School resumed as usual after the sports event, the high school students had one week to prepare for exams so the atmosphere was thick with tension as high school students crammed for upcoming exams. The hallways and rest areas, once lively with chatter, were now eerily quiet, save for the occasional student hunched over a textbook.
I had just finished my morning lesson with the little ones and my next class would be in the afternoon and the last class of the day. Sitting in the staff room together with Mei Lin who also didn't have a class at this time, i slowly sipped on my cup of coffee as i peruthed through the home work i had assigned the children concerning tracing the English words to their respective items.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, as Mei Lin was the closest to the door, she quickly stood up and opened the door. Standing on the other side was Mr. Li Qiang holding a simple box in his hands. Today, his attire was completely different from his usual sporty jerseys and sweat pants but a simple black black long sleeved shirt cleanly tucked in gray suit pants paired with black shoes. His hair was styled back and a small part on the side cleanly showed his full forehead, I was slightly stunned at his looks: He was a very handsome man.
"Mr. Li? Come in," Mei Lin called with surprise as she quickly invited him in. Mr. Li didn't decline the offer, simply politely greeting her and stepping inside the room.
"Miss Kasi, you are also here?" Mr. Li called in surprise at seeing me.
"Yes, good morning Mr.Li," I politely smiled in greeting placing my coffee cup on the table in front of me. Mei Lin sat back in her sit as she told Qiang to have a seat.
"It's good you are around. I had previously traveled some days back and brought some simple chocolate packages for staff members in the high school department, seeing as there were some extras, i decided to bring them over for the teachers here to take some, " Li said as he sat in the chair near by placing the box he was holding in hand on the table.
"Mr. Li is very considerate! " Mei Li brightly praised as she stood up from her seat and picked up the delicate box, taking it to the simple staff kitchen counter.
"How is it going over here, although I am just an instructor, I can feel the pressure of exams just by walking around the high school grounds," Mr.Li asked.
"I too can feel the pressure although elementary students don't have tests going on right now, It's really amazing how the student atmosphere in China is so strict," I noted.
"Is it any different in America?" Mr.Li asked.
"Very different, although students in America feverishly study for exams, it doesn't really take everything from their life like no going out with friends, family and staying locked in the room to study e.t.c. Here, it's like the world stops, " I replied.
"Balance is important," Li agreed "that's why sports events matter,"
"Ah! Mr. Li? Welcome to our department!" At some point, Cai had entered the room when we were talking.
"Mr. Cai, " Mr. Li greeted as he stood up with respect.
"Just sit down, we are all colleagues here," Cai said as he pushed Mr. Li down although he was a head shorter than him.
Li sat down and Mei Lín explained to Cai the importance of Mr. Li's visit.
"I think I will get going," Mr. Li said to us after some brief small talk.
"That fast?" Cai questioned.
"It's not fast, I had simply some to drop off the package just as Mei Lin explained, I still have some other activities scheduled," Mr. Li said.
"Oh! Then that's alright, let's have a drink together some time," Cai said as Mr. Li stood up.
"Alright, see you around," He said to us with a simple smile before heading to the door.
Before he could open it, a knock came from the other side so he looked back at us before opening the door.
There was silence on the other side of the door for a minute "Hello? Is this the elementary staff room?" A female voice asked.
"Yes, " Mr. Li answered, stepping aside to reveal a petite woman with bangs and a file holder in hand, cheeks blushed red?
"Hello, my name is Yona, I am the assistant administrator, could a teacher called Kasi be around?" Yona inquired.
Hearing my name I immediately responded "That's me," I said.
"Alright, please follow me to the chairman's office, there is a child waiting to be assigned to you," Yona said as she sneaked a side glance at Mr. Li immediately quickly turning her head away shyly.
"Okay," I said, standing up and arranging my skirt, I hadn't personally welcomed new children but seeing I was invited, it might mean that chairman Yi Ren some what trusted my professional conduct. But still, a new student mid-semester?
I headed out following Yona, Mr. Li parted with us on the administration block, I assumed he went to handle his affairs.
"Miss Kasi, Do you personally know Mr. Li?" Yona asked.
"I wouldn't say I know him on a personal level but he is a colleague," I replied.
"Hm, I understand," Yona said as we approached the chairman's office. A simple polite knock rendered chairman Yi Ren on the other side of the door to tell us to come in.
Yona pushed the door and we entered, my eyes immediately connected with a small boy in a cushion chair. His eyes were extremely dark and his skin was so bright and clear, definitely a healthy child.
He sat in a small suit and professional small brightly shunned black shoes and his hair was combed back showing his full forehead. With a reserved look and observing eyes, he remained me of that one cartoon baby in the movie 'Boss baby'. Connecting the child with the cartoon, laughter immediately wanted to escape my mouth but as a professional, I quickly masked the temptation.
"Here you are Miss Kasi, this is my family child called Junyan, please have a seat as I take you through what I called you here for, " Yi Ren stood up and said. Yona immediately excused herself as she closed the door behind her.
"He is a cute child," I praised, masking my desire to pinch his cheek as I sat down. Turning to my left, I further took in this adult like child besides me. For some reason, I seemed to have seen these features somewhere else.
"Haaa, well Junyan is well fed and a good boy, he is new to this kind of environment though, that's why I specifically called you, he will be attending your class," Yi Ren said. " This will be his first time attending school too,"
"Oh, he hasn't been attending school?" I was immediately surprised, although some small children started school late, at least a five year old child in china and America would at least attend day care or something.
"Well, he is really bright so he was home schooled, he also understandings English and understands our conversation," Chairman Yi Ren replied.
"Really?"This really surprised me. Such a small child had such efficiency in learning a new language?
I immediately turned to my left and with a small smile I asked the child" What is your name?"
"My name is Wei Junyan," the boy replied in perfect English with a stoic face and cute cheeks. I couldn't control myself and softly patted his face.
A knock immediately came out of the door.
"Perfect timing, that must be Junyan's dad, it's better to understand the child from the parent's perspective," Yi Ren said as he walked towards the door, opening it.
Seeing Mr. Wei on the other side, I was stunned in place and the puzzle came together, no wonder I felt like this child's face wasn't new, so he is the father! I really didn't want to meet this man again, not because he was a bad person but because of his gaze. Remembering the teachers sports party at the pavilion, his gaze was intense and lingered in my head for days, i couldn't remember anyone's gaze having such an impact in my life and I knew what that was: a small crush.
Yes, I Kasi Williams had a small crush on a married man, of all the men in the world, my brain decided to have thoughts on this specific one! I was really the worst of the worst but I wasn't too far gone, I had immediately shut down those thoughts when they first appeared. I hated home wreckers the most and i couldn't be one so I did everything I could to forget the man and it was definitely working, as his image slowly vanished from my head.
But what was this now?
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