Infront of the chairman's office, Mr. Tang stood upright as he spoke on the phone, his gaze stoic and sharp. It must be an important matter being discussed. I debated whether to continue walking ahead to the office or wait a moment for him to finish the call.
It seemed Mr. Tang sensed a presence around as he slowly turned to face my direction. I couldn't trace any of his earlier expressions now, he said a few more words to the person on the other end of the line before disconnecting the call, putting his phone in his side pockets of his trench coat, immediately walking in my direction.
I simply stood in place and waited for what he had to say. I was very good at reading people's every move, expressions and words just from them being in front of me. This skill was ingrained in most black people's in America to immediately identify micro aggressions, racism, hate etc that was usually thrown our way in different establishments like Schools, banks, corporate America, etc inorder to stay away from such places that weren't welcoming.
But Mr. Tang was really not easy to gauge, I didn't know what to expect and I simply couldn't read what he was thinking. Maybe this is what made a successful business man.
"It was work calling but it's now sorted. Shall we go and talk somewhere? Yi Ren is in his office, let's go somewhere else," Mr. Tang said once Infront of me.
"Oh, alright, " I replied.
"I asked Yi Ren to arrange a place, follow me, " Mr. Tang said as he turned and walked the opposite direction. I also followed behind him silently.
Seeing where we were headed I was immediately stunned speechless , this was the popular highschool dating spot: a small hidden flower garden with a big tree in the middle. Highschool teachers would lay in ambush to 'catch' these unruly students and those who escaped classes to hide.
"Is this spot Okay? Yi Ren said it is isolated and no one would hear any confidential information I have to tell you," Mr. Tang stopped in his tracks once we reached the garden, turned and looked at me with inquiry.
"Well...it's isolated," I said with a crack of a smile.
"Good, come, let's have a seat," Mr. Tang said as he walked towards a chair that was one of the few in the garden, sitting down with confidence.
Seeing as there was no other seat around, I automatically had to seat besides him there. The good thing was, this was a three seater chair meaning some amount of space would be left between us. I thanked whoever installed it that way because sitting directly besides Tang would really be awkward and uncomfortable given my immoral thought process.
I took a seat at the other end of the chair and made myself comfortable.
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" Mr. Tang suddenly asked as he turned to look at me, his hands gently crossed over his crossed legs.
The question further hammered me in place. Of course I was somewhat uncomfortable, but that's because I had a simple crush on a married man. I couldn't say that though.
"Why do you think so?" I immediately deflected, as I avoided looking at him with a guilty conscious.
"I actually don't, I just want us to talk without any obstacles, if I somewhat make you uncomfortable, please do tell me," Mr. Tang said,"
“This is just how I am with strangers,” I lied, meeting his gaze.
His lips twitched. “Then I’ll strive to become less… strange.” The levity vanished as he continued, “Junyan is perceptive but guarded, however, he is easy to get along with and doesn't give people a hard time,"
I took in his words and nodded in understanding. Most children were simple but that didn't mean they didn't have likes and dislikes, children were sensitive and at their young age. What they saw, did or wanted would affect how they grew up and perceived the world. This I knew from my teaching training.
"I understand. Mr. Tang, is there anything we teachers should take in consideration concerning Junyan?" I inquired, now serious about my to be student.
"Hm. If possible,when it's time to ask about parents etc, avoid asking Junyan about his mother. In case of parent-teacher meetings, simply give me or my secretary a call," Mr. Tang said.
I nodded in understanding, taking in his words. Why not talk about Junyan's mother? What was wrong with calling her? Anyway that was beyond my jurisdiction of questioning so I simply didn't ask.
"Not going to ask why?" Mr. Tang asked as he uncrossed his legs, his back straight, crossing his hands over his chest as he slightly turned his head to look at me.
"It's not my place," I slowly said.
"Me and Junyan's mother are no more, she is not involved in his life either, that's why," Mr. Tang said.
At this revelation, I heard my heart relax as a state of inner peace washed over me. My only thought now was that I wasn't a home wrecker, I wasn't a bad person since I didn't have a crush on a married man.
