Chapter 7: The Reaction

Vira was lost for words. Marry? Did he say marry? They had met for the first time today. They knew nothing about each other. Was he serious?

Vira looked into his eyes as if he was trying to read his mind. "Why?" he asked weakly.

"I have a million reasons, and I have no reason. I fell for your smile, your gentleness, your kindness, your sense of righteousness, your wit, your humor, you, in all."

Vira blushed with every passing second. He fought hard  to not avert his gaze. Saka was sincere, honest, and when he smiled, he was eye candy. He showed that he was a kid and at the same time did something mature, maintaining a surprising balance that gave a message that he could be relied upon.

"What if I don't love you by this year?"

"I cannot force you to like me, but I will try to win your heart. If I fail this year, then there is always next year."

"And if I fall for someone else?"

Will he be stalking me?

"I'll walk out of your life," Saka replied after thinking for a second.

He looked sad at the thought.

"You'll give up then?" Vira asked, surprised by the answer.

"Your happiness comes before mine," Saka replied.

That mature side again, that hit Vira by surprise.

"Hmm.." Vira stared out of the window, lost in thought while Saka looked at his face, trying to figure out what Vira was thinking.

After some time, he turned to face Saka, who was intently staring at his face. "You did put in some thought  before confessing; you had ready answers to all my questions; it's evident. It is also fair that I think well before I answer."

Saka did not move a muscle. He was drinking in every word that Vira uttered, a sense of dread spreading through him.

"I do not, in all honesty, know if I like guys, or girls, or both. I dated a girl once, but it didn't last a week. And I have never considered a love interest or marriage, till date."

Vira paused. Saka did not move.

"I have my reservations. I started working when you were just a high schooler. And the bigger the age gap, the more insecurity."

Saka did not even breathe. He stood still, waiting for Vira to complete.

"You are mature enough to know that I cannot be in a relationship with my student; that might end up looking bad for me and the student. Conflict of interest, partiality... plenty of issues that could ruin my career."

Saka hung his head. Vira had made up his mind and was reasoning out his thoughts, and Saka knew he was not going to listen to Saka's arguments.

"I  will not promise to return your feelings, but I will consider them."

Saka looked up. "Really? Seriously?" Saka asked, surprised by the response.

"Why should I take your feelings lightly when they are genuine?" Vira asked.

"I have my conditions. As long as I am your teacher, I cannot be your boyfriend. However, I don't mind using this time to get to know each other at our own pace. I will still treat you like a student, mind you. If at the end of the year, on your graduation  day, you still feel the same, we can consider dating."Does that sound good to you?"

Vira was curious to know what Saka would do woo him. He had never encouraged anyone in his life, and for the first time, he felt the sense of anticipation of being pursued. A small voice in his head said, "Maybe it's Saka you've been waiting for?"

Saka felt like his heart might burst out of his chest. He was ecstatic. How was it possible for one guy to attack his heart a million times in just one day?

Saka sprang up and threw himself onto Vira. "Thank you," he whispered, hiding his face between Vira's neck and shoulder.

Vira gulped. He felt a bit hot. Was it because he had just been confessed to? The excitement of it? He did not know, but that hug did speed up his heartbeat. He gently pushed Saka away after a couple of minutes, mumbling, "You are crushing me."

Saka let him go, laughing happily. He had done it impulsively.

"Where do you stay?"

"At the turn before the mount."

"Ah! Then I'll go with you. I stay in the shrine on top of the mount."

"Oh! You stay pretty close to me!" Vira exclaimed.

"Lucky me! Now we can go together every single day!" Saka's eyes shone with excitement.

Vira hid a smile as he got up. "Give me a second. I'll get my stuff from the staff room. We can leave after that."

"Okay. I'll wait for you downstairs."

******

Vira stopped outside a small yet quaint little house, built facing the sea, which, though a good few kilometers from where they stood, appeared clear nonetheless. The elevation from the ground was obvious, with some trees and bushes dotting the sides of the slope.

"And this is where I get off," said Vira.

Saka stopped to check out the house from the outside. It looked cozy. He wondered what it was like on the inside.

"Looks pretty." He smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow. When will you start school?"

"Probably 8:30."

"Okay, I'll be here by 8:30. Bye."

With that, Saka hopped onto his bike and rushed off to his house.

Vira stood, staring after him for a few minutes, then  parked his bike and walked into his house.

He dumped his bag and flung himself onto the sofa.

Today had been one heck of a day. He sighed and closed his eyes.

Saka. He made his heart race. The red hair, the sparkling eyes, and that naughty smile. His gentleness, kiddish behavior, matter-of-fact approach, and honesty—everything made him endearing. When he received the confession, his heart raced at 120 beats per second. He had felt giddy.

But he could not accept it yet. He could not encourage him. He was his teacher. He would wait. If Saka felt the same way after one year, if he confessed at the graduation ceremony as he had declared, Vira would express his feelings. But until then, he would treat him like his other students.

Just thinking about the confession made him blush all over again. "Vira! Stop it," he muttered to himself. "Getting swayed by a kid who is crushing on you? Seriously? Show some maturity."He will go to the mainland to study, get a job elsewhere, find a nice girlfriend, and live happily thereafter. You are a decade older; stop getting flattered."

He shook his head to clear it. "I guess a shower would help," he mumbled to himself. "I will fix myself a quick dinner and sleep it off. By tomorrow, I will be in better control of my emotions."