The Bitter Truth

Chapter 25 ~ The Wrong People

Ronny walked into the dormitory after his morning ritual. While nearing his cot, he saw Saija in front of Reed, Ike, Eddy, and Hamed engaging with them.

Choosing not to interfere and observe from a distance, he headed to his cot and watched, wondering what she was up to.

    "Why ya pointin' at me? What ya want me to do?" Ike proclaimed, his hands gesturing upward.

    "I think he wants ya name," Hamed suggested.

    "Ike," he answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

    Saija, ever focused, took her chalkboard and scribbled something before turning it toward the group. The moment she did, they all chuckled.

    "I know how to spell my name, boy," Ike snapped. "I have to sign into work every day."

    In response, Saija raised a finger to the air, indicating that she meant to clarify not wanting to confuse him. She then drew a line beneath the 'I' in his name and turned her finger back to him prompting a response.

    "This is probably the shittest teacher known to man," Ike groaned and ran his hand down his face. "I don't know what the fuck he wants from me."

    Saija pointed again and stomped her foot. Eddy and Reed couldn't contain themselves any longer; they burst into laughter pushing into each other and slapping their knees, entertained by Ike's distress. Meanwhile, Hamed observed intently, deciphering te madness to her method.

    With a moment of realization, Hamed said, "I think I'm figurin' what he's gettin' at." He then pronounced the "I" sound, aligned with Saija's finger pointed at the letter.

    Saija's expression transformed instantly. Her face lit up with enthusiasm as she nodded vigorously, her excitement infectious. She then pointed to the following letter, 'K.'

    "Ka," Hamed enunciated. The rest stood by and watched silently and intrigued.

    When she pointed at the' E,' Hamed explained, "That there silent in dis case, but Eh."

    Saija, almost bouncing on her toes with delight, returned to looking eagerly at Ike, who seemed to be on the brink of getting it.

    "I got ya, I got ya. The sounds combine to make my name," Ike waved his hand dismissively at his initial annoyance. "I, ka, and eh. Ike"

    Saija smiled big, smearing away his name from the chalkboard with her balled fist, then looked to Reed with a glint in her eye.

    "Oh, is it my turn now?" he grinned. "Name's Reed, champ."

    As Saija wrote it down, she glanced up at Arliss, who was passing by with her biscuit.

    "Come eat, youngin'," he called her, and she nodded at him with a finger up, asking for a moment.

    After writing Reed's name, she pointed to the R.

    Hamed ready to demonstrate the R sound altered it a bit. He suddenly rolled his R's with an exaggerated flourish, producing sounds that resembled a wild blend of musical notes and strange feline purs. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted as all eyes turned towards him with arched brows, a tableau of surprise and fascination painted across their faces.

The odd, rhythmic cadence he unleashed had an unexpectedly flirtatious quality, weaving through the air. There was a peculiar charm in how something so wild came from the simple flick of his tongue, leaving them all both amused and slightly bewildered.

    "Sorry," Hamed chuckled sheepishly, his cheeks flushing under the weight of their stares.

    "What da hell was that?" Reed exclaimed, laughter bubbling up as he playfully shoved Hamed's shoulder, his eyes wide with disbelief and delight.