Past Present Future [BL - SaifahZon]

Chapter 8

p r e s e n t

"Okay, I want you to think about this scene and try to interpret it." Zon looked at his class and smiled. He liked getting his students involved in discussions, try to make them think out of the box. Sometimes it was hard and they were reluctant to speak up, but this year he was quite happy with the group he was working with, even if it was just the beginning.

"Remember," he continued, "it doesn't matter what your friends think or what the Internet says about it. I want each of you to think how you feel, just as it is. Without any context. Anything is fine and there's no wrong answers. Well, at least not with this exercise." He waited until the laughs calmed down and added: "Just remember to read it and prepare yourself. Maybe come with some notes, okay?" Zon closed his notes and nodded, as the bell rang. "Class dismissed."

The tumult of students rushing out of the class rose, as he started gathering his things; the scraping sound of the chair and cheerful chit-chats hit his ear with double force. The school year had been on for a few weeks already, and Zon had finally started feeling good about it. It was different than his previous workplace, different in a lot of aspects, but it didn't mean that it was worse. Actually, because of that slightly bigger pressure on the kids here, he felt more confident about his methods than ever before. It was like they matched better with the students' needs and he could easily see some progress already.

"Mr. Zon?" he heard behind his back, when he shoved the last papers inside his satchel.

"Yes?" He turned around and smiled at Blue, one of his students.

"I just wanted to thank you," he said shyly. "That last book you recommended to us was really good. I finally feel like I can understand things better and not fall asleep during class."

Zon arched his eyebrow, but he couldn't stop corners of his mouth stretching in an even wider smile. "No problem. I will think of something else and bring it to you next week, okay?"

It was quite surprising for him to hear this from Blue, however. The boy was one of his best students and even before, as far as Zon remembered from the files, his records were actually exemplary. He was like that perfect student every teacher would wish for, so Zon could not imagine him sleeping in class.

But the compliment made him feel so lightheaded that he didn't even care; if his passion for literature made someone interested in books even just a little bit, he felt like his job was done. This thought kept him joyful for the rest of his day and he couldn't stop smiling even when he entered the canteen.

"Good afternoon, everyone," he said as he sat down at the table occupied by Saifah and Pear, one of the few teachers their age.

If he was to be honest, these days he felt more confident not only in the matters of education, but also simply around other teachers. Finally, for the first time in his career that was longer than half of a decade, he felt like he belonged somewhere. Which was quite surprising, considering that in his previous school everyone just minded their own business and he managed to befriend only one of them.

Which reminded him that he should call Zen and apologise for not talking to him enough these days.

"Did something good happen today?" asked Pear, seeing his good mood. Saifah and she peeked at each other, bemusement written all over their faces. Was he that obvious?

"Well, nothing much." Zon propped his chin and drank his soda, but there was a smug shine in his eyes that he was not able to hide. "I'm just happy with my students, that's all. And," he added after another lazy sip, trying to keep them in suspense, "I got praised today by one, so there's that."