Bad Boy’s Play mate

CHAPTER 1. MY HANDSOME HOMEROOM TEACHER

(ADDISON’S P.O.V.)

The month of April has been severely romanticised not only in literature and poetry, but also in general. It is the season of rebirth. Nature revives from its grim sleep of winter. I can’t help but ponder upon certain things unrelated to my syllabus that I study in my school. 

Today was special for several other reasons as well. It was my first day as a high-school junior. While I was engrossed in glaring outside the window, observing the kids playing soccer, the homeroom teacher arrived and banged the huge load of the book on his desk.

“Everyone, please take your seat.” 

As I turned my gaze at the man standing before as our homeroom teacher, I couldn’t help but be giddy about it. That was so because the person was none other than my neighbour, Mister Silas. His house was adjacent to mine.

I beforehand knew that Mister Silas was starting his new job at our school, but I never imagined that he would be my homeroom teacher. I was so ecstatic. Since the guy was my homeroom teacher, it meant that I will be able to see him every day at school now. The thought alone made me feel pleasant. 

As I settled on my desk, he inquired the students about who would like to apply as the class representative. The moment he made the announcement, I was off the mark to show my interest in signing up for the same. 

He seemed pleased with my eagerness to react, and nodded to let me know he did take notice of my alacrity. Since nobody else was interested, he had to choose me over everyone else.

Can you imagine how romantic that sound? He chose 'me' over 'everyone else'. That certainly wasn’t the case though. Nobody was genuinely interested in getting the part. That was the reason why, I got the position. 

After the task of appointing the class representative was settled, he took the attendance and accordingly began to teach us on an extremely engaging topic. Everything was interesting when he was the one teaching me. Since I was mesmerised, I didn't take notice of the time which slipped off like sand from my hands. Shortly, his class ended and he had to leave. I sighed as I didn’t want him to. With my eyes wide open, I was dreaming about him holding me in his arms. I knew it was just wishful thinking though. 

Surprisingly then, he called out my name.

“Addison?”

I stood and walked up to him in easy and gradual steps. I didn’t wish my walk tp express the fact that he was making me anxious. Regardless of my awkward mannerism, he smiled as he told me, “It’s comforting to see a familiar face in the new workplace.” 

I smiled back and asked, "What did you need me for, Sir?”

He asked me to collect the circulars that were provided to the students the other day to be filled by our parents. I nodded to give him the assurance about the work, and then he left.

I gathered the circulars from each and every student and cheerfully scrambled to get to the staff room. Just when I reached the doorway of that very room, I observed Silas talking to ‘her’ and giggling cheerfully. She seemed to enjoy his company as well. It was our English teacher with whom he was engaged in the conversation.

I stood frozen, unable to move myself. This was the first time I experienced this bitter feeling. It wasn’t exactly hate, but I did feel some penury sense of disdain towards the woman he was laughing with. Perhaps, it was what they called, jealousy. 

The woman realised that I was standing there, eying her with revulsion prevalent in my eyes. She, therefore, reminded him, “Mister Silas, one of your students is here.” 

“Oh, you brought me the circulars. Thank You,” He responded. 

I placed the heap of circulars on his desk, and then rushed to exit the place. Regardless of how I felt, I maintained a tough exterior. It wasn’t like he’d notice that I was hurt. Nobody did.

When I got back into my classroom, I hurried to get to my desk. I was upset throughout the other classes. The hurt that I felt made it extremely hard for me to concentrate on anything else, but him. Somehow, I managed to sit through the three extended classes, and finally it was the lunch break. While the other kids hurried to get outside to play, I stood near the window. I had no subtle interest in befriending anybody of my age, or rather I was just too afraid to approach them. The fear of being turned down was prominent in my heart. I just observed people and things from afar. 

That’s the same when it comes to Mister Silas. I have been watching over him for a long time now. That’s why I noticed things about him before he himslef did. 

Around Miss Natalie, he was making faces he hadn’t before. After resting my head on the window pane, I unexpectedly came to the realisation of how stupid I was to let this happen to him. How could I let that stupid, middle-aged chick get him? 

Putting my despair aside, I took notice of the bell and realised that lunch break was over, and it was time to attend the rest of the classes. I wish I could say it out loud that school sucked. The only good thing about that boring academic life was my homeroom teacher, Mister Silas. Just when I began to think about him, the day went by swiftly like a breeze. As the day ended, I hurried to get back home. There was something to look forward to. I was thrilled about the evening as Mister Silas was going to eat dinner with us since his parents had gone out of station for some work. 

Just when I reached my room in my four-storey apartment complex, I threw my backpack and discarded my uniform. While maintaining the same pace, I managed to get a bath and got dressed swiftly. 

Thereon, I also made sure to finish my homework of the next day as I wished to enjoy my evening without worrying about anything. For an hour or so, I decided on the clothes that I could wear while meeting him. After getting carefully dressed to look my best, I went to the kitchen to help my mother. 

 When I began to help her in preparing the supper, I almost lost the track of time, and Mister Silas arrived soon. I rushed to get the door for him. I welcomed him to our dining hall, and most skilfully I made sure to sit beside him at the dining table. I didn’t know if he noticed that. He probably didn’t. 

