With my head on the table, I fixate my gaze on the moving pictures on my phone. I let out a sigh, I miss my bed already.
"Paris, briefing" I hear a whisper and I raise my head.
My jaw dropped as I couldn't believe what was in front of me. I blink my eyes twice to see if it was just wishful thinking and why would I ever even wish for that?
"Good morning everyone!" She smiles generously at everyone. "Morning...". "Today is a very important day, a day of love, we are celebrating love. Love is what makes us human you know...without love, we wouldn't be teachers, am I right? I mean this job requires a person with a big heart full of love. So...As I always lead by example, I have little biscuits for everyone, my daughter baked them. Windsor can you help me please..." She hands over a big basket covered with a white cloth to him and he places it on Mrs Grey's table. "Oh! I almost forgot. Let's welcome Windsor from his leave. We missed him, didn't we? It's nice to have you back." She lets out a soft chuckle to escape her red lips and everyone joins in by clapping hands. "Keeping things brief, our classes will end at 10:00, I am sure everyone saw the timetable for today. We will use these hours to give learners school work, and the rest of the day will be for the celebration. I am happy to see that everything is set up outside. Let's have fun but do not forget the real goal, we raising funds for the school. Let's get to work!" She vacated the room.
"Oh, welcome back Windsor!" Everyone showers him with handshakes and hugs for the close ones. From my table, I stare at him. Should I go and greet him too? I bite my lower lip. Does my stare and staying glued to my chair make me look bad? I move my gaze and tap the screen of my phone. Maybe I should go to class. I rise to my feet and grab the pile of copies stacked facing different directions. Let me go hand out these copies, and when I come back, the show will be over.
"Paris, going to class already? " Ntshuxeko bursts my bubble, "Try these, they are not bad, open your mouth...". I take a bite.
"whoa...a new love is blossoming" Thabo comments while staring at Windsor who seems to be too busy to care about his surroundings. He did not even take a peep in our direction to confirm the words.
"Mmm, they are delicious. I will grab more when I come back" I take the remaining biscuit from Ntshuxeko, "Thanks". He creates space and lets me pass.
"Why did you put this basket on my table? It should be on your table." Groans Mrs. Grey.
"That was the only table next to me" He replied.
I felt a rush on my skin as I passed by and heard his voice. Fighting the urge to turn around and smile at him to show him that I am happy to have him back. That would be weird, who am I to him? Let go Paris. I disappear into the school blocks as I head to my first class.
*
I enter the staff room filled with jolly laughter and loud voices. It is the first time I see everyone happy and not jabbing each other. Now that I am coming back with my hands empty, I slide my hands into the pockets of my peach semi-formal trousers. I tried to go with the theme by wearing my peach trousers with a plain white round-neck tee and pink old-school vans with a black sole.
I receive a text as I sit down avoiding any eye contact with everyone. I smile as I read it and raise my eyes to steal a glance of him but he is talking to Thabo instead. I lowered my gaze with disappointment, I thought we were going to have that movie moment, but who am I kidding, this is real life. "I am going to the sausage roll station, don't you want to work with me? I mean this is not a suggestion, you look kinda lonely right now" Ntshuxeko hands over the serviettes to me. "Okay, I am bored anyway" I stand up and leave the room with him.
We prepare the sausages, the rolls, the sauces, and the serviettes in the right places waiting for the learners to leave class and indulge themselves the minute the bell rings. Ting! I check my phone, it is him again. Are we going to be texting all day?
"Your phone is going to be a distraction, why don't you put it away a bit? ", we stare at each other for a moment, "Really? The learners are not here yet, just this once, and I will put it away" I quickly type and put the phone in my pocket as an entourage of learners swamped through to the different stations.
*
"I am so tired..." I cry. "Any sausages left?" I jerk myself to live. "Yes...", "Can I have one?", "It's not free", "Even for me?" He smiles.
"Here" Ntshuxeko shoves the roll into his face. "Oh, thanks for ruining the only chance I had to talk to Paris" He takes the roll and bites into it right away, "Mmm so...delicious" He lets a complacent chuckle as he sees how annoyed Ntshuxeko was by his presence. "Would you like a ride back home? " He asks.
"Windsor you just came back!" Ntshuxeko yells, "I am sorry, but can't you at least pretend to stay away, just for a while..." He explains softly as he slows down his breathing. Windsor glared at Ntshuxeko sternly, then he cracked a little. "Paris, it was nice seeing you up close today. You look beautiful as always" He places the money for the roll on the station and walks away.
"What was that?" I look at Ntshuxeko.
"You won't understand..."He gnash his teeth, "I...I don't want you getting hurt. Windsor might be nice, kind but...I don't think he is for you" He gasps for air.
"What?" Feeling dumbfounded I gawk at him.
"There are rumors that he is to be engaged to uhm...Mrs Windhoek's daughter, the one who baked biscuits. I think that drama is not for you. Rich people drama is not a good drama for people like us" He rubs his temple.
"Oh...Are they dating? " I move closer to him.
"That is all you heard?" He looks at me with disappointment.
"No...I just need to get that part clarified too" I pout my lips.
"I don't know. I understand you might be lonely sometimes if you are, you can always knock at my door" He picks up the chafing dish pans and walks away.
I look at him as he walks. I sit down, digesting the side of stories that I have heard of Windsor, out of all of them, this one seems to be accurate and realistic. There is no way Windsor, concluding from his house, is having sexual relations with the head of the school to keep his job or doing it with old people is one of his fetishes. I turn my head and I see his car slowly exiting the gate and suddenly halt by the exits.
Ting!
"Can you go on a date with me tonight?"
I read the message aloud. My lips contort into a smile. I can't help but my heart races a bit when I read his texts, I blush when I see him, my world stops and I want to linger around him longer when I hear his voice...And all these stories seem to not matter in my world. Lucas, what are you doing to me?