The next few days. I began questioning what skills I need to become a teacher.
"Maybe body language and psychology? So that I could truly understand my students," I spoke to myself as I was watering the plants.
"Oh! Explaining hard concepts in interesting ways," I realized as I saw the chef teaching us new recipes.
And like that. My mind was nothing else but teaching. I even imagined scenarios dealing with different types of students. "If they are cocky I will do this. If they are a slow learner..., if they have bad parents..., if they are suicidal..."
Probably a week has passed since Wisaith visit me. I was able to learn a lot of what it needs to be a teacher. At that moment, I was more afraid that I won't be good enough to become a teacher.
Thinking about how crazy it was that I was thrown to jail because of Hannah, to meet Wisaith, and now on my way to becoming a teacher. I don't know how else to react but to look at the sky when we prisoners were having a resting time.
Nearby, a group of prisoners was talking. They are also one of the groups that bullied me when I first came here. Hearing them talk caught my attention. I realized, "Right, why don't I talk to know why they commit crimes to prevent my student in the future." With that, I approached them without a thought.
"Hi," I said.
"Look who we have here. Since when does this quiet kid learn to socialize." Their leader spoke.
"If I'm not wrong, his name is Smasi." I talked to myself.
"I was wondering if you and I can talk a bit,"
"Get out of here before I beat you up again," Smasi raised his deep voice, threatening. But I wasn't scared.
"I am being serious," I replied.
"And you think I'm playing?"
"It won't take long. And you should stop threatening me. It doesn't work,"
"..."
Our eyes gazed for a long time. Smasi's men were dead quiet since when I got here and they were nervously waiting for something to happen.
At last, "I am amazed how someone who can't fight like you is so confident," he smirked. "You guys leave!" His authoritarian tone was enough to make others instantly stood up and walk away. "Now what do you want to talk about?"
I went up and sat down next to him. "I am just curious how did you and the others get to this point?"
"What do you mean?" he kept his annoyed tone.
"Like what events caused you to commit crimes?"
"That's what you want to talk about?"
"Yep"
*Sigh* "And here I thought something real serious. Do you want dead wasting my time like this?" His deadly eyes were on me again.
"It is serious to me" I replied softly, not looking at his eyes.
Smasi finally stopped the intensity. "Why do you want to know?"
"I want to become a teacher."
"Oh?" Smasi didn't quite expect that replied. "What makes you came here?"
"Long story short. Got tricked by girlfriend, lose everything, slapping her, and got accused of abuse. I really don't want to get to the details."
Smasi laughed, "I didn't expect a weakling like you to get violence." But he changed his tone right away, "A woman abuser want to become a teacher?"
"Do you also think that men shouldn't beat women?"
"Naturally"
"..."
"I will think about that more. I'm here to talk about your situation though"
"Why does a teacher want to know about a criminal like me?"
"To know red flags that will lead my future students to commit crimes." I turned to look at Smasi.
He didn't reply and was closing his eyes. I patiently waited until we only have five minutes left before coming back to the cells.
"I guess it is also uncomfortable for him to told his history to a stranger," I thought.
"I will wait," I stood up and headed back to my cell.
Looking out of my cell, only then I saw Smasi stood up and calmly walked back to his cell even though there was only one minute left. He arrived at his cell right when the alarm went off.
I turned back to get to bed, but can't help feeling a stare constantly on me.