My conscious was now washed clean, but still I had to stay away from Mr. Tang, now that I was Junyan's teacher, I had to show high level professionalism.
"Oh, I am sorry about that, I will surely put that into consideration later on," I replied.
"Why are you sorry? It's not a tragedy, " Mr. Tang said, suddenly approaching me without warning, a focused look on his face.
I simply heard my heart stop at this moment of close proximity and then a tranquil smell like ancient forests and sacred smoke hit my nose, something deep and resinous, as if the heartwood of a thousand-year-old tree had been set ablaze. It was earthy yet inexplicably luxurious, like damp soil after a summer storm mingled with the sweetness of charred honey. Beneath the smokiness lingered a creamy warmth, smooth as melted vanilla and as comforting as sunbaked cedarwood.
It clung to the air like a secret, both primal and polished, as though the wilderness had been tamed into something refined. I had never smelt such a scent from anyone, Tang was the first.
Words couldn't come out of my mouth as I watched Tang's hand raise and come in contact with my hair slowly lingering on my scalp, I simply couldn't hear what he was saying but his lips were moving. This wasn't my first time having a crush but it was sure the first time my body reacted in such a stupid way!
"Looks like this tree sheds alot of leaves," Mr. Tang said as he lifted the leaf in his hands, showing it to me. My mind returned from it's clouded place at his words and noticed that he was simply helping me remove the leaf on top of my head.
I wanted to look for a hole to burry myself in at my foolishness! What was I even thinking? I definitely had a problem.
"Oh, thank you," I said as I raised my hand and slowly touched my twists looking for any left over leaves as I looked up at the only big tree that we were seated under.
"You are alright, this was the only leaf in your head," Mr. Tang remarked.
"Oh," I replied, taking away my hand from the top of my head.
Mr. Tang chuckled slowly as he looked ahead. I glanced at him and wondered what he found amusing? Maybe my foolish state right now? "Being in this place is peaceful, young people don't have to worry about anything else, just studying and playing," He remarked.
“Children carry invisible burdens too,” I said, recovering. “They bury worries they can’t fix.”
"You are right," Mr. Tang said.
"You are also not wrong about the freedom of being a child though, they can ignore certain things whereas we adults can't, even if we want to," I replied.
"It's really nice talking to you teacher Kasi," Mr. Tang said "Do you have my number? I think since we shall be interacting often, we should exchange numbers, I wish to be informed about Junyan's wellbeing too," He added.
"I don't," I truthfully answered.
"Let's exchange numbers then? " Mr. Tang said as he pulled out his phone from his side pocket.
I hesitated for a minute, knowing my crush which I was trying to erase, I shouldn't be meeting Mr. Tang way often. Furthermore, now that I am his son's teacher, it was better to keep a distance.
But seeing his resolute attitude to share numbers, it would look petty not to do so since most teachers in china had parent's numbers and would often call them about their children, I had no choice but to picked out my phone from my jacket, giving it to him. Mr. Tang received the phone and inserted his number, scanned something and gave it back to me.
"I sent you a WeChat request too, young people use it as the easiest way of communication, " Mr. Tang Said.
"Alright, " I replied.
A phone call penetrated the atmosphere and Mr. Tang quickly picked it up in my presence. Although I didn't want to eavesdrop on his conversation, he was right next to me so I could only listen. Mr. Tang was informed that the report from before needed his signature and he replied that he would be there in a few minutes before disconnecting the call.
"I am very sorry for the inconvenience, I have to get going teacher Kasi, I really enjoyed talking to you. I hope to one day sit down with you and talk some more," Mr. Tang said as he stood up.
"It's alright, travel safely," I said, wanting to quickly disappear from here before I made a fool out of myself.
"Hm." Mr. Tang replied before turning and walking away.
Seeing him fed out in a distance, I let out a sigh, raising my hand, I placed it on my unsettled heart, slowly massaging my chest. How was he doing this? How could one have such an effect on another just by sitting there?
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