All My Secrets| A Leopika Fanfiction

Chapter 6

It was just like any other Maths class.

Gon was fixated on that one difficult sum that everyone else seemed to fly through. The teacher was writing on the board. Tonpa, the green guinea pig was chomping away at the bars of his cage with his broken teeth.

Just like any other Maths class.

However this time, Gon couldn't stop thinking about his dad. He didn't know why. His dad just seemed to enter his mind at that moment. Gon's chest felt warm at the thought of his father's smile, his infectious laugh and his loving care. Somehow it had begun to change over the last few months, but he couldn't pinpoint it. It wasn't a bad change, though. It just felt a bit different to what he was used to growing up.

These thoughts clouded his mind and snatched his focus. So much so that Gon couldn't hear Mr Ging calling on him to answer a question.

"Gon!" bellowed the scruffy teacher. All the other students turned around to stare at the raven-haired boy, who was now quite shaken by the shock of the teacher's voice. "Sorry, sir," said Gon. "I honestly didn't hear you."

Mr Ging marched to Gon's desk and banged his hands on the table. The sound echoed through Gon's ears and the classroom.

"PAY ATTENTION IN MY LESSONS, DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Gon nodded his head vigorously. The loud noise began to upset him.

"Now," sighed Mr Ging as he pinched Gon's notebook from his desk, "let's see how much of work you've done since the start of the lesson."

Mr Ging's jaw dropped when he saw that Gon didn't even finish the first question.

The anger inside the teacher bubbled over, like water in a pot. He couldn't stand this behaviour any longer. His hands still stung from banging the desk; nevertheless he decided to slap Gon the hardest he'd ever slapped someone in his entire life. Red marks glowed on the boy's cheeks, and blood dripped out of the corner of his mouth.

The children gasped. "Hey!" yelled one of the girls in the back. "Sir, you know that's not allowed!" said a boy next to Gon. They were up in arms about what just happened. Regardless of how unruly the children could get, corporal punishment was strictly forbidden. One of the taller girls got up from her chair and bellowed, "We're gonna report you to Principal Netero!"

The kids cheered and whooped. For ages, they waited for a reason to report everyone's least favourite teacher and here it was! As they made a beeline for the doorway, Mr Ging raced in front of them and spread his arms out to prevent them from going through. He glared into their eyes. "If any one of you reports what I just did, know that there will be consequences." He smirked. "Don't forget, I'm the vice principal. Once that old hag retires, none of you are safe."

And with that, the children made their way back to their desks, their lips shut. Gon felt a rush of sadness and anger. Sad because he got hit. Angry because his classmates, who were ready to stand up for him, were powerless against this scruffy man. But even more so, he felt terrified that this may happen again. And that it may be worse next time.

And there won't be anyone to protect him...