Page 17 of Don't Date Your Ex Best Friend
“I do, but this is related to school and Mr.Davis personally asked me to call and talk to them, so I have to.”
I asked if they took the notes of the adverb clause I had taught them today and cleared up the whiteboard.I checked the time and heard the little growls in their stomach.
Walking to my handbag, I pulled out my lunch box and kept it on my empty desk.“Who wants to eat gulab jamuns?”
The legs of the desk squeaked as they shuffled out of it and ran for the sweets covered in sugary syrup.I smiled at them as they fought for the last piece after stuffing it in their mouths like squirrels.It almost reminded me of me and Eth?—
My stomach coiled, and the smile wiped off my face.I sat down on the desk and tried to count to ten.He still slipped into my brain.Six years and I still couldn’t forget him.My therapist had told me I never would.Too much had happened in too little time.I could never forget him.
How could I when he was the most important part of my life?
Ben and Andrew were distracted and having their own lunch, talking about a new anime they were watching while I pulled out a small journal and wrote what I felt about thinking about him all of a sudden.I wondered if I should check in with my therapist and sent her a quick text.Her reply came fast as it was lunch hour.She told me not to worry too much.Fragments of memories were inevitable, and I didn’t need to worry about it every time I thought of him.
My stomach clenched with nerves.I knew something was missing.Shaking my head, I decided I would figure it out after school.I needed to be at my best right then.
After finishingthe lunch with Ben and Andrew, who were now grinning from ear to ear because of the sweet gulab jamuns, I made a quick trip to the washroom and cooled down before two more classes.
I was on my way to my class when I saw a kid trip down the stairs because of his shoelace.I rushed to him and helped him on the stairs, looking for any wound.He had bruised his elbow a little.He seemed about seven to eight years old, much younger than the kids I teach.
I gently inspected his elbow, his shoulders slouching as he tried hard not to cry.“It’s okay, love.I will help you clean it.Come on, I have a bandage in my bag just over here.”
I helped him tie up his shoelace, and he followed me quietly.He said he was going back to his class after having lunch with his friends, but he wanted to go to the washroom first.I smiled and sat him down on my chair, pulling out a bandage and cotton from my bag.
As I cleaned the minor wound, I asked, “So, what’s your name?I am Kiara.”
“Rahul,” he mumbled, biting his lip.
“That’s a really good name,” I said.“I have a friend in India named Rahul.”
“Oh,” his dark brown eyes widened.“I bet he doesn’t trip like I do.”
“I will tell you a secret, Rahul.”He listened to me and I whispered, “He is worse.”
A fit of giggles escaped his lips, and I grinned at him.
“But don’t be afraid to fall, okay?”I said.“It is okay to fall.You know why?”
He shook his head, his attention fixed on me as I took a small bandage.
“Because you have the courage to stand up again.”
He nodded and looked at his elbow where I had applied the bandage.He gasped, “Spiderman!”
“Yes, Spiderman.Just like him.”
His grin was so wide, I could see the freckles splattered over his small nose and cheeks, his chocolate skin glowing.“Thank you, Miss!I will show this Spiderman to all my friends, they will be so jealous.”
I let out a soft chuckle, and he kissed my cheek before rushing out of the classroom.
“Watch your steps!”I called after him, but he was already out of earshot.
I gazed back at my empty chair and nibbled on my lip.I took a deep breath and focused on the next class, which was about to begin.
After the last students left, handing me their assignments, I erased the board and solved the question one girl had.She thanked me when I helped her with my own notes and allowed her to take a picture on her phone.I watched her leave and saw a gorgeous blonde woman in fitted trousers and a blouse as she smiled warmly at me, knocking lightly at the door.I let her in and saw Ben following his mother.I could see the resemblance between the two.Same golden blonde hair, small nose and deep blue eyes.
Her voice was sweet when she introduced herself.“Hello, I am Ben’s mother, Stacy, and I am so glad to finally meet you.Benny can’t stop talking about the new English teacher, and because of you, his grades have improved a lot.Thank you so much for all the extra lessons.”
My cheeks flushed.“Oh, I am sure it’s because of all the hard work Ben puts in his studies.I am very proud of all my students.He worked hard to get the grades he has.”
