Who is She?

It was only 3:54 PM when he reached Julie's classroom. He took a peek inside and saw that the class was sharing their experience throughout the schoolyear. The teacher was attentively listwning to what the students are saying. It was really a good exercise to let students share their experience. This would decrease their stage fright and help them socialize and open to their classmates and other people.

Peter only waited for a few more minutes before the class ended.

"Goodbye class! Enjoy your vacation." the teacher bade farewell to her students. When she was at the door, she saw Peter. She smiled and said "Mr. Johannson. How have you been? Anything I can help you with?"

He seldom visit the elementary dwpartment as he is focused in his studies and he only come here sometimes to see or fetch Julie. "Hello Mrs. Smith, I'm fine. I was just going to fwtch Julie, one of your pupils." he replied respectfully. Mrs Smith is one of his former teacher.

"Oh Julie!" realizing that Peter was not here to ask something from her. "A good pupil, are you somehow related to her?" she added.

"Indeed she is. She's like a little sister to me as we always ride on the same bus everyday durimg class days." he explained.

"Hey Peter!" Julie suddenly called when she was at the doorway. "I'm sorry to keep waiting. How long have you been here?" she inquired. When she noticed Mrs. Smith, she smiled "Hi Mrs. Smith, were you talking about something important? Sorry for interrupting." she said apologetically.

"Oh no..no, no big deal. We were just having a little talk. I'll be on my way now." she hurriedly left. "You guys take care on going home."

"Oh" Julie said with realization written on her face. "Goodbye Mrs. Smith." she replied to her teacher's farewell.

Mrs. Smith only took a look back and smiled.

Peter looked at Julie "Shall we go on our way too? We might miss the bus." he said with a light chuckle.

"Let's go." she retorted.

The two of them walk through the corridors pf the campus. There were still a number of srudents along the way. Although not as many as that in the morning because some had already gone home, the campus can still be considered crowded.

They greeted the security guard as they passed through the gate. There were already a number of passengers at the bus stop when they arrived. A while later, the bus arrived. The door of the bus opened. The driver smiled at the waiting passengers and signalled them to hop on.

On the bus~

...

The both took the front as they will be the first ones to alight. Almost all the passenger are from places a little farther from theirs.

"Here is my notebook. I have already written the things that I wanted to understand more. I wish to be ready and hope to understand things that is needed so that I won't have a hard time when I enter the next grade." Julie handed him a blue-colored notebook with flower design on it.

"Oh!" he exclaimed. "How could I be so forgetful?" he said while scratching his head then he added "I almost forgot about this." he took the notebook.

He opened the notebook and noticed some topics on it. One was an introduction to Laws of Exponents. This was one of his favorite topics when he was still on the same grade. There was also an introduction to Algebra - it was about Integers.

On the bus, on the way home, Peter explained these topics to her. He first explained the integers and other topics of the like. He then moved on to explain about the Laws of Exponents. He gave a few examples as to make things clearer and more easy for her.

He was still explaining about a few more minor and didn't noticed that they had already arrived at the bus stop.

The both of them alighted from the bus. The time was almost already five in the afternoon.

"So, see you around." he said with a light grin.

"I guess so. I would tell you if I need help." she replied.

"Okay, bye now. Need to go." he said as he started heading his way.

"Bye Peter, see you around!" came her response.

He waved his hand at her while smiling.

...

While walking on the way home, he remembered about the pretty girl he met at the library.

'Is she a student of CIT?' he asked in his thought. 'No - no!' continued walking while shaking his head. 'It can't be. If she is a student in CIT, I would know for sure.' he assured himself. 'Oh wait, she was not wearing the school ID.' he thought im realisation. 'But it might be also that the school ID was inside her bag or she forgot it at home. Who is she? although he already got her name, he refuse to believe that it was her real name.

There is a complicated argument going on inside his head now. A lot of what ifs, several scenarios that he tried to simulate if he meets her again. He is thinking about what to say if ever that day would come.

He thought of every possible way so that he could start a converstion with her. He did not that he is already near his home. He saw Uncle Murphy unloading some things from his truck.

"Here, let me help, uncle!" he approached the back of the truck and unloaded a sock of rice.

"Oh good God. I didn't notice you. Have you just arrived from school?" Uncle Murphy said while unloading something from the back of the truck.

"Yes, uncle. What are these for?" he pointed to all the goods.

"Oh! My stocks are running bit low so I decided to go and get some at the nearby store." he replied. "Here, have some!" Uncle Murphy threw him a greem apple.

He made a position as if catching a ball. "Thanks, uncle." he took a bite of the apple.

Uncle Murphy's response was a smile.

"Need to go now, uncle. I still need to cook for dinner. Bye~" he walked to his house.

He was enjoying the apple. Biting it little by little. When he reached to his door~...

Shocked was written on his face...

His door is slightly opened. He observed the surrounding if there was no people. He turned to look at Uncle Murphy but found out that the old man have already entered his house.

The lock was severely broken as if it was hit by a hammer. 'Did a burglar entered his house? Are the burglars still inside? Should he call the police? Or maybe he should first ask Uncle Murphy.' He was starting to turn anxious.