HOHB - a rude awakening...

Chapter #13

*BANG!*

A deafening slam suddenly crashed onto the desk my head was nested onto, the piercing impact from the desk forced an impulsive jolt of my neck.

As drool began to drip from my numb lips, evidently caused by the chilly draft of the black sky night, which filled with teeming radiant stars.

The explosive stir that coursed through the nape of my neck, provoked an undesirable sensation akin to being pricked by pins and needles, as a quick pungent burn tingled through the scruff of my neck.

With the combination of these undesirable feelings, I prompted a hand onto the rear of my neck, as I patted, clenched, and stroked the nape of my neck, attempting to lessen the pain.

Relinquished in my attempts, a discernible shadow shadowed over my desk, as a momentary pause followed before the shaded figure let out a sigh.

"Dramatic as always I see." An oddly familiar deep tone voice uttered. "The sun has already begun to subside, hurry up and ready your focus. I finally figured out the nifty idea from last night." I lofted my slouched head upward in curiosity, as my puffy gaze began to refocus onto the friendly voice.

"Instructor Yates! Oh jeez, you gave me a heart attack, I nearly pissed myself." I voiced heavily with a slight chuckle residing, still in obvious protest towards his unethical ways.

"Stop whining, I didn't hit your desk that hard." My instructor exposed an exaggerated rueful sigh before he continued.

"Ah! By the way, funny thing actually, while you were sleeping I took a few photos of your sleeping face for later laughs." Yates expressed, before quickly erupting into a fit of hysterical laughter which ushered him to lean onto a desk, filled with scattered crumbled rolled-up paper-balls.

"Huh? What are you going on about?¨ I questioned, too drowsy to properly reply.

"Its...a secret my boy!" He snickered, beginning to cover his childish laughter behind his phone, as he seemingly started to scroll through his phone obnoxiously.

"̈Instructor Yates!" I vented loudly, finally awoken from my daze by his annoying immature nature. "You mentioned you figured out something? What was it?"

"Hmm…"¨ Yates hummed, before beginning to scratch his left cheek, apparently trying to answer my question.

"Ah! Yes, I remembered the original fighting style, and lessons I planned to teach you als-." His voice paused and a hint of hesitation wavered, which was obviously indicated from some sort of self-rebuttal.

̈But." He paused once more.

"Truth be told, it's not gonna be easy. Estimating your previous performance in class, and your current physical condition, frankly. You're not exactly the source material needed for my training regiment."

"Huh. Source material? What are you implying?" I pondered, still confused on where this was leading towards.

"Well." Yates gaze hastened widely, as his former unfocused eyes, which perched downwards towards my vicinity shifted into a set of sharp slit eyes that cut crosswise, as a frightening stern stare had begun to observe me without discretion.

His newfound stare had struck me with such dreadful fear the second our eyesight connected, as his gaze sent multiple shivers down my spine.

But. Even with such an emotionless gaze radiating from him, I felt a sort of hospitality casting from them. What an odd sensation, the feeling of being looked down upon with such vicious sets, despite the feeling of warmth from them.

Although

Within his attentive gaze that drilled into my already clenched chest which dubbed with anticipation, a far-fetched sentiment that I would never expect to sense from his eyes...

Why does such eyes show such conflicting traits? Why does Instructor Yates gaze show such…

Loneliness.

*HMMM.*

A sudden lull resided from his loosened lips, as his predatorial gaze resided back into the original soft-toned gaze from before, as his prior sealed lips contorted into a smile.

His reformed smile dismissed my uneasiness, as his soft gaze was like a sudden beam of sunlight that somehow amplified the dimmed moonshine backdrop.

As the prior unwelcoming environment had all but disappeared with the few momentary flashes of silence that passed between us, as Instructor Yateś seemed to alternate his expression leading him towards the prospects of speaking.

Yet, even though the atmosphere had changed drastically, and Instructor Yates' smile comforted my uneasy heart, my gut still ached uncomfortably. Why? Why did I sense such defection from his gaze?

I pondered this prospect relentlessly, including why I could feel such a bizarre emotional connection, but nothing came to mind, until a spirited toned voice snapped me back to reality.

"What I'm trying to say may come off as off-putting, but it's important you know of these liabilities." Yates stated sternly but with a gentle smile showing his concern.

I delivered a subtle nod, showing my understanding. But nevertheless, I still felt blinded by what I had agreed to, especially what the purpose behind that stare-down was for.

But, my worries would hold no importance, as once again a brittle-toned voice snapped me back from my suspicions, as Instructor Yates walked over towards a broad grassy colored chalkboard which adjoined with the desk he priorly leaned onto.

Grabbing a variety of different shades of chalk that resided on an extensive carved-out wooden outlay, he quickly shifted his weight leading him to face my general direction.

Waggling a rose tint chalk in his left hand, he began to grin from obvious excitement, as a slight grin gradually grew in size, as he attempted to prevent a burst of excited laughter from unfolding.

As a swift awkward wink followed quickly after, which I can only assume was supposed to be interpreted as some sort of badass move, but was only a clumsy attempt at whatever he was trying to convey.

I paused for a moment, straining myself to not burst out into laughter at his clumsy attempt. Eventually, with all my willpower, I mustered out a slight smile which didn't help my attempt to hide my hidden laughter from exposing.

But with a sudden tap from the chalkboard and the blush chalk-stick, which interrupted my internal battle.

I redirected my attention toward Instructor Yates, as a crisp graphed circle scratched onto the center of the chalkboard.

Now facing the chalkboard he peeked his head slightly backward, motioning towards my body with the chalk stick in hand, which enabled a subtle grin from his side profile.

¨its time for a breakdown."

*to be continued…*