It was a wonder how Sweety managed through the bus ride back to school and into her hostel quietly. Rob wanted to console her before she went inside but was rudely pulled back by the clown whose name he was living with herein.
At that time, Mr. Wilson was tempted to strangle this Frank De Wilson. His glares must have been an indication for that since not a single girl came to him to bid bye in fear of being eaten alive.
"If you keep on staring at me like that, someone will ring police for a supposed murder." De Wilson grinned at the riled up young man. God, how he reminded him of his youthful days, thought the old man.
Unfortunately, for Rob, the word 'murder' rang different bells in his mind.
Murder.
Him.
Julia Sanders.
Pursing his lips he waited for the old man to speak up. And fast!
"Just stay away from the girl. She seems to be gone through a lot."
Rob looked at the man like he had real clowns building on top of his head. "How the hell can you say that? I was the one who lis-" Good job, Rob. You were just about to reveal you were spying on a kid ten years younger than you.
Even if De Wilson caught up to something, he could not quite figure it out. "I sensed it." He opened up his hands in explaining manner, "You might be a teacher but not as qualified as me. I can sense what people are feeling and thinking just by one look at their face."
"Appears like it wasn't just me who was looking at her."
The real Wilson just pitied the young man answering. "Did you notice how Sweety was the only one interested in admiring the trees and the beautiful scenery we went to? While the others were busy playing, she did not mind staying back alone. What does that say?"
Rob was silent. Was this clown expecting him to say anything? It seemed he was being tested by him. Vigorously, at that.
"Um.." he cleared his throat peeping to the old man for any clue to show from his face but who was he kidding? He was goddamn psycho artist. "She is fond of nature. Never seen so beautiful nature." He hoped for a jab, or 'not bad' but all he got was,
"Are you sure you are a certified Psychology teacher?"
Ok....
Time to flee.
"I was saying I am tired from this trip." He pretended a yawn so wide. "See you later. We'll continue after." Just when he wedged a step he was blocked with a surmount mountain rock.
"Wait just there, riled up man."
"I am not riled up! I am tired! Get off my way!"
"Okay! Okay! If I said something to offend you, I apologize." Rob did not want an apology, he just hoped to not end up in jail the next second of found out he's forging the man's identity standing only a foot apart from him.
Gosh, what trouble he is in!
"But let me finish. You shouldn't leave your elders while they are saying important stuffs. You could learn a lot!" The clown and his cheery personality was not very appealing to Rob but he abided still. Just one minute. God promise.
Sighing, De Wilson stopped blocking him. With grave density in his voice he said, "She is under mild depression and she doesn't know that." That brought Rob's eyes to quirk upon the specialist's words.
"I am not saying I am absolutely correct but it is a very high possibility." When he saw his pupil staring at him not understanding anything he opened up gladly. "Alright, let's begin from the start. What did you notice when she came up to the forest site?"
"She was happy. Smiling genuinely." Rob remembered her smile, bringing a smirk in the corner of his lips. After all this old guy would be here for few days, let him rejoice in some company.
"Noted. Which says she is a girl to live in small happiness whenever live granted it on her."
Hearing those words made Rob feel good and ignore the possibility of a supposed depression.
"What next?"
Observing the man to be genuine in his field he let on. "Then I stole her from you," that earned him a silent glare from the host, chuckling he continued, "As much as you think she was swayed by my looks, she was worried about you more than me. Requesting me to get back to you immediately. I told her I am a teacher and she doesn't have to worry but she was hesitant at first and then... I managed." He winked in the end to put an effect on his survey.
Rob laughed watching the man's eyes going in slits as he narrated every detail.
"So that says she is a very careful person. It's good she resisted you. At least I have hope in her than you."
He snapped his neck to the clown. "What do you mean? I am not forcing her to come and have s-" He paused his energy level seeing a group of teachers passing by the pavement they were walking on.
De Wilson calmly smiled at the passing teachers then after they were gone he commented. "At least they are more decent than you. Stop scowling. Tell me what did you see when she was ridiculed in the bus?"
He changed his expression. "I could have stopped all that but you didn't let me!"
"And I did the right thing. You would have helped her then but what about after that?" Old man stopped suddenly, meeting Rob's eyes intensely. "You will help her today, tomorrow, what of her future? Will you help her in future too? She will go from here after two years and graduate to a college. Then what? You want her to hope you will come and help her in times of need?"
Just then the reality rushed into Rob's veins like a volt of lightning. He did not even have a voice to say 'Yes, I'll be there.'
Because no, he won't be there.
He came to get back his locket and the moment he gets it, he'll be done with the girl.
"I see now you have understood. Leave her alone, she is a grown woman unlike the others her age. You are not seeing it now, but experience speaks a lot in our field."
They parted ways with the teacher having a lot in his mind. He even insisted Tyler to avoid interfering with the old man as he would be gone in few days just like a guest.
Upon lying on his bed, face front, his pockets poked him to be released. He took out his phone, wallet, kerchief and then the earphones. Viewing the peculiar device having no buttons just an automatic switch which let him hear everything of Sweety.
He should listen to the old man's words and let the girl be. She has to fight her problems on her own.
But who told he couldn't listen and be quiet.
Call it boredom or straight-up fantasy of having to live another's life, he perched up the earphones and listened.