The Whimper

"Emily!" A voice from behind wakes me from my own thought; It was half past ten when I realize it.

"Paula… sorry, I was a little absorbed in the book I was reading; I don't even realize you're already here." I was trying hard to hide my real emotions as I was just finished a story in my head.

"What are you daydreaming about? Let's get to the cafeteria; Sandra and Peter are already waiting for us there." Paula smile as helping me tidying my books on the table; before both of us headed off to the cafeteria.

As we're heading to the cafeteria that was located at the ground floor of the school area; a slight whimper was heard at the end of my ear. I turn to see a little girl that was at an age of 5 or 4 were squatting alone while crying there. Paula approached her without hesitate.

"What happen, little girl? Why are you crying here, alone?" The girl just keeps on crying; ignoring Paula; A feeling of unease starts to fills me.

"Paula, she must be one of our teacher's daughter. I think we should take her to the teacher's lounge or the office." Somehow hearing my voice makes the little girl staring at me now; it makes me felt a bit weird.

"Here, take this." I handed her a candy I got from Sandra earlier to her since she was looking down until now. She takes it with a smile; before staring at me.

"Thank you, sister…" Her was gentle and without any trace of being scared.

"So, do you want to tell us anything?" Paula smiles at the little girl; but was ignored again. For some reason; the girl kept on staring at me and ignoring when we're all the way to the teacher's lounge.

"Annie!" Miss Dora; our history teacher rushes to the little girl as fast as she could and hugged her.

"Thank you! I was really scared when she suddenly disappeared from my sight. She had a little tolerant with people and difficulties in speech; so it's hard for her to talk to people. I was really grateful that she bumps into the both of you. Thank you."

"It was really nothing, Miss Dora. It's been our pleasure to be a help for you." Paula was doing all the talking as I realize the girl was still sneakily staring at me.

'Difficulties in speech; having trouble in talking? It wasn't the issues earlier; isn't it?'

"Are you going to do another one after this?"

"What?"

"The stories… how much are you planning on doing?"

"Huh? How did you…" Before I can answer to her, Paula was already coming back from the office to us; we're both waiting for her outside as Paula was checking if any of the teachers are looking for their child.

The way she speaks seems so different than how she acts in front of her mother; as if… it was a different person.

"I'm glad that's over…" Paula' sighs as we're walking down to the cafeteria.

"Huh? What do you mean, Paula? Didn't you like kids the most?"

"I didn't say I hate her, but her whimper…"

"Whimper?"

"Yeah… from earlier still hunts me; it does sounds creepy." She holds my arms as we walks to the cafeteria again;

'The whimper…' Somehow that word rings a bell; a silent whimper was heard not just to anyone but just for 'some people'.

And that 'some people' includes someone like Mr. Lucas who was just a mere music teacher.

Lucas was a young talented high school music teacher; he was handsome and tall, being likable by almost all the students and fellows teachers due to his kindness and well being.

The only mistakes that he ever done was provoking a spirit from his past. It's all started when he was already 3 months being admitted as a music teacher in an all-girls high school. One of his students was a transfer student from a village where he once work as a practical teacher.

"Good morning Mr. Lucas!" Kathy; one of his students when he was in his practical years always reminds him of how fun it is to be young again. She was always being bubbly and never seems to know how to be sad or moody.

"Morning, Kathy… how are you today? You look quite happy, like always."

"I'm pretty fine, today. I… ACHHOOOO!!!" She sneezes as she was about to continue with her words.

"That doesn't sounds like a fine to me…"

"I'm fine, it's just a slight flu I got from overworking again. No biggy; I'm a really strong teenager! I'll recover in a jiffy!" She winks as trying to help Lucas with some of the music sheets on the table.

"Try not to get overwork again, will you? Get a proper rest, or your grandma will have to be worried about you again!"

"I can't promise anything, teacher. You know that really well; I still needed to work to help with our daily expenses and grandma's medication." Kathy pouts her mouth as sorting the music sheets.

"But still, you're a student. You can't neglect on your health just like that; and I know well that your grandma wouldn't agree on that too." Lucas sighs as he puts away the music sheets on Kathy's hands.

"Of course I'm aware of that; but…"

"Knock! Knock!" A knock from the door cut her words; their attention turn to the door; Miss Belle was standing there looking quite anxious

"I'm sorry for the disturbance Mr. Lucas, but the principle wanted to see you at his office immediately."

"Oh, sure Miss Belle. I'll be there as soon as possible. Thank you for letting me know about it."

"It's my duty." Her words are short as she just excused herself from there afterwards.

"The… principle? Is it something serious? Miss Belle sounds really anxious just now."

"Don't worry; it might be just for the choir competition that was going to be held at our school soon. You know the principle takes the student's curriculum's affairs really seriously, don't you?"

"Yes he does…" Kathy murmurs under her breath as insisted on helping Lucas to finishes the tidying up as he goes to see the principle.

The bell rang again; marks the end of the school session. Right after class, Kathy headed straight to the music room but her teacher was nowhere to be found.

"He's not back yet? I wonder what happen." Her curiosity kick in as she insisted to wait for Lucas instead of heading back.

"Kathy? Wake up, Kathy…"

"Hmm… huh?" The girl rubs her eyes slowly as opens her eyes; The young teacher was already standing right in front of her. She quickly gets up as standing straight; feeling quite embarrass with the situation.

"Mr. Lucas, you're back?"

"Yeah… what are you doing here? I thought the school bells already rang about half an hour ago."

"Ah… I was worried. What did the principle say to you?" Lucas sighs as he looked at his student.

"I told you earlier.. it was nothing… he just wants to talk to me about the choir competition."

"Really?"

"Yes, why should I lie to you?"

"Okay… if you say so. Eh? What time is it now?"

"it's half past 2?"

"Oh, please excuse me for now; Mr. Lucas. I really need to get going now! Bye, and thank you!" The girl bows at her teacher before dashing off to the front gate without looking back.

"Please be careful, Kathy!" He shouts as watching her sprinting.

"She won't let me live without being worried about her even for a minute." The young teacher looks at his student as she disappear trough the school gate. The conversation from earlier suddenly plays on his mind; his smile fades.

In the principle's room;

"Mr. Lucas, I'm aware that you're always being a friendly and caring towards our students and was really grateful for that. But unfortunately, your friendliness has somehow stirred some discomfort and unwelcoming rumors around the school." The young music teacher just keeps his silence at the principle's words.

"For that reason, I'm sadly to say that I have to give you a warning to not make a close contact to any of our students due to these rumors spreading."

"My apologize, Mr. Principle; but may I know. What kind of rumors have been spreading about me and this student? As if I know the details, I might can avoid it in the future." The old principle sighs at Mr. Lucas's calm request.

"That you're having a romantic affair with that poor student."

"Having an affair?" The man steals a glanced at Kathy that was on her way to the bus stop.

"What a joke…" Lucas murmurs with a smirk.