Mix stares out of his classroom window, his gaze unfocused, lost in the tangle of thoughts swirling in his mind. The empty, quiet room feels like a sanctuary in the early morning light, but his thoughts are anything but peaceful. He came to school early, hoping the silence would help him clear his head, but all he can think about is Earth’s proposal from last night.
Move in with him?
His heart races just remembering it. The moment replays in his mind, how he froze, his response lost somewhere between shock and confusion, leaving him with nothing but silence. Then, flustered and embarrassed, he practically fled.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” he mutters under his breath, tugging at his hair in frustration.
How could he be so tongue-tied? But, even as he berates himself, another voice whispers, I did the right thing, didn’t I? He sighs, letting out a little exasperated laugh, almost as if trying to reassure himself. “We don’t even know what we are yet. I can’t just… move in, right?”
If anyone saw him at that moment, mumbling to himself and lost in his monologue, they’d probably think he’d lost it.
A soft knock, then breaks his reverie, snapping him back to the present. He quickly composes himself, putting on a warm smile as parents and children start trickling into the room.
“Good morning,” he greets them, his voice steady, though his heart is still in a whirl.
“Teacher Mix!” Mix’s heart leaps at the familiar little voice.
He turns, plastering a bigger smile as he sees Edin racing toward him. But just behind Edin is someone unexpected—Namtan.
“Oh, um, hi, Edin!” he says, crouching down to hug the boy as Edin wraps his small arms around him.
“Daddy’s at work,” Edin explains, as if he's read what's inside Mix's mind. The kid smiles brightly, but then his expression shifts slightly, like he’s searching for the right words. “Uhh… I’m with… umm… Mama.”
The word falls from his lips hesitantly, the foreign sound lingering in the air. Mix smiles, his heart giving a pang he can’t quite place.
“That’s great, Edin.” He straightens, nodding politely at Namtan, who nods back, a cordial smile on her face.
Seeing her, though, stirs a fresh mess of feelings in Mix, complicating the morning’s earlier turmoil. He can’t pinpoint what he’s feeling—nerves, uncertainty, or something deeper.
Namtan calls Edin, waving him over, and he jogs back to her. She crouches down, waiting, maybe for a hug or a kiss goodbye, but Edin just smiles and waves, quickly darting off to join his classmates without so much as a backward glance. Namtan’s smile wavers, just a fraction, as she watches him run off.
With a small nod, she stands and, with one last polite smile in Mix’s direction, turns and leaves. As she walks out, Mix lets out a slow breath, feeling the quiet return but noticing it’s even more unsettling than before.
Well.. At least Mix has the kids to help him throughout the day.
The classroom, with its endless stream of laughter and bright, chattering voices, is his one safe haven, a place where all his worries vanish—even if only for a while. The joy and energy the kids bring are like magic, a force that lifts him up and keeps him going. Their smiles are like little rays of sunshine, warming him to his core and the way they treat Mix as if he’s a real part of their lives, like he’s family—it’s something he cherishes deeply. There’s nothing forced or complicated about it; it’s just simple, pure affection.
