Chapter 2: The bully or the bullied?

The term-start assembly was a short and sweet event.

The teachers were introduced on stage, as was customary at the start of any new term. Along with Vira, two others, Ms. Mina and Mr. Potri from the mainland had joined, but they had joined on a government scheme wherein they were required to serve for a year in a remote area for promotion. Mr. Potri seemed to be in his mid-forties while Ms. Mina appeared to be in her late 20s.

Vira tried to spot the infamous red-head, but just like Laika had predicted, he wasn't there.

After the assembly, Vira walked back to the classroom with Roma and Laika. The Principal was already there. 

"I see you've already settled down." His face wrinkled into a smile. "But let me tell you, the students here aren't half as naughty as these two."

"Maw!" , exclaimed Laika indignantly.

The Principal laughed and said, "Don't think for a second I have forgotten what you both have put me through."

Laika faked an injured look while Roma laughed.

Vira smiled. He didn't have any idea, but the mischievous look on Laika's face was self-explanatory.

The Principal turned back to Vira. "You will be in charge of class 12. While you will handle classes from 9 to 12 for Math, I hope you can also take up being the homeroom teacher for the 12th graders?"

Vira nodded his head.

"Can I ask you to  head the book club? We are starting one this year, and your experience with your previous school may help the kids, I feel."

"I would love that!" Vira replied.

"Great! Then this file has your class schedule, attendance, plan, and any other material you may require. You can come to me for any help. My door is always open."

"Thank you Maw. I will." 

Roma peeped over his shoulder to see his schedule. His first class was with the 12th graders. Roma smiled to himself. Poor Saka. He didn't know what was coming.

With a straight face, he patted Vira's back & said," Good luck. Your first class seems to be with the Yankee. Let's pray he doesn't come today.

Laika perked up. "Yankee's class? Have fun." He said that with a positively evil smile, that Vira didn't miss.

Since the next class started at 10, he had a quarter of an hour left to go through the files given to him. He quickly glanced through the syllabus and the contents of the first chapter. He never took lessons on the very first day of the term. He liked to hear from the kids how they spent their term break and used this time to bond with them. However, the last 10 minutes were spent as a quick intro to the syllabus, so they knew what to expect to study.

The class stood up to greet him as he entered. He smiled and took up attendance. As warned, there was one person who wasn't in the room. Saka. He must be the infamous delinquent.

Almost at the end of the class, there was a knock at the door. 

"Come in!" said Vira and he turned towards the door.A flaming red-haired kid, a couple of inches taller than him, with a couple of collar buttons open, arms and a knee scraped and bloody with a Band-Aid on his cheek, hobbled in, stopping for a second to bow before taking his seat.

Vira followed Saka with his eyes as he walked to his seat. He might have gotten into a fight, judging by the bloody mess he was. Maybe a neighborhood brawl? The red hair and the earrings made him look more hip than a punk. Was it because of his handsome face? His eyebrows were furrowed. It might be because of the pain.

Why would he fight and bring this pain upon himself? Delinquent or not, this kid needed some medical attention.

His gaze locked with Saka's. He realized that Saka was observing him. The class was quiet.

"Saka."

"Maw?"

"Come with me." He turned to the class and said, "Guys, we'll stop here for now. Please don't make any noise."

Saka stood up, unsure of why he was called. The teacher in front of him had been intently watching him from the moment he had entered. 

He could sense some disapproval, though his teacher did not show any expression on his face.

He had already texted his brother to inform the teachers that he would be late. Did that idiot forget? Was that why this new teacher was mad at him?

He walked up to the front. Vira kept the door open, indicating for Saka to go before him. He did not say anything until he closed the door.

Then he looked Saka in the eye and said, "Take me to the school nurse's room."

"Huh?"

"The infirmary. I don't know where it is."

Saka nodded his head, puzzled, then hobbled towards the room, with Vira right behind him.

Vira didn't speak as they walked. Once in the room, Vira spotted the first aid kit on the table.

"Sit on the bed." It was not an order nor a request. Just a statement. 

Saka did what he was told. He got the feeling the new teacher was being a bit cautious with him. There was no hatred, but no liking either. He was being distant, like he was judging Saka. Saka normally got along with everyone and hated unpleasantness. He wanted to remove this tension between them.

"Listen, Maw, I know I was a bit late. I'm sorry about that. I can explain."

Vira looked at him but didn't say anything. He quickly rolled back Saka's sleeves and cleaned up his wounds. He did the same for his knee. 

Saka watched in silence as Vira tended to his wounds. He had rushed in since he didn't want to be any later than he already was. He had walked into the classroom, muttering his excuse as he sat down in the chair. He was embarrassed at being late on the very first day, and more than that, he looked filthy. 

He felt touched that the new teacher noticed his wounds and dressed them for him.

"He must be around 5'8". He seems just about my brother's height, maybe an inch taller?"

After the last bandage, Vira sat next to Saka. Saka looked at him. 

"Did you get into a fight?" Vira asked him."Huh?"

"Your injuries, they look like someone thrashed you hard."

"Huh? Fight? Me?" He looked genuinely puzzled at such a strange conclusion that his teacher had come to. "Oh no no. I fell down the stairs."

It was Vira's turn to ask, "Huh?"

***

Three hours ago...

"Dad, I'm leaving!"

Saka heard his brother's voice. His brother had to leave early; he was on duty this week. When his brother was on school duty, he was responsible for cleaning the yard. Saka's father was the island's holy priest. They lived in the temple on top of the hill. After finishing his morning chores, he got dressed, had breakfast with his father, and with half an hour left, decided to run down the stairs—about three hundred—to catch the bus, but ended up slipping and falling near the foot of the hill, tearing his bag, which he used to break his fall, thus getting away with a few scratches. He had then texted his brother to inform the staff about his lateness.

"And that's what happened," said Saka.

Vira stared at Saka's face. Saka was telling the truth. 

"Huh? You're the priest's son?"

"Yes."

He was sincere. Also, he wasn't at all as scary as Laika had made him out to be. He couldn't believe such a character was capable of being as violent as Laika had described him. But, people may not be what they seem.

"Then why do you resort to violence as a solution? Shouldn't you be a pacifist?"

"Violence?"

"I heard from Maw Laika that you hit people when you get angry. You don't seem that unreasonable to me."

Oh? Laika was the reason he was being given a stare down by the new teacher. He would make sure that Laika would  meet his maker for this. 

"Oh? And what else did he tell you about me?" Saka asked softly, his eyes flashing with indignation.

"You threw the previous teacher into the well. I don't think you'd do that," Vira asked, a bit unsure; this guy was nothing like what Laika had said. He was polite, he had a reason for being late, and he didn't act like a hooligan.

Saka gritted his teeth. "Maw, let me tell you something. I haven't thrown any teacher into a well yet, but right now I feel like doing exactly that."

With that, he got up and walked angrily towards the staff room.