Chapter 8

I groan and rest my head.

"How were the classes?"

I raise my head slowly and open one of my eyes to peep at the face of the voice. It is him, Lucas.

"mmm," I groan and close my eyes.

"You must be exhausted"

"Mmm," I groan.

"I can drop you off"

I jerk myself upright and face him. "Really?"

"Yep, I don't mind. Maybe I will get to see where Mr Marvin stays" He rubs his chin.

"Who's that?" I frown at my eyebrows.

"The guy you live with..." He points out

"Uhm.." I pause, who is that? "Oh...Ntshuxeko!"

"Ntshu-" He tries to mouth out the name.

"So his English name is Marvin. Interesting" I grin.

"You didn't know? That is how we refer him here at work" He pauses "Anyways, I am leaving now, so...Are you good to go or?..."

"Let me pack these..."

"Good afternoon, can I have everybody in the staff room, please? There's an urgent meeting" The lady in red I call her appears and summons everybody.

I look at Lucas and he quickly grabs the chair from Ayanda's table and places it next to me. I move my glance from him and look at Mrs Windhoek in the centre of the room impatiently waiting for all the teachers to run into the staff room at her request.

"Where's everybody? I have a meeting I am rushing to" She glances at her stainless silver-coated wristwatch and then places her hands on her waist. Slowly her expression was turning into a vexed one. Finally, Ntshuxeko walks in hasty and closes the door behind him. He settles down.

"Finally! Everybody is here. So, I know we don't do this, however, I think this gesture would be a good act of kindness. I am proposing a welcome braai" She pauses and observes people's reactions. "What do you think?" She purses her lips.

Everybody keeps silent, however, their facial expressions showed indifference to the idea. Some teachers seemed to be upset, especially the female teachers who got called by Mrs Windhoek on my first day. The silence got louder and icy as a second passes away.

"I think it is a great idea!" He clears his throat and glances at me. What bro? I hold myself from rolling my eyes or raising my brows or shaking my head. It's obvious, people are against the idea, can't you read the room?

"Perfect! This Friday it is. " She flashes her white teeth grin. "Tomorrow, I will further discuss this with the right stakeholders to organise our mini-event. Ek sal jou môre sien " She turns and whines her curvaceous physique out of the staff room.

"Wow! That is a first!" Everybody exclaims

"The new baby in the house" One of the ladies comments

"Until you do one little mistake and you are gone!" Everybody laughs.

"Come on! Look at the bright side, we are eating the school's money for once" Thabo points out and rubs his hands in pleasure.

"Oh, oh, who said so? You know these things, tomorrow you will be asked to contribute because the school account doesn't have the budget for it"

"You are right" They all agree and their faces become gloomy.

"Typical of her! she has a motive, she wants to make sure that we are not comfortable. You know she called us that day to..." she pauses "never mind. you all don't learn. I am leaving" The lady picks up her bag.

"Where are you going? Don't you have a class to attend Mrs Grey? " Lucas asks nonchalantly laying back on the chair next to me.

"Oh right! I forgot you are also her sucker! Watch me walk out of the door. I don't get paid for overtime." She continues to walk away in a vexed place.

Silence engulfed the room for a bit and everybody rushed to the poster board to check something.

"What are they checking? " I asked confused.

"After school classes. But you don't have one yet because that is an old timetable." He smiles at me. okay, he has started again for a minute I thought he was a very assertive man when he reminded Mrs Grey about classes.

"Why? Isn't this post always taught in Grade 12? " I raise my eyebrow with curiosity. I want the juice. I am slowly catching up to the drama.

"Uhm...because the previous teacher was not into that stuff. Let's go!" He brushes it off. I fixate my gaze on his lying face for a bit. The way his eyes wandered and moved away quickly from me, there's a story here.

"Liar...." A voice chime in

" Thabo mind your business" Lucas was assertive again. His facial brows were leaning towards each other forming small wrinkles between them.

"Oh right...I guess I won't ruin your chances with this one too but the past has its way of coming back to you. Nothing stays buried forever" He walks away.

Okay! Drama!!!!!!! I am also wondering what the hell is going on. For a minute, the tension between Thabo and Lucas was skyrocketing hitting the ceiling. I could feel the bad energy seething through them. I guess this Mrs Ndlovu who just left or as they say "fired" left this place in a ruckus. The question will I float above this conflict or will it swallow me whole? I feel a tinge of pain piercing my chest. Vutomi relaxes, you are above this, just ask fewer questions and you will be fine.

"Okay, let's go!" I push my chair and stand up.

"Finally!" He rushes off to his table to take his belongings.

I put my preparation books in my backpack orderly and finally my water bottle and phone chargers. I zip it and carry it on my back. I walk to Ntshuxeko's table although as expected Ayanda is enamoured by him.

"Hey"

"Hey"

"I am leaving" I let him know

"Uhm...just give me a few minutes" He starts to quickly fix his table.

"Why are you rushing?" She looks at me.

"No reason" I try to answer as politely as possible because the intent behind her question is "stop disturbing us, don't you see we are still busy". But I had to so that he doesn't think I am still mad at him. " If you guys are still busy, you can stay, Mr Windsor has given me a lift so I thought you would want to tag along too.

"No thank you, you can leave" He slowly stops fixing his table and just looked at me with a defeated emotion in his eyes. I feel like he is displeased with my decision. I look at him back. What dude? I move my eyes away. That was intense.

"Hey" Lucas stands by me with his laptop bag on his arm.

"Okay see you at the residence"

"Okay" He sounds grumpy.

We walk out of the staff room. I feel like he is angry with me. What a touchy-feely man. Another layer is peeled. I smirk.

Glossary

Ek sal jou môre sien - I will see you tomorrow.