French Teacher

Chapter 23

Kalvin hasn't stopped staring at me. It's odd, but I'm starting to get use to them. To me, nowadays they seem to be a new routine for him that I wouldn't have a say on. That's something about Kalvin I'll do anything to change. He have to ridiculous habit of doing things without the other person's opinion.

Such a child.

"No A's yet?"  My Mom asked, looking through my collected French quizzes and tests I gathered from the past weeks. She made me promise that as soon as I got a tutor, I'd collect every single French work I've done and show it to her once a month.

I wiped my face, mostly from disappointment than sweat.

"Mom, I'm working on it." I said, hiding the tightness in my voice. This month, my highest grade was only around B-.

Damn, kills me just by thinking about it.

"I know," she scratched her head, thinking. "Do you need an extra hour in your tutor class?"

"No," I answered, though I hesitated in giving the opposite one. I wanted an extra hour, hoping I'd learn more but thinking about taking 60 minutes of Kalvin's time instead of letting him rest, stopped me.

"I'll do better, I swear." I genuinely promised. Mom didn't look at me, she kept her eyes onto my papers and held her breath. Seeing her like that, bittered my throat.

"I know," she said, loss of words. "Sleep, honey. You need it."

I nodded, and like a big bowl of shamefulness splashed my face, my face just fell.

Before I got the chance to turn from Mom, she called my name.

"Yeah?" I looked at her.

"When you get to school tomorrow, please hand this over to Mr. Beaumont." she held out a small envelop. "Once he receive this, please tell him to call me right away."

I took it, confused. "This month's payment had already been paid, Mom." I tried to clarify.

"I know, honey." she looked at me like she knows what she's doing. "No questions, Penny, just kindly give it to him, okay?"

I took a comforting breath before respectfully nodding to her. Once I have, I went up stairs and went to bed.

-----

I went to school earlier today to deliver this small envelope to Kalvin. I searched for him but unfortunately, I haven't found him yet. Oddly, I got a feeling of looking at the back of the school. I couldn't shake off the feeling so I followed it.

Once I got there, I was impressed with my instincts. He was sitting at a corner, just below a small shade to protect him from the light. He was looking at the sky, smoking a malboro.

The left side of my mouth raised as my face made a stern look. "Kalvin!" I called.

Kalvin turned to me as his face looked innocent as though he was just watching a Darney show or something.

"Sup." he nodded at me.

"The heck you doing?" I scolded.

"Looking at the sky, why?"

"You're smoking."

"And?"

"And?!" I spat. "You're at school campus and you're and-ing me?! What's wrong with you?"

Kalvin shrugged, blowing out a smoke. "You have no idea." he smiled.

"Kalvin," I said, trying to snap him out. "I'm not trying to be a mother here but come on; do you have any idea what those can do to you?"