"Ahhh.." I sighed, sitting down on an empty bench on the street. Looking back to the list of cheapest apartments I have with me, I growled. This piece of paper is a liar. They aren't cheap!
With a click, the bottle opened as I try to chug it down in a minute. But no, I choked, making me go 'ughhhh!' again and again.
"You okay?"
Spinning my head to see who was talking to me, I rolled my eyes when it was Deither.
"Was." I answered, "Now that you're here, I'm not."
"Come on.. you're really not mad at me, are you?" I glared at him.
"Tell me who is not gonna be mad if someone spread out the rumor about you, dating a guy whom you're not even interested in?!"
Deither dramatically placed a hand right on his chest as he sits beside me. "That hurt.. be careful of what you say.."
"Ha," I smirked. "If you're the person I'm talking to, I don't need to. You're the same anyway! You don't think!"
"Come on.. you know why I did that-"
"Yeah! Just so the students at school would not think you're a 'boring' teacher! Did you really have to get me involved? You told me that it's already been over with!"
Deither chuckled, leaning his back as he draped his long arm against it.
"What are you doing out?"
I let another breath. "I'm looking for a cheap apartment, so I could be with my younger siblings."
"Why?" He asks, scooting near me and he totally looks interested to hear my story. "I thought you're living with them? Did something terrible happen that you had to be away with them?"
"No.." I shook my head, slouching on the bench and looked up at the beautiful blue sky. Huge thanks to the tree for being my shield from the sun. "I wouldn't say it was terrible.. instead, it's painful and emotionally draining. We... lost our parents."
"I'm.. sorry."
I smiled, it was nice of him to say that as I am talking about my parents' death. "Don't be.. it happened years ago. Right now, we're staying at my aunt's place. But I know that we can't depend on her forever, so here I am.."
"For someone in your age, you're unbelievable.."
I chuckled, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Of course, I mean it in a good way."
"Thanks. Despite the fact that you made the students from school misunderstand the kind of relationship we have, you're still a good teacher."
Deither laughed, looking away from me before hunching his back and locking his fingers. "Cleo is really having fun in your class.. she really likes you."
I nodded. "Your sister is cute.. I like her as well. I'm happy to know that she is enjoying her time there."
"I haven't seen her like that for a while.." I hear him whisper. "My mother left us and that made Cleo sad. It hurts to see my sister locked up in her room.. she doesn't even want to touch her food, even though I bring it to her room every single day."
"She loved her so much," I muttered.
"Yeah..."
"Cleo is smiling now, Deither," I said. Resting one hand on his shoulder as to try and comfort him, assure him that his sister is different from how she was before.
"Thanks to you, Sana.. it was because she met you that she is happy now."
That feels so good to hear.. I felt privileged. I felt someone special, like I had changed somebody's life..
I had only felt these feelings when I look at Savannah and Sylvester.. but right now, Deither told me that I am the reason why Cleo smiles again. That is something that nothing and no one can ever erase..
"Shall I help you?"
That snapped me out of my thoughts, as I have almost forgotten what was my main objective for going out today.
"I know someone that can give you a cheap apartment," he stands up and adjusted his sweater as he carefully gave me his big hand with a bright smile plastered across his face.
"That'd be a huge help not just to me, but also to my siblings."
**********************************************
Deither was walking ahead of me, I'm a little nervous for I really am not good at interacting with other people. I can only socialize with people whom I personally know, like how I am with Deither right now. I hope he can help me with this...
Soon as we stepped inside of the building, Deither looked over his shoulder to check if I was still behind him. He knocked three times on the door, which I think is an office. It slowly opened and a lady in her mid-30's I think, showed up with a confused face, but when her dark brown eyes landed on Deither, she smiled.
"Hi! I'm glad to see you here!" She leaned in for a hug and Deither grabs me by the arm as I get near the lady who I believe is the owner of this building.
"I'm here to accompany my friend," he started. "She's looking for an apartment, can you give her the best yet cheap one?" I nearly chuckled on his sentence. What best is going to be cheap?
"How many are you, sweetie?"
