Mack rolled down the window as the cab drove further from the crowded part of the City into the distant area. His eyes captured every natural look of the place. He sighed and sat back comfortably on the seat. He left his humble abode to come and work as one of the teachers in a University rumored to be mysterious in so many ways and one of them was being alone in a not-so-crowded area.
All he wanted to do was to teach in a high school as he believed that he would be able to handle the students very well and confidently but he was given this place. His greediness also led to it because the school promised to pay his expenses which meant he was on his way to living a good life. Maybe it wasn't just about being greedy. It was about his survival.
"Mister, we have arrived." The driver announced and Mack snapped back to reality.
"Oh, thank you." He opened the door and got out of the car, he took a look at the surroundings. It was filled with beautiful tall trees and green grass, nevertheless, he was scared of the presence of snakes.
The driver helped put down his luggage and he paid the man before he left. The place wasn't boring or quiet. There were people around but not too close to the school, standing from where he was, one could see the houses around. There was only a lane that led to this place and the school was just like the end of it all.
Mack believed that not many people passed through this route. Maybe there was another place to pass through.
After finishing his thought, he pulled his bag along with him and crossed the lane. On the University's gate was inscribed the name of the school; Bandook University.
"Good day." Mack greeted the security man who had come to attend to him. The man looked at Mack from head to toe and this gave Mack a strange signal but it soon went off when the security man replied.
"Good day, how may I help you?"
"I am the new…"
"Oh, you must be Mr. Bandok." A fragile-looking woman appeared from nowhere. Mack blinked.
"No, I am Mack."
The woman laughed awkwardly and adjusted her glasses. Mack kept eyeing the woman in a strange woman, was this another way someone behaved?
"Ha, pardon me, Mr. Mack. Please, come in with me." The woman replied and the security man threw a hard look at the woman but she smiled meaningfully at him before chuckling. Mack wasn't able to notice what had suddenly happened as he was busy trying to carry his bags in.
"Welcome to Bandook University, home of academics. By the way, I am Stella, a geography teacher." She introduced herself by placing her hand on her chest. Mack was confused about how to react but he nodded regardless of the situation.
"Come with me. I have been expecting you ever since the Vice Chancellor announced the coming of a new teacher in the school. I was kinda surprised as I wasn't expecting the news, not many want to come to this side of the City despite its natural habitat and great resolution alongside peace of the mind." Stella said.
Mack looked around, it was normal for one to want to get to know where exactly they were and that was what he was doing. Unlike his imagination, his reality was superb. The buildings were magnificent and the structures, even though they were old, were still standing.
The only difference here was that there was not much. It felt like he was back in high school again. Stella glanced at him as they passed by different buildings.
"I can see that you have a lot of questions to ask." She noted. Mack looked at her and smiled.
"I do have a lot to ask but I will try to keep them in…"
"No…no, don't you dare keep any in. It's evening and I know that you must be tired from the journey. So after leading you to the apartment, tomorrow morning is gonna be another day for me to take you around and explain a few things to you."
"Alright, thank you very much."
Stella took another route while he followed steadily and they both arrived in front of another gate. It wasn't as big as the school's own but appropriate. Another man stood up to open the gate, but they had no conversation.
"This is the teacher's lounge. We have over fifty teachers here, that's why this place is large. The buildings are divided into separate yet comfortable rooms for each one. The males are apart and the females are apart. Since they are done for the day, you probably won't be able to meet with anyone until tomorrow morning." Stella's explanations did quite a huge favor for Mack.
Stella handed over the room keys to Mack when they got to the room.
"If you need any help, you can meet with the security at his post and he will help you out."
"Thank you, Miss Stella."
"Oh, please, call me Stella."
"Then my name is Mack alone."
"Mack alone…got it!"
"No, I mean you should call me Mack without any prefix."
Stella laughed heartily and nodded, "Yeah, I know. I was just pulling your legs. By the way, you look...so beautiful, if I may say that."
"Oh really?" Mack was taken aback by the compliment. He had been praised quite a few times for his features.
"Yeah. You have these soft feathers that are appealing and so smooth...I would have mistaken you for a young lady if not for the fact that I saw your gender."
Mack blinked as the words settled in. Stella must have gotten the hint and quickly waved her hand.
"Silly me, have a goodnight's sleep."
"And you too." Mack returned the little wave Stella had shown him before turning around.
Stella took a last look at the twenty-four-year-old man before leaving.
Mack opened the door and the homely scent felt…homely. The lights were on and the room was cleaned. It was more like a master bedroom with a King-size bed placed in the middle and two drawers beside it. There was an open kitchen with a few important kitchen utensils, they had the school stamps on them. There was a bathroom and then a closet.
Mack sighed, lay flat on the bed, and closed his eyes. This was probably not a bad choice after all.