It was unexplainable to say how the thirty minutes passed by in the classroom with all the tension between two souls. Which was soon felt by the others present as well.
"Next question. Who'll answer it?" Rob glanced around the room, a few hands were up. "Yes, Sweety."
Sweety stood up, her hands clutching the rims of the table to control them from slapping this imposter until his face is red like tomato. "I did not raise my hand AGAIN!" It was the fifth time he was doing this. As it is she was having a difficult time with the girls passing comments of her hooking up with the teacher.
"I know that Sweety." With the way he was saying, it was hard to say if he was calling her name or giving her an endearment. He met her eyes and asked, "Don't you know answers to any of the questions?"
Sweety's hold turned tighter. "No." She lied levelheaded. Actually, for not giving him the satisfaction that she wanted anything to do with him, especially after knowing he wasn't a 'Frank Wilson' as he claimed; Sweety denied knowledge to any of the questions asked in the class.
"Now that is the example of wasting all your holidays in phones and chats with boyfriends." If only he knew how angry he was making her with his words, maybe he did. And he enjoyed seeing her fuming and controlling it around audience.
Sweety couldn't form polite words to reply because all that is wanting to blurt out are words if blown out will cause rumors in the school reminding her every remaining day of what she said.
"I didn't tell you to sit." Sweety straightened herself on impact, staring any where other than him. Darn it, she could see him coming close to her from the corner of her eye but she can't allow herself to show him the uneasiness. After stopping very close to her, like a step apart, Rob saw her gulping once then she blinked staring down as if the stupid books were more interesting than him. "Class is over. Miss Roulette, detention after school."
Rob turned around for the exit while Sweety looked up at his declaration.
She was gloomy ever since the first class and it impacted so worse that her favorite teacher Mr. Bahl was upset from her lack of participation.
"This is the first class after first holidays so I understand if you are homesick," he called her to a corner to say this, "But I expect you'll be better in tomorrow's class?"
Sweety nodded gratefully, "Yes sir. I.. am sorry for today."
"Don't stress and keep on practicing." He patted her head twice, she smiled in gratitude before using the restroom.
While on her business, she heard two girls from her class enter in while talking.
"Ha! Our batch is the best and interesting."
"But the seniors claimed their was." The second one retorted.
"Every one wants to boast how great their high school is! But I can bet the seniors never saw all this drama we have a free ticket for! Did you see how that sweet girl is enveloped around two teachers? I must say, she is a prime example of- 'Don't judge the book by its cover!'" They laughed at her joke.
All Sweety wanted was to open this cubicle and... what? What will she do? Her mind went on to suggest any one of the two paths. Argue or Move past.
In the end she decided to stay put until they were gone.
"I don't think she likes Mr. Wilson. Shouldn't that be an indication there's nothing between them?"
"Oh, I like that girl!" She muttered to herself, their voices were high enough to go pass hers even if she shouted a 'shoot'.
"You're just a baby till now Ria. Don't you get it? She's pretending. Been doing that for a long time! Not that everyone will support the idea of two individuals with an age difference of ten years to roam around like a couple!"
Sweety had turned the knob of her cubicle until she heard Ria. "Yeah, that's possible. But how do you know?"
"Everyone knows. Doesn't that count? Come on now, it'll be the last class and then date with Harry!"
"Okay."
The girls moved out just as Sweety did.
"It's getting worse. I have to stop this now." She told herself in the mirror.
Since it was the last class Sweety picked out of it for a very important reason. She was on the doorstep of the classroom as he was swinging his arms out in the charming sense, she could see the girls drooling over there!
Just when he paused from his speech, two knocks surrounded the air. Eyes were on her and the girl did her best to not shrink under. It was the classroom of her seniors!
"Um.. Sorry to disturb you sir but there is an urgent requirement of you," she explained not leaving his gaze. "For the assignment!" She added.
"Come after class." Rob returned his focus back on students. As he knew she won't be able to see his face, a smirk appeared on his lips which he covered up with a fake cough. Though the teacher scrammed her away, few students were interestingly watching a junior student turning furious of Mr. Wilson.
"Yes Mona, you were saying your grandmother made unknown dishes this holiday. Make some known to us."
Really? THAT was why he wanted her to come after class!
Sweety wanted to shout 'You Imposter!' but she did not have a proof. This con man could have arranged for a fake certificate of degree for teaching here.
That day after school, Sweety carried her bag with herself to the teacher's cabins but unlike before there was crowd there. Greeting those who came across her view, her eyes searched for the pretender who she had been calling a 'teacher' for a while.
"Who you lookin'?"
"Mr. Wilson." She answered without turning to the asker. It was a huge room with small cabins distributed for teachers, she never realized its size even though she came here with Frank Wilson almost everyday after school.
"God, those experiments he conducted..." I really was a fool to fall under his traps, Sweety spoke to the air passing every cabin corner.
A tap on her shoulder led her to finally see the person who was inquiring earlier. "I said he is not here so stop looking and go home. Come with your doubts tomorrow." With that the man in fifties walked away.
Dejectedly, she kicked empty air while walking, her walk was not ending because she was walking every ground of this school. Not to find him but to think!
Nearing the basketball ground she threw her bag at a corner and grabbed the lone ball and threw it. From afar it would seem she was trying to make baskets since the basket and the wall she was throwing against were on the same side.
"I had clearly thought of what I'll say to him today.." Another throw to the wall.
As it bounced back at her she continued, "But he ran off! Like the coward he was!"
Strike by strike she wished it was his head she was punching the ball in.
"Who's a coward?" Sweety was in a stance to catch the ball in time when the question interrupted her focus and she was hit.
"Ow! Shit!" She held her right foot in pain, ultimately bouncing her butt on the ground. It helped in pressing the injured part.
"Remove yours shoes and then press it."
"I know!" She snapped and then realized. Instantly, she was up on her remaining good toes, "You! Ha! Found you!"
Rob uninterestedly looked at the temporary achievement this girl was having.
"Oh? I thought I was the one who found you. You didn't come after the class."
"What-? What do you mean?" She asked him back, confused.
"I was waiting in the class I was teaching. You didn't come." He emphasized clearly. "Is your steam blown out yet? My court must have helped you in my absence." He put his hands on his waist stoutly clocking all over.
Sweety came up with a smile, seeing that Rob's eyes were drawn to her lips at the same time he wondered what she was up to this time.
"Your court? How can I ask help from your court to punish the owner?" She said it out sweetly then corrected, "I mean, fake owner."
When he merely stared at her she pumped out. "What are you doing here? You are no Frank or Mr. Wilson- Now that I think about it.." Sweety gasped loudly, covering her mouth in instinct. "T-That professor..."
"Yes. He's the real one."