Only if you know (Book 1)

Chapter 12

The first two lectures went by in a blur for Olivia. Sure, there was constant whispering during the class, as no one expected her to be back. She shifted in her seat, trying not to squirm under the attention. Thankfully, Sia and Mason had been glued to her side since morning. Even Caleb was with them, though only because he was their best friend, not because he wanted to be near her.

      By the time the third lecture began, Olivia actually felt a flicker of excitement. She sat beside Caleb, with Sia and Mason right in front of her.

      “Prof. Drake is one of the best teachers here and a total eye-catcher,” Sia whispered, trying to hide her grin. “You’re going to love him.”

      “Trust me, Livy. He is nothing special.” Mason said, rolling his eyes.

      “Shut up, Mason,” Sia hissed. “Livy, you’ll see what I mean.”

      “If you say so,” Olivia said, a mischievous glint in her eyes that Caleb didn't miss. He'd never seen Olivia like this before.

      Their playful banter was cut short by the sound of the door opening. Professor Drake entered the room, their Literature teacher. He was quite young for a teacher, but his youth didn't diminish the amount of knowledge and enthusiasm he had for his subject.

      “Good morning, class,” he greeted warmly. His eyes swept the room until they landed on her. “Ah, I see we have a new student.”

      Olivia gave him a knowing smile. “Well, actually, an old student who’s returned, Prof. D,” she said, deliberately stressing the nickname.

      “Don’t mind her, sir,” Jenna interjected with a fake-sweet smile. “She’s always had that… bitchy attitude.”

      Olivia tilted her head and smiled faintly, but before she could speak, Drake cut in smoothly. “I beg to differ, Jenna. I remember Olivia as one of the most brilliant students I’ve ever taught, and I won’t hesitate to say, one of my favourites.”

      The class fell silent. Jenna blinked in disbelief. “How can you say that? You don’t even know her!”

      “Well, that’s where you are wrong. Back at her old school, I was a substitute English teacher. Olivia was one of the most resilient students I’d ever met.” 

      Jenna remained silent. Sia and Mason exchanged wide-eyed looks. Caleb just stared, realizing how little he actually knew about her.

      Drake clapped his hands lightly. “Alright, back to class. This term, we’ll start with a love story.” His gaze swept across the students. “Before I reveal which one, I want to hear your thoughts. What does love mean to you?”

      There were numerous responses to this question, none of which were unique. Then Jenna, as always, broke the rhythm. “Professor Drake, do you have a girlfriend?”

      Olivia couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing, then quickly disguised it as a cough. Caleb shot her another bewildered look.

      “Yes, Prof. D,” Olivia teased, echoing Jenna’s question. “Do you?” 

      She was enjoying his nervousness way too much. She knew Drake too well. They had much more than just a student-teacher relationship. He was not only her close friend’s boyfriend, but she also considered him one of her close friends. After all, he knew her inside and out.

      Drake’s composure cracked for just a second. “Well… kids,” he began with a nervous chuckle, “I’d like to keep my personal life personal. But yes, there is someone I love. We can discuss my love life later.”

      Olivia grinned. “Careful, Prof. D. You’ve just broken Jenna’s heart.”

      The class erupted in laughter. To everyone else, it looked like harmless flirting, but this was far from the case.

      “Returning to the topic, today we will discuss the book Romeo and Juliet,” Drake stated, which immediately made Olivia snort, which she immediately tried to cover up with another cough. She was expecting anything but this.

      Drake was her close friend Jiggy’s boyfriend. The two men had been Olivia’s anchor during some of her darkest days, her chosen family when she had none. She still remembered that night, not long after she’d run away from home, when they performed a hilarious parody of Romeo and Juliet to lighten her mood. Drake, the tall, stoic man that he was, played Juliet, while Jiggy, flamboyant, played Romeo.

      “Is anything wrong, Olivia?” Drake asked while shooting daggers at her.

      “Well, in fact—”

      “I don’t care,” he interrupted quickly, trying not to smile. “In fact, I don’t even want to know.” 

      The class chuckled. Olivia’s laughter lingered a little longer than it should have, a lightness she hadn’t felt in ages. For the first time since she’d returned, she felt like she was exactly where she belonged.

      The lecture was going well, and Drake didn't even look at her because he knew Olivia had the time of her life, reliving every moment of the play. But soon Drake turned his attention back to her. “Tell me, Olivia. How do you feel about the ending of the story?”

      “It depends on how you look at it,” she replied thoughtfully.

      “Explain,” he said, folding his arms and leaning against his desk.

      “People see it as a tragedy,” she began, her voice steady but soft, “but maybe it’s not. Maybe Romeo and Juliet did end up together, not on earth, but somewhere beyond it. Maybe it’s a happy ending in disguise. Instead of fighting the world forever, the author killed the characters so that they could be free of all the pain and torture and live in peace.”

      The room fell silent.

      “In another sense,” she continued, “it’s still tragic because what did they get in the end? Blood. Pain. Sacrifice.”     

      “So, what do you think Shakespeare is trying to tell everyone?” Drake asked her with interest. He always likes the way Olivia answers. She has a unique way with words. Her perspective on the situation differs greatly from that of others.

      “Shakespeare, I believe, is simply attempting to convey the message that life is not always about happy endings. Some people get it, while others don't. Even after all the battles, sacrifices, and pain, people may suffer and may not get the ending they desire, but some may get the climax they desire with no struggle. So, it's best to accept life as it is and be mentally prepared that we may be among those who meet a tragic end, but a glimmer of hope must remain.”

      Drake’s expression softened. He looked at her for a long moment, not as a teacher, but as someone who truly understood the weight behind her words.

      When the bell rang, the class slowly emptied. Livy was about to leave when Drake motioned for her to stay. He instantly engulfed her in a tight hug as soon as everyone left. She stiffened at first, then melted into it because for the first time since she’d come back, someone made her feel safe.

      Caleb stood by the door, frozen. Every new thing he learned about Olivia only deepened the mystery. Her words in class, the way she looked at Drake, the way he looked back, there was a depth there he couldn’t reach.

      Instead of solving her, Olivia was becoming an unsolved riddle, and Caleb couldn’t help but want to know every missing piece.