Heart beats fast, sweaty palms and trembling lips. She's talking to me.. what should I say? Should I greet her good morning? Or is it already noon? Or afternoon? What time even is it? I don't think I checked it before coming here.. what should I say so to not offend the woman in front of me?
"They're three." Deither answered for me which I deeply appreciated, from the very bottom of my heart.
"With her mom and dad?"
"No, with her two little siblings."
The pretty woman smiles, opening the door wide this time as she urges Deither and I to come in with her. "I'll discuss it further with you, sweetheart. As in this building, we have some few rules and regulations, just like in school."
Deither holds me by my arm like earlier, looking right into my eyes as I swallowed a huge lump in my throat. As if doing that would shake the nervous feeling away.. he must have sensed it, so he decided to enter the room first before telling me to go after him.
"Pets are not allowed," the lady announced, sat on her chair while Deither and I are across her. Another woman appeared, carrying a tray of food and settling it down on the table.
"We are strict about the rules here. As you have kids with you, I will give you a soundproof room. Kids would create a lot of noise and that is completely normal," she chuckles. "Mine make me mad but I love them.."
"I completely understand.. Savannah and Sylvester may be twins, but they're still polar opposites."
"I'll give you the key by next Sunday," she smiles at me as I gave her a deep bow.
"Thank you!" I cried. "I can finally be with them again!" I shouted, looking at Deither and holding his hands tight.
"I'm happy for you, Sana.."
"Thank you!"
On the way back home, I feel light as a cloud. Heavy weight on my shoulders now gone, I can freely move and jump up in the air. I am deeply thankful for Deither for helping me out today.. glad I met with him.
"You're jumpy.." I froze when I heard someone's voice in front of me. Stopping in my tracks, I found Sev standing there with a bag of plastic in his hand. "Did something good happen?"
I nodded with a smile. "Really good, Sev! I can be together with my siblings again! Finally!"
"Oh my, really? That's great news!"
"Isn't it?" I let out a sigh of relief. "I'm thankful to Deither.. I wouldn't find an apartment good for the three of us without his help."
"Deither?" A mocking smirk is drawn on his face and I rolled my eyes with a low grunt. "Boyfriend?"
"Teacher, he's the one from that night who came to fetch her little sister. You asked if he was my boyfriend, too." I corrected as he lightly chuckled. "He's my Math teacher, just like you. Which is why I want to ask you why you have chosen to become a kindergarten teacher, when you could have been high school teacher?"
"And be your Math teacher?" He smirks.
"N-no!" I exclaimed. "I didn't mean it like that! I was just curious as to why!"
Sev laughed, looking down on his feet as he kicked a stone and it flew off the ground. "It was true that I was aiming to teach high school students like you.. but I got more attached to kids."
"Attached?"
"I don't have siblings. I don't have anyone around me that is younger than me. On my way back from school, I saw a little girl at the park, playing by herself. I have always wanted to play with other kids, and that's what I did, with her."
"It was because of her that you love children...?"
"Yeah.. it was fun and I felt alive for the first time. It was a feeling that I won't ever forget.."
I smiled. I have always wondered why he has decided to become a kindergarten teacher and tonight, he has answered my questions. No wonder why the children are so attached to him as well.. but I didn't think he had a lonely childhood. I thought that he has a younger brother or sister and that was the reason why he is with kids right now.
"You've gotta thank that little girl, Sev.."
"Eh?"
"She's made you feel things like love and happiness.. that's something priceless and stays forever in you."
"I already have," he said.
"Very good."
Sev let out a little chuckle as he turns again to look at me. "Thank you, ma'am."
**********************************************
"Eyes, ears, elbows, neck and nose..."
I, along with the children sang while we wait for their teacher to come. I don't really teach them like they do, I'm just an assistant teacher since I'm only a part-timer. I play with the kids and clean up the room after class. Although sometimes I do get tired, because as we all know, children can be really messy and can push you at your limit at times.
"Sana!" Cleo screams, coming at me with a paper in her little hands. "I drew you!"
"Oh! Can I see?" I asked as she gently gives me the art that she made. There was a girl, braided hair and brown, holding hands with a little one beside her with black hair and both are smiling. Below was a note that says 'Thank you!'
