you did today was so crazy and I'm sure he noticed you because of that" Jupiter grinned and the other two laughed
"Miss Sylvia is going to hate me when she realizes that I'm dragging her man" Mercury laughed, "it's not my fault that's he's so attractive and I've fallen already".
"But not actually attractive to me", Jupiter popped in smirking,
"Have you ever found any attracting person in your life?" Mercury replied rolling her eyes.
"I once found Seth very attractive and when I saw Adam I could swear he is the most handsome guy I've ever met" Jupiter smiled.
"So, what about now?" Adam asked curiously,
"You're still very handsome and attracting as others " she answered smiling,
"So, you don't have a crush or someone you love?" Mercury questioned,
"Gosh, why so interested? I have burdens already and I don't need more", Jupiter pushed out her lips
"Keep on blabbing" Mercury hissed, "keep an eye on Adam before he slips away".
"Hello? I'm here" Adam waved at their faces "you're talking like I'm invisible".
"Shhhh, shush it" Mercury glared at him, "don't you love Jupiter? Or you want someone else to put interest and take her and then you begin to regret and then do crazy things?"
"Mercury!" Jupiter exclaimed, "think about yourself and stop worrying about other people"
"You both spoke about me and Mr. attractive, now I'll be talking about you two. Olivia is already creating a perfect love story with Seth, I'm looking forward to mine. Don't be a dullard" Mercury hissed and got up. "Take your bags and let's go home"
The bell rang immediately for the next class and the other people looked at her.
"Let's go home, I'm tired already and I don't want to see more annoying things today" Mercury said and walked out of the class to call Seth and Olivia. Jupiter shook her head negatively with a smile as she had no choice but to follow her sister and Adam joined her.
They met themselves at the car park and Mercury got into the driver's seat waiting for them.
"What's the urgency about?" Olivia asked no one in particular
"Mercury decided to go home after she wasn't noticed by her new crush today, the math teacher", Jupiter explained in between laughter.
"She's crushing on him?" Seth laughed.
"Please give us the full explanation" Olivia begged in laughter as they got into the car and Mercury drove into the road.
Mercury parked the car in the garage and they all got down laughing at Mercury as Jupiter explained what happened between Mercury and Mr. Kenny, the mathematics teacher. But Mercury ignored them as she headed into the house first and others followed behind talking and laughing among themselves.
"But that was crazy"Seth laughed loud as he held hands with Olivia.
"I'm happy for you. You found someone you like"Olivia grinned at her.
"Guys, guys! Mercury exclaimed "can you let me breathe, this Mr. attractive wouldn't even think about me for once, he'll probably be with Miss Sylvia and he won't even want to associate with a student".
"Why all the negativity? Olivia asked.
" It's the reality"she answered "Let's forget about him please".
"Are you giving up like that?"Adam asked raising his brows.
"Do I have a choice?" She frowned and looked away I'll get over the feelings soon"
They all stared at her as she walked away into the room then they turned to each other silently, not having any idea of what to do.
"She's really sad and she's going to be dull"Seth bit his lips as they stood worriedly.
"We need to figure out a way to help" Jupiter answered
" Why don't we shower and change. We would have time to come up with plans "Olivia said and kissed Seth on his cheeks before walking away and Jupiter joined her. Adam and Seth sat down together.
"I think he noticed her" Adam said to Seth.
"But that doesn't change anything. he might not like her".
"He avoided her in class and refused looking her way" Adam added.
"Adam?" Seth called "we know nothing about this man. I think we should get closer to him and maybe bring the girls too and maybe make him see Mercury often".
" You got a very nice idea actually, we should tell the girls and keep it hidden from Mercury "Adam smiled." Yes, it should be a surprise to her " Seth added grinning and then Mercury came out as they remained quiet.
" What are you both up to? She raised her brows curiously
" Nothing " they answered simultaneously, and she looked at them suspiciously and they both smiled back at her.
" How long are they going to change? " Adam asked as he looked at his watch.
" Give them some minute" she answered, and Seth groaned.
"can't you go in there and drag them out?"he questioned Mercury smiled slightly
"You can do that yourself, I know you can't cope without Olivia around" she answered
"If we leave here early then we would practice more, it's all about time" Adam added
"So, you don't like Jupiter?" Mercury asked ignoring his last words.
"Of course, I do" he answered frowning
"Then?"she questioned as she opened her palms "what's stopping you from taking a step?"
"I can't do that, Jupiter has more problems and issues or let me say responsibilities ahead of her and I can't be a burden to her. Like she said earlier, she needs to solve her problems first" he answered
"That's a big unreasonable excuse" Mercury rolled her eyes "she needs someone beside her"
"She has Olivia, her guard and you, her sister" Adam replied.
"And what would you be to her?"she questioned
"Friends of course. I and Seth could be friends, right?" He asked, and Seth raised her brows, intentionally ignoring the question to avoid Mercury's wrath and Adam groaned at Seth betrayal and turned back to mercury.
She needs a comforter, someone she can talk to, a brother, a friend, a lover and even a defender"she said to him
"But you and Olivia can do all that" he answered with her frown
"I'm not going to cuddle her when she's cold, sad or sick. I know what I'm going through alone and I need your help" Mercury attacked
"For goodness sake I don't know if she loved me" Adam shouted back
"Who? "Jupiter asked as she walked out of the door with Olivia beside her. Adam looked at Mercury, but she looked away with a smirk on her face.
"It's nothing you should know" he answered cursing himself inwardly
"You want to hide things from me? "Jupiter asked and then a smile formed on her face "you have a girlfriend?"
"No, I don't have a girlfriend"he replied emphasizing on the last word