S. F. - 06

***

New.

I carefully placed the answer sheets in front of Mr Tay as he observed my every move. Who would have thought that in a span of weeks, I was able to discover some of his secrets accidentally. 

"How's suspension?" he casually asked as he picked up one answer sheet from the pile and started grading it. 

"Uh. Not that exciting though. It's not something new for me," I nonchalantly replied. Well, it was the truth given the amount of times I'd been suspended way back in high school for random things like breaking school properties or getting involved in fist fights. 

"I guess, you already know what you should do with the information you just discovered."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and casually scratched the back of my neck.

"Huh? What information? I don't know what you're talking about, Sir."

I impassively replied for the best thing to do at the moment was to feign innocence.

He just stared at me and cocked an eyebrow.

"Then continue pretending not to know anything. You may go."

 I scowled the moment I left the faculty room. 

"Tsss. If you weren't my teacher, I would have punched you across the face for being so arrogant."

"WELCOME BACK!"

I groaned when White suddenly came out of the blue and flung his arm around my neck.

"Yaaah. Get off. You're heavy!"

"So, how's suspension. I mean it's been months since you were last suspended."

"N-new," Gunsmile looked at me guiltily. "I-I'm sorry about the cigs."

"Hey. It's already done. And besides, it was my fault I got caught. Let's go. I'm starving. Why don't we eat at your department's cafeteria for a change of scenery?"

"Tsss. They just serve the same food, New," White whined and frowned at me. 

"I said change of scenery not change of food. Come on!"

I tapped Gunsmile's shoulder and smiled at him. He still had a guilty look on his face and I couldn't help but chuckle. 

"Hey, I said it's fine. And I know you called me several times. I wasn't just able to answer you because my father confiscated my phone."

It was then that Gunsmile suddenly broke into tears and grabbed me into a tight hug.

"H-hey!"

"I'm so sorry, New. I promise I won't smoke anymore. I swear I'm gonna quit smoking this time!"

I chuckled and tapped his back lightly.

"Yeah. You better do that or I'm definitely taking your lungs out."

And with that he bawled his eyes even more whilst White just laughed his heart out.

***

I scoffed as Gunsmile placed a plate of Guay Teow in front of me.

"Tsss. What's with the sudden service, Mr?" 

"Hey, just don't ruin the mood, okay? This doesn't even compensate for what you went through because of me."

"Tsss. I told you it's fine," I replied and started digging in. I didn't have much for breakfast so the food in front of me just tasted twice as delicious. 

"So what did your father say?" White asked as he started digging in his own food.

"You know, just the usual. You already know about it," I responded nonchalantly. We're so close to the point that they already know what consequences I had to face every time I did something outrageous.

"New," I jolted when Gunsmile grabbed my hand all of a sudden.

"H-hey. What are you doing?" I asked nervously and stared at him with confusion.

"I, Gunsmile, vow to never drag you into anything that would mess your relationship with your father ever again. White, you're the witness to this vow of mine and I'm giving you two the right to break my bones if I ever broke my promise."

White immediately stood from his seat and saluted. "Sir! Yes, Sir!"

"Yah! Stop this, okay. You're freaking me out," I scowled as I pulled my hand back. 

I was about to go back to eating when all of a sudden, a guy approached our table and handed me a piece of paper. 

"Someone wants to give you this, P'New."

"What's this?" I vehemently asked but he just left without saying another word. 

I scoffed as I opened the note but was ultimately shocked upon reading what was written on it. 

New, I bet we'd look good together. How about you become my boyfriend and I become yours?

I rolled my eyes and quickly crumpled the note, throwing it aside. 

"Yah! Whoever sent me this, you better show yourself!" I exclaimed as I hit the table with my fists. 

Several pairs of eyes turned to look at us while some started whispering.

"H-hey. Relax, okay? I'm sure whoever sent you this is just joking," Gunsmile tried to calm me down.

"Or maybe, the guy mistook you for someone else," White interjected before smiling awkwardly.

"It has his name, White."

"O-oh, really?"

I was about to throw my question again when a voice shushed everyone in the area. 

"It's from me, New."

I quickly stood and turned to look at the one who just spoke and immediately frowned upon seeing an unfamiliar face.

"Who the fuck are you and why did you send me such outrageous note? Are you looking for trouble? Let's talk in fists, you asshole!"

"H-hey calm down, New," Gunsmile pulled my arm but I just whisked his hand away.

The guy just stood and smiled at me, he pocketed his hands before cocking an eyebrow.

"See you around, New. Think about it again. I'll be waiting for you."

He then turned on his heels and left the area.

"Who the fuck is that?" I asked Gunsmile and White as I slumped back on my seat.

"You don't know him?" Gunsmile and White asked in unison, their eyes wide in utter disbelief.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed at them to imply my annoyance at the stupidity of their question.

I definitely didn't know whoever that was. Aside from the fact that I rarely went to the Engineering building, I just didn't give a damn about such irrelevant people.

"Do you think I'd ask if I do??"

"Come on, New. Everybody knows Earth. He's the most famous engineering student in the entire university. He even became moon last year," White raised his eyebrow at me.

"Well, forgive my ignorance but I don't give two fucks about who he is. What I'm saying is he's fucking annoying," I scoffed at them and started digging in my food again but eventually stopped as I'd lost my appetite.

"But it seems like he really likes you. He's known for being aloof and girls are usually the ones who make the first move on him," Gunsmile informed me.

"Well, I'm sorry but I'm not a girl nor gay so he doesn't stand a chance."