Looking back down to the adorable human, I slowly open up my arms as she quickly threw herself at me. "Thank you for this, Cleo! I'll keep it!"
"I'm happy that you liked it, Sana!"
I was the one to let go first, studying the drawing she made again. "But of course! This is something worth more than a thousand dollars! I really love it!"
"Good morning, children," Sev greeted them all with a bright smile on his face.
The children replied, "Good morning, sir Sev!"
"Did you all have a good time with Sana?" He looks at me.
"We did!"
"Well, since the teacher is already present, Sana will have to go, okay? Let's play again later!"
"Okay! See you later, Sana!"
Exiting the classroom with a wave, I headed to the locker room. I need to send a text message to either Vene or Yuna. I didn't come to school today, and I have my reason. The money I have is too short for paying the apartment's rent, so I want to work harder than before. If it still isn't going to be enough, I would have to leave this kindergarten and find another job that has higher pay.
"Sana!" Yuna shouted from the other line, I had to get the phone away from my ear. "What happened this time? Last time you were absent, Savannah went missing because she followed a butterfly!"
I growled. "Could you please not that bring that up again?"
Yuna sighed. "Tell us what's up.."
"I found us an apartment, but I'm in short of money. I want to make more and that's why I am here." I answered.
"You could have just asked us for money," Vene said in anger. "Don't just skip school without telling us, Sana. We don't want to see you-" I heard her cried in pain as I giggled softly, that must Yuna hitting her.
"You idiot! Don't bring that up! Don't make her remember that!"
"It's okay, Yuna.. I'm already over it."
"Anyway," she replied but with a loud voice. "Vene and I can help you with the money. I can give you half of my allowan-"
"Yuna, no. I cannot accept that," I sternly interrupted her.
"Let us help you, Sana.. at least just this once.."
"Sana, we have been friends for over a year now. You can't make us stop caring about you.."
I sighed. "I just really cannot accept your money. I really am thankful that you guys care about me so much as to go this far for me, but I hope you understand. I don't want pity.."
"We are not pitying on you!"
"I know!" I shouted back. "But please... try to understand me. At least, let me have some pride for myself."
Taking the phone away from my ear, I ended the call. This is not the first time that the three of us quarreled, but I don't really like it when someone makes me look so pitiful..
Running a hand through my hair with a sigh of defeat, I rested my forehead against my locker with closed eyes. I don't really want to get in a fight with them.. I know how much they care about me. I know they mean well.. but, my stupid pride won't let anyone around me think I'm worthless.
"Is everything okay?"
"Oh!" I screamed, my heart begins to race as I quickly turn to face the person who just talked. "It was you.." I whispered.
"Yeah, it was me.. were you expecting someone else?" He smirked.
"No.. I was just deep in my thoughts.."
Deither leaned against the locker with crossed arms. "Tell me about it.. why were you absent today?"
"Are you here to fetch Cleo?"
"Why were you not in school?"
"Cleo is still in class as of now, so you would have to wait at the-"
"Sanara." He spoke in a serious tone, looking deep into my eyes and eager to hear my excuse.
"I wanna make more money."
"More money? For what?"
"For the apartment's rent. I'm short."
Deither stands tall, inserting his right hand into the pocket of his jeans.
"No, Deither, I'm not accepting that."
"I'm helping you as a friend, Sana, not as your teacher."
I slapped his hand away. "I didn't ask you to lend me any money, Deither."
"What more can a sixteen year old like you do?"
That struck me, and stunned me.
"You've got no one to turn to, Sana. You could turn your back on them, but not on me. I can't let you carry all this by yourself. Let it show, Sanara.."
I looked into his eyes.
"Let them show- your emotions. You're no robot."
A hot liquid flows down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away. Biting on my lower lip, I grabbed my bag from inside my locker and roughly hit my shoulder against his.
"If I show it to my face, the walls will break.. which I never want to happen again!"
"Sana-"
Turning myself about, I walked out of the school to cool myself down. Find some peace of mind. I have to let some steam off. I never thought that someone could still saw through me.. even though I tried to be as emotionless as can be.
What more can a sixteen year old like me, do?