Chapter-2

"Mr. Kwan, please manage your students. They were misbehaving in Math class. The Math teacher even said she is not willing to teach your class anymore. This way, I am afraid I will have to replace you." The principal spoke gently.

I sighed internally. "I am sorry sir. I will do better." I said and left the office.

My students were the most notorious in the whole school. Their previous teacher was compelled to leave because of the humiliation by the students. I had no problem with the students because they behaved well in my class as well as with me. I didn't understand why they would misbehave with other teachers.

"Heya!"

I turned to see my younger sister walking past me in the corridor. She smiled at me. "What's up? Why that long face? Got scolding from princi?"

I shook my head. "Nah…where are you going?"

"To the library. Humanities students have a lot of free classes." She stuck her tongue out and walked away.

I shook my head. I should teach her how to behave with me at school.

I took a deep breath before entering my class. The classroom was loud with chattering.

"Good afternoon." I said and cleared my throat.

The chattering died down and their attention turned to me.

"Uh...so I just came from the principal's office and there was a complaint against my class. Let me be straightforward. Did you misbehave with the Math teacher?" I asked, scanning the classroom.

They started to murmur among themselves.

"Anyone can stand up and tell me what happened. Okay, no need to stand. Just raise your hand and tell me."

Nobody raised their hands. I looked at the class president and his face gave away nothing. The silence stretched for long enough and I had no answer from them.

"Hmm...so you will stay mute. If you are facing any problems with the Math teacher, you can tell me. We can solve the issue together. I am your homeroom teacher and it hurts to see my class's pride go down. You can talk to me about it." This was a trick I learned at school from my teachers. They always used the emotional string when they are attached to the students.

Well, guess it didn't work because nobody raised their hands.

"Class monitor, please follow me to the staff room." I walked out of the class.

Managing student is a tough job. And top of that, teenagers.

The staff room was almost empty. My neighbouring desks were clear. I quietly took my seat and turned to the class monitor who followed me.

"So? What happened?" I asked.

Wook seemed a little flattered and nervous. He hesitated.

"Go on. I am just trying to resolve the issue. Don't be scared. Feel free to speak."

He took a deep breath. "Sir this time, it is the teacher's fault. Owen was talking between the lesson and the teacher snapped at her."

I frowned. "But the one misbehaving was Ian as per my information."

Wook nodded. "Yes. Yes. Owen's mother is actually..." he looked around and lowered his voice. "...a prostitute. Miss. Gwen called her a whore because she saw her walking with James the other day. The whole class was shocked. And Ian had always been hot-tempered. He meddled in and things got worse. Owen cried in class. I think Ian was also very harsh with his words toward Miss. Gwen."

I was super shocked. That was the problem with some humans. We judge too soon and never see the bigger picture. Miss. Gwen must not have mentioned her part to the principal and blamed the students.

"Wook, this is a very big issue. Please take care of the class and also let me know first if anything like this happens again." I said with a smile.

He nodded obediently. "Sure sir. Uh... most of the teachers don't listen to our part of the story. We do misbehave a lot but sometimes we feel it's also the teacher's fault."

I smiled and nodded. "I understand. If any problem arises, come talk to me."

He smiled broadly and left.

This was a serious issue. We as a teacher are here to help the children grow up wiser with vast knowledge. Calling out a student because of their parent's occupation is not right. Miss. Gwen was at fault but she hid it from the principal.

…

"No, sir. I think it was somehow the fault of the teacher too to lose her patience and snap at the student with terms she shouldn't utter to a child." I said, frustrated as the principal seemed to be in disagreement with me.

He didn't want to listen to me or the whole story. What mattered to him was that a student had misbehaved with a teacher and strict action must be taken against the student. Why are people so frustrating?

"No. Mr. Kwan, I understand. You are right. This was entirely unwanted. But the fact that a student misbehaved with a teacher remains unchanged. I have issued a notice to suspend the student."

I frowned. I was just at the edge of my patience. Why was he not taking the side of the student for once? Why was he not understanding? He wasn't even bothered by the term used by Miss. Gwen?

I sighed. "As you wish, sir."

"I hope the student understands and learns from this incident. They must learn to behave and I expect you to take better care of your student. Maximum complaints are about your class."

I nodded, giving in. "Okay, sir."

Back at home, I lay down on my bed at night and thought about the incident at school. Was the world always like that? My school life was awesome. All my teachers were sweet towards their students. It always felt like home even though I lived in boarding. But guess not all teachers are the same.

My eyelids felt heavy. It was a tiring day. I was exhausted. But when was I not? I was always exhausted. I felt exhausted all the time. Ever since he disappeared, I was doomed in the ocean of gloominess and I lost interest in everything. The constant crying every night before sleeping because I missed him tired the hell out of me as well as my eyes.

If he would have heard about the incident, he would get mad and try to punch the wall or something. Or he would pace back and forth and curse at the principal. But memories were fading and I couldn't remember well. He was slowly fading away from my mind.

Taylor's speech repeated in my mind. I have had many bitter thoughts about the situation he left me in but did I regret meeting him? It was true that the small amount of time spent with him changed a great part of me but no, I didn't regret meeting him. He was one of the best memories in my mind. And I would never regret anything with him. Though the pain of separation seemed unbearable in the past, I had lived with it all these years and I was okay. And I hoped that in some part of the world, he was okay too.

Just thinking about him made my heart heavy and a lump rose in my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. I exhaled slowly, feeling better. Was I trying too hard to hold onto those fading memories?

I accepted fate and learned to live with the fact. There was nothing I could do. I had tried my best to find him but failed. There was nothing left I could try.

But living with the loneliness and hollowness, would I be able to fall in love again?