Thereafter, as we began to feast, he looked at me and remarked, “I can’t believe how much Addison has mellowed out.” By that, he meant to praise my manners.

“Really?” My mother enquired in disbelief as I still was not mature enough for her. But my mother wasn’t done with just that. Hence, she further commented, “I can’t believed someone would actually think that. You don’t know how she acts when she’s alone. She’s just being polite because you’re here, Silas.”

I choked on my soup in shock. 

“Mother” I cried out as I didn’t wish for him to know that he was indeed special in my heart, and that was the reason for my good behaviour as well. My mother observed my tense face and grinned as she left.

After having the soup, Mister Silas exclaimed, “It’s so delicious.”

Since I helped in preparing it, I was extremely happy with the praise. He further suggested, “Your mother is such an amazing cook.” 

My mother peeked at him from the kitchen and clarified, “Oh, thank you, but Addison actually helped too. You know what? That’s surprising because she never usually does.”

Embarrassed, I cried out,  “Mother, please stop it.” 

Silas tried to make the situation less awkward by smiling, and then he let out, “But, it’s really good.” 

I was so aggravated by what happened. 

As he left while thanking my mother for the meal, I realised how happy these meaningless things made me. This meal itself served as a special occasion even though it was pretty pointless. 

“Won’t you drop me to my apartment?” requested Silas. 

I hurried up and grabbed my slippers to accompany him.

As we strode down the narrow lane, he initiated the conversation. 

“Neither my older brother, nor may dad really know how to cook. That’s why whenever my mother went away when I was a child, it was a hassle for both of us. Since both my mother and father are no longer with me, it’s much more difficult now... I need to find one soon.” 

I couldn’t respond as I pondered what he meant when he said, ‘one’. I hoped and prayed it to be a dog. 

‘I can’t wait to have a wonderful wife,’ That’s probably what he was going to say. We have talked about it before as well. He used to tell me that when I was in my junior high, but he hadn’t mentioned the same thing for a long time. Is that because he has someone specific in mind now that he doesn’t talk about it anymore? While I was engaged in the possiblities that his assertion could carry, we reached his house.

As I waved him goodbye, I though about the sports day at my junior high. Honestly, that was quite a weird day!

(FLASHBACK)

Since my parents had gone out of station due to some work, it was Silas who accompanied me for the parent-child race on the Sports day. Around that time, I was ten years old and he was sixteen. The thing that troubled me that day was the absence of my parents. Though we managed to win the race, I sulked by observing other children having fun with their parents. 

I ran away and settled into a corner, complaining how unfair it was that my parents couldn’t even take a little time out of their busy schedule for me. As a result of that, I cried in a corner. Suddenly, two huge arms squeezed me from behind. It was Mister Silas.

Surprised, I turned around. He called out my name twice since I hadn’t responded at the first time. At age lack of response sprung from a place of sadness. I was hesitant in responding since I didn’t want him to see me in that predicament. 

While ignoring the awkward position in which I was sitting, he simply asked me,  “Are you alright, Addi? I noticed that you were looking at other children’s parents.”

I tried to lie, “No, I’m okay. I don’t really care about their or my parents. Running with you was fun.” 

He probably understood that I was just spouting nonsense since I didn’t want him to worry about me. 

“That’s right. Also...” He caressed my head and presented before me a lunchbox. While I was unsure why he brought it up. He explained, “Eating this will also be fun since the lunch was prepared by your mother.” 

I raised my head, looked up to him and said, “But, Mom said she had to work. When did she get the time to prepare it? Further, if she can’t come to assist her daughter, then why did she send me food?“ 

“She stayed up late to make it. So, we have to make sure not to leave leftovers," reminded Silas with a charming smile. 

I nodded as I walked back to the sports ground with him. 

While we began to eat the lunch that was made so tenderly by my mother, Mister Silas seemed happier than usual. 

Though he showed gratitude and declared that he did like the food. I chose to differ on the subject since I was a spoiled brat.

While munching on the sandwich, I complained, “This is average.” 

He was definitely disappointed in what I said and tried to humbly made me realise my mistake, “Addison, you can’t appreciate having a mother that cooks this delicious food for you yet. Though I don’t want to hurt you, I think it’s pretty disappointing!”

“It’s not that I can’t appreciate my mother. B... But, my best friend told me that she went out fishing with her father. I don’t have a Dad. My mother’s actions seem pretty average in comparison to that. Hence, I get jealous. I wish I had a father,” I expressed the real reason for my sadness. 

He stroked my head gently as he explained, “We all have something the other is jealous of. It happens. That’s just life. But, we can help each other in the loneliest hours by spreading a smile on each other's face by being with one another.”

That time, I was invariably happy as he told me that we could be there for each other when we ‘d feel isolated. I was truly ecstatic. 

But, it was only in my teenage that I realised that it was only a trick to console a weeping child. 

(FLASHBACK ENDS)

As I watched him move inside his apartment, what I thought slipped right out of my mouth, “Liar!”

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AUTHOR’S NOTE

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