Chapter 08 - Lukas and Alinn

I enter the classroom and tell the students that we are going to study something special today. It will be a special class about science in literature. But my students are all too busy chatting with their friends. I try to take their attention but they refuse to acknowledge my presence. This is the first time this happened.

“Hmmm,” I mutter as I observe the students.

This is definitely orchestrated. Then my eyes catch Lukas. There is an amused expression on his face. I smirk. So this is his revenge, huh? This little monster student of mine.

I slam the table, and my students have no choice but to transfer their attention to me.

“Do you have anything you’d like to say to me?” I ask them.

A look of fake shock appears on their faces. Then there is silence in the room. The students who had been talking before looked away from me. Some of them are looking down. They are probably ashamed to be caught up in this... What shall I call this? Lukas’ stupidity?

“Anyone who’d like to speak up?” I insist.

My students are all silent. Some looked embarrassed and guilty. Besides, their reactions are so exaggerated. I glance at Lukas. There is still a smile on his face. Then a knock comes from the door and Alinn’s face peers into the room.

“Teacher Cassie?” she asks.

“Here you are!” I say, glancing at Lukas. He is looking back and forth between me and Alinn. My guess is on the spot, huh? He really is attracted to Alinn.

“You mentioned you need help?” she asks.

“Yes. Will you be able to read a couple of passages for my students?”

She beams. “Of course!”

She approaches and takes the book from me, then she starts reading.

“What’s the teacher’s pet doing here?” Lukas calls.

Alinn ignores him and continues.

“Hey, little puppy!”

Alinn did not respond.

“Leave the teacher alone and be my adorable little pup instead. You can do my assignments, and I will give you treats.”

I cover my mouth to stop a laugh from going out. Seriously, Lukas? You are like those little teenagers having a massive crush on someone! I shift my attention to Alinn, who had already stopped reading. Oh, oh. That ain’t good.

Alinn’s cheeks are burning and Lukas is smirking at her. She is embarrassed, and he is taking delight in the way he affects her—in the wrong way, though. Right now, she is glaring at him.

“I think you just made the wrong diction there,” he adds, his grin getting wider.

“What do you mean by wrong diction?” she asks. 

She closes the book and is now focusing on him. Well, that’s what he is waiting for, right? Her sole attention. However, I don’t think this will be good. And so, I move closer to Alinn, in case she does something that might get her expelled.

The class erupts in laughter and Lukas–he is looking so proud of himself. However, a quarter of my students are whispering amongst themselves. Some girls are even looking at Alinn with jealousy. Even so, I think she will trade her position for them anytime.

Then, gaining confidence, Lukas gets up and walks toward her. I see his hands go to her shoulder.

“That was pretty funny. Your pronunciation is horrible, and you were so off-tune with the rhythm of that poem,” he says.

I snort. Where the heck did he get that? Alinn’s enunciation is impeccable. I hold back my laughter. This scene is very enjoyable, even if I should stop this.

“Said by someone who can’t even get half a score on quizzes,” she retorts.

As soon as Alinn lets it out, the class bursts out laughing again. Their position has been reversed, with Alinn smirking and Lukas annoyed.

I want to clap my hands for her. I want to tell her, ‘I have your back, little woman. Teach that little scoundrel a lesson.’

Oh wait, that’s my job!

But then again, the smile on her face, and the flash in her eyes as she glares at him–it’s like she’s telling him, ‘How dare you make fun of how I speak!’

Lukas’ arms are folded as he looks down at her. He has that childish expression on his face. Then he leans over and whispers in her ear. “Well, that was a terrible mistake,” he tells her. “Other than the teacher, I think you are in for some pain. However, I’d like to play with you more.”

In what? Flirting with her? It’s obvious he likes her. Too bad though. The way Alinn looks at him says the opposite of flirting. Does he really think that it would please her?

“Stop it now,” I warn them. “Alinn, I apologize for that. Sorry for placing you in some uncomfortable situation.”

I shift my attention to Lukas and scold him, “And you, young man, sit down!”

He frowns at me. But when I continue to stare him down, he sighs and sits back down.

“Alinn, I will meet you again later in our review session, okay?”

She nods. “But I still think that you should not tire yourself so much, Teacher Cassie. There’s already a lot on your plate.”

I hear Lukas groan and I smile. “Now, go, you little angel.”

Alinn smiles. “Thank you, Teacher Cassie.”

Lukas stands up, but I demand, “I said sit down!”

He clicks his tongue and shakes his head, but still, he obeys.

“I won’t move from here. I am being a good student,” he adds, a bit mocking.

***************************

I sit at one of the tables in the back corner of the canteen. I like this place, less likely to be seen and heard, especially when I am thinking of my lesson plans. Students sit at the table next to mine. They talk about their favorite music, movies, and books. They keep on glancing at me, which means that they have heard about the new rumor too—that I am Principal Abra’s mistress. 

It’s a funny rumor actually, so I kept mum about it and hoped that it will die down soon. But the way it is going seems like it has already spread to the students. Or maybe it started among the students?

Jason, the editor of the school paper, sits in front of me. I have not noticed him entering the canteen.

“Teacher Cassie, you are in a stupid rumor,” he informs.

I raise my head to him and ask, “What kind of ‘stupid’ is it?”

“They are talking about how you are the mistress of the Principal.”

Just as I thought. “Do they know I am only in my early thirties and Principal Abra is already in his late forties?”

“They say that age doesn’t matter in love.”

“It does if the other party in question already has a wife.”

“They think you are a slut.”

I roll my eyes. “This must stop. Let me guess, it’s that Lukas again?”

Jason shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know. The female students are spreading the rumors.”

“Where is that little monster?”

“Little monster?”

“Lukas, who else?”

Jason grins. “Sometimes, I forget you are a teacher. You act differently from a regular teacher.”

“Is he in the room?” I ask, ignoring his comments. Besides, it’s because I’ve only been a teacher for a year.

“No. I heard he’s in the nurse’s office. He’s sick, they say.”

“And now he wants to escape me!”

I storm out of the canteen and head straight to the nurse’s office. I find Nessie fussing over the young boy.

“What is the matter with you anyway?” Nessie asks sternly.

I lean on the door and watch the scene.

“My stomach hurts,” Lukas whines. “I want to go home.”

“You can’t just leave school like that.”

“I can!”

“You know how your father will scold you?”

“He’ll forgive me again.”

“And what about your mother?”

“She’s gone. I am all alone now.”

“Oh no, you’re not,” she responds. “Your Mom will be worried too if you are no longer at school.”

I knock on the door and ask, “Need help?”

Nessie turns and looks at me, pleading for help. “He’s such a sweet boy, isn’t he?” she comments.

No, he’s not. He is just playing with her. “I will bring him to his house,” I offer, which Nessie the nurse answers with gratefulness.