I Didn't Want to Know (10)

"Why don't you throw me out again?" Rika liked the idea of playing outside.

The teacher sighed as she knew this girl had a huge sponsor behind her that made many donations to the school. Her job would be on the line if she kept on kicking her out of class while the young boy tried to comfort the girl into listening to her. Many times, the boy was a huge help to the class as the girl would calm down and stop disrupting the lessons.

"Sit back down Rika," the teacher gritted her teeth.

"Let's continue the lesson," she was thankful for the rest of the children who were well-behaved.

"But I want to go outside," Rika began her whining again.

"I want mommy," she cried with tears dropping onto her desk.

Luke rubbed Rika's back as she wailed inside the classroom. It appeared that class would end later than normal with her constant interruptions to the class. He knew that it was his fault for not teaching Rika that she couldn't behave like this here. Rika didn't know she had to be more respectful to the teachers in school than his family tutors.

He thought she would know and that he wouldn't have to teach her this. However, he would have to re-educate Rika so this wouldn't keep continuing. Luke couldn't blame Rika when she didn't know anything. He was just glad his classmates and teachers weren't blaming him for her actions when she was his responsibility.

"Things are different here," Luke grabbed her shoulders.

"There's not only us two, but other people who want to listen to the teacher. Would you like it if someone kept interrupting you from playing?" He tried to point out.

Rika shook her head, finally understanding what Luke was saying. From that day on, the interruptions during class stopped as she switched to looking out the windows. At least she could find something interesting happening there. The next day, Luke watched the unusually well-behaved Rika with suspicion. I covered my mouth in shock as this was the day I came into this body.

Rika acted too differently than the day before. She curiously looked around her surroundings like it was her first time seeing all this. Luke wondered if he scolded her too harshly yesterday during the study session together. Instead of just sitting down at her seat, not bothering to do anything, she asked how she could open the textbook.

She asked him many questions that didn't match her ability with her mind that only thought about her parents and playing outside. Rika didn't rely on him as she usually did, not hiding behind his back. She even asked him to find another partner, not knowing what it meant as she desired to be independent. But Luke decided it was still a good thing as it was a sign that she was starting to grow up. This version of Rika was more motivated while she still hated studying.

He continued to watch over her as his parents were pleased during dinner that they managed to switch to the top-ranking school in the first district like they have planned. However, when they moved into their new room, Rika appeared like she was going to cry. He guessed it was because she had to be separated from her parents again.

Luke didn't like that room too. He never slept in such a poor place in his life. But those thoughts were quickly washed away as he never saw Rika so willing to study. He always had to bribe her into studying, some signs of her old self that had never changed. She never walked to the library on her own unless she was forced by him, trying to avoid the whole place itself. It was the first time she had pulled him into the library with her.

Rika pushed herself to the point she got sick. Luke clenched his fists as he blamed himself for not taking care of her properly. It reminded him of the time where she had almost died because he didn't look after her. Thinking that she would be hungry soon, he brought her some snacks. But after grabbing them from him, she got out of her bed towards the hallway leading to the library. When he asked her for the reason why she had changed to the point she went to the library on her own, she yelled at him that it was because she didn't want to stay in that room.

Luke was only holding in his complaints for Rika's sake. He had to be the role model for her while he wanted to cry because of that room as well. His eyes began to glisten as Rika started to run away from him, her eyes full of guilt. But he had to pull himself together as he noticed she would soon trip, making her body injured when she was already sick. When he pulled her into his arms, she began to cry.

He sighed as he patted her back like usual. He thought Rika had changed, but she was still the same as before. It was up to him to look over her as she was his responsibility.

As the screen started to fade into black, my eyes widened from the realization that it was me who made Luke like this. I didn't want to know that the younger version of myself was the one who convinced him that the girl couldn't do anything on her own. His eyes, full of responsibility for her still stared into my soul. I didn't want to know.