The Empty Desk

Chapter 4

This was, by far, the worst morning ever. It made me sick to imagine that worse morning awaited me. My dad didn't care to say good morning today. He stormed down the stairs, left and swung the door close very loudly. Mona didn't speak to me. It seemed as if she was afraid.

The drive to school was filled with thoughts. How's Joshua? Is his bruise that bad? Is he coming to school today? How does he feel? All these thoughts were driving me crazy.

Soon, we got to school. Mona muttered a "have a good day". I tried to reply with one of my own, but when I looked, she was already too far.

Rolling my eyes, I quickly walked to the class. Going up the stairs, I remembered today's first period: Physics. I strengthened the grip I had on my backpack, holding back my worry.

Shortly, I got to class and sat on my usual desk. Not very much after, the long awaited Joshua appeared before us. With a huge bruise on the left side of his face. Extending from his eye, reaching the ear; mostly his cheekbone. Immediately, the guys and couple girls began "Ooh-ing" and asking questions like: "Where did you get that from!?" "Where you fighting!?" "Ooh, he was fighting!" "Street fighter!" Plus, all the laughter from the other classmates. I tried hiding my face on my arms but it was like blocking the sun with my thumb. Joshua's face was the same as ever.

"Silence." He commanded, just a few tones over his normal voice. Though, it was enough for the whole classroom to quiet down.

"This is none of your business." He said.

"It is! you're our teacher, we care about you!" Some girl sarcastically in the back said. Evidently, she just wanted to bother his existence. "We want to know what happened!" Another boy said. I noticed his voice, though. Jace, obviously. He was probably the one who started ooh-ing at the beginning.

"I received a blow." Joshua replied. "You have gotten yourself one before, haven't you?" He reasoned. I slowly looked back to see Jace, he looked verbally beaten. "Right. Obviously." Joshua finished as he settled down.

"Alright. You are not to talk about this anymore." He announced, looking right to left, left to right. "Let's begin."

———

I sat quietly, doing a freaking 4-paged essay Mr. Pointdexter had given us. One can only write so much about Aristotle.

"Lucia." I heard my dad as he loudly swung the door opened. Immediately, my heart sunk. He was going to give me such a lecture right now. He shut the door, walked over and sat on my chair.

"When did it happen?" He demanded. I gulped audibly.

"It was the day I went to his house. I wanted to catch up on what I had missed when I was sick." I explained.

"So, you had sex with him?" He asked rising his eyebrows, but quickly bringing them down to the upset face he had.

"Y-yes."

"God damn it!" He snapped all of a sudden. "That's not what we have taught you! You can't go around to people's houses and having sex. Much less with a teacher! What were you thinking!? What the fuck were you thinking, Lucia!?"

"I-I don't know. I'm so sorry!" I apologized sheepishly.

"Oh, so now your sorry? Lucia, your pregnant. Do you know— Do you have any idea whatsoever of what it is to be pregnant!?"

"I..—

"You're not prepared! You are finishing your last year of high school. You won't be able to attend college now!"

"I will, just not now. Mayb—

"No, Lucia!" And then, I grew tired.

"Well, what I'm I supposed to do!? I'm not going to abort it, dad!" I snapped back at him. He straightened his back, amused at my reaction. My brows relaxed from the being previously pressed.

"You know, dad? I made a mistake. Scratch that, you already know I made a mistake. You choose to be mad at me. At your daughter. All I need right now, is some sort of support. I've seen all these TV shows... Every parent is obviously mad, but its entirely up to them to support them or abandon them. Which one will you choose?" I made such a good point. He won't be able to argue to that. His defying look, relaxed. He made a spit noise in defeat, stood up, and left. His decision was more than obvious to me.

After a good ten seconds of me staring at my door and reflexing on what just happened, I smiled. Because, I won. I felt confident. For once in a while I felt like i had the power to do what I wanted. And, I wouldn't let anyone tell me otherwise.

With a smile, I laid back to that thought.  I turned my head to look outside the window, staring at the puffy clouds forming into a funny-looking horse.

Some thought made me rapidly leave the house and grab my bike. Not before I took something from the bathroom really quick. I took all the familiar roads and turns, stopping at the usual lights. Until, I finally made it to the large, white and grey building I had become used to.

I walked into the elevator, pressing the yet to be lit 11 on the wall. It was now shining blue, hence, the elevator started moving. Not long after, the doors of the elevator opened in unison, showing me a familiar wooden door. I walked to it and knocked slowly. I took a few steps back and waited. 

The door was silently swung open, revealing a certain man I have become to love. A caucasian man with a brown pullover and skinny black pants, holding a tiny, off-white, porcelain tea cup. The tea tag didn't fail to show itself hanging from the top borders of the tea cup. 

"Joshua." I exhaled with a smile.  He sighed and smirked, followed by him stepping aside. Gesturing for me to enter. Very confidently, I walked in past him, examining my surroundings. Out of everything on his apartment, I loved his living room. It had a glass wall, like those in the movies. The view was fascinating. Specially during night time. 

"What brings you here?" He wondered, right after he shut the door. I turned around quickly to see him taking a sip of his tea. He had this funny expression were he'd lower his head to the tea cup and raise his eyebrows.

"I wanted to check on you." I began. "On your bruise." I said taking a step closer and gently, so gently, rubbing his colored area. He winced, making my hand jerk away. "I also didn't see you for the rest of the day. I was wondering how the other kids reacted when they saw you like this." 

He raised his eyebrows and looked over my shoulders, as if wandering. He shrugged making duck lips. When nobody was around he would do the silliest things! Part of why I feel so strongly about him. I chuckled a little to his reaction, expecting him to continue.

"They all said the same. They all are the same. So curious about other people's lives. As if their lives aren't messed up enough, they want to barge into others'." He made a pause, choosing the right words. "They all kept saying things like: "He can only get hit. I bet he was left unconscious." And, other stuff like that." He mentioned. All of a sudden, I had this urge to apologize.

"Yeah? I-I'm so sorry, my dad shouldn't ha--

"It's okay,  Lucia. You really don't have to apologize. He is just being a dad." He related with a sad, concerning smile. I bit back my apology. Just as he was digging into my sole with that melting look, he took a sip of his tea, making an exaggerated funny noise. 

"Stop!" I laughed. He joined with a chuckle of his own. "I brought you this." I said as I took an ointment out of my purse. 

"What is this?" He inquired. 

"Well, my cousin used to do this boxing thing? Every time he got injured he would put this on his bruised area. He said it worked perfectly, and that this would make it heal faster." I reasoned. He looked at me then back at the ointment. With a smile, he gently took it from my hands.

"Thank you." He mentioned. I smiled, probably like a stupid person, falling into his perfect blue orbs. He took another exaggerated sip of tea, making me giggle.

---- 

I got home that day, before my parents were back from work. I fell into deep slumber just as my face hit the pillow.