Then I froze as I remembered that someone.

I cleared my throat as I hesitated to ask them the question that had been bugging me for days.

"H-Hey, what would you do if someone you know is...you know...bisexual," I asked them hesitantly.

"Huh? What's that?" White innocently asked as he stuck his mouth with food.

"Seriously, you don't know what that is??" Gunsmile smacked the back of his head.

"Woww! Are you that angry at my ignorance?" he hissed and aimed his fork at Gunsmile.

"Good thing you know you're ignorant," Gunsmiled scoffed at him before turning to me.

"Why? Are you...you know?"

"Are you crazy?! Of course not!" I immediately fended for myself as I noticed the look on his face. "It's someone I know. You know...I just accidentally found out he's bi-bisexual."

"Well, I guess there's nothing wrong about it though. But seriously, New...are you hiding something from us?"

"Yah! I told you I'm not gay!" I hit my fists on the table as I stood up earning some unsolicited attention from the others who were also eating in the cafeteria.

"Fine. Fine. No need to be so worked up."

I quickly grabbed my bag and swung it over my shoulder.

"I gotta go. I'm gonna be late for my next class."

I immediately left the place whilst trying my best to ignore the murmurs of the other students.

***

I just need to finish something at the office. Be there in an hour.

I sighed as I pocketed my phone after reading my father's message.

As an extended punishment for what I did last time, I was not allowed to use my car in going to school and it was something that irked me for I just hated taking public transportation.

I mindlessly kicked the small stones on the sidewalk. After spending an hour of silent treatment from Mr Tay at his office this afternoon, I decided to wait for my father to fetch me outside even though it seemed like it was gonna rain.

I jolted when a car suddenly honked in front of me. I groaned inwardly when I saw Mr Tay in the driver's seat.

"What are you doing here?"

I smiled awkwardly at him. I unconsciously looked at the passenger seat and heaved a sigh of relief when I saw that it was empty.

"I'm waiting for my father to fetch me, Sir."

"Is he coming? It's about to rain."

"He'll be here in an hour, Sir."

"Hop in. Your house is along my direction anyway. I'll just drop you off."

"N-no thanks, Sir. I'm fine," I immediately declined his offer and waved my hands in front of me.

"It's about to rain and it's already late. You still have to wait for an hour. Just text your father that you're on way."

"B-but, Sir."

"New. Are you getting in or am I dragging you inside?"

I gulped as he used that condescending tone on me again leaving me with no choice.

"O-Okay," I muttered lowly and went inside his car.

"Fasten your seatbelt."

***

Mr Tay groaned as we got stuck in traffic. The rain was pouring heavily and the streets were slightly flooded.

I fished my phone out of my pocket to check my father's reply and heaved a sigh of relief when he just sent "Okay. Take care." and nothing else.

I glanced at the driver's seat and noticed him massaging his temples.

"A-are you okay, Sir? Why don't I drive fi-."

"It's okay. Just got a slight headache," he quickly dismissed my suggestion and started driving when the traffic started moving again.

"Uhm, Sir, about what happened, I-uh-"

My words were left midair as his phone rang and Kao's name flashed on the screen.

He took a deep breath before answering the call and putting it on loudspeaker.

Tay, where are you?

"I'm on my way home."

Hurry up. I'm at your unit. What's taking you so long??

I grabbed my phone and pretended to be busy scrolling through my socials when in fact my ears were on his convo with Kao.

"I'm stuck in traffic, okay? Just wait for me. I'll be there."

Fine. Ta-take care. I'll be waiting for you.

And with that Kao ended the call. I unconsciously scrolled on my Facebook faster, still putting on a "I'm not eavesdropping on your conversation" show.

"Tsss. No need to pretend. You know it anyway."

I cleared my throat and pocketed my phone.

"Uh, about that. I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen to your conversation back then."

"Well, I guess someone is bound to know about it anyway."

I smiled awkwardly as he glanced at me. He was smiling but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I noticed how pale his face was. He was also sweating and it was until then that I noticed him gripping the steering wheel a little bit tight.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. We're here."

"H-Huh?" I asked, confused with what he meant.

"Isn't this where you told me to drop you off before?"

I immediately looked outside and realized that we were already outside the subdivision.

"Where's your house? You can't walk under the rain."

I looked at him and hesitated.

"Come on. I can't just let you off in this rain."

"I can just walk from here, Sir. And besides, the rain's not that heavy already," I immediately rejected his offer. I just didn't like the idea of him knowing exactly where I live.

"New, tell me."

"Uh, the-the fourth one from the entrance." I quickly replied when I heard the sternness in his voice and he started driving inside the subdivision.

"T-thanks for the ride...Sir," I muttered lowly as I went down the car. The rain had subsided so I just used my bag to cover my head as I ran towards our house.

I was about to open the gate when I heard car tires screeching which was then followed by a loud honking sound.

"Shit!" I quickly threw my bag aside and went back to his car which was now rw recklessly parked sideways on the road.

"Sir??"

I immediately opened the driver's seat and gasped as I looked at Mr Tay who had his eyes barely open whilst leaning on the steering wheel.

"Sir, are you —"

Kao calling...

I stared at his phone on the dashboard and then at him.

I carefully grabbed his head from the wheel as the sound was starting to wake up the entire neighborhood and eventually noticed his high temperature.

"Sir?" I tried calling him but he just opened his eyes for a while and then closed them again.

"Urgh. How did my day end this way?" I inwardly groaned before putting him on my back and walked unsteadily towards the house.

***