•SALOME ALAN•

If this is a dream, I better wake up now. It's by all means a terrible one but as much as I want to wake up on my fluffy bed, the intense eyes of my teacher is enough to clear my doubt, that I'm right in his office, his grip tight on my wrist and my heart beating without rhythm. Tearing my eyes from his, I look at the scattered pills on the floor and back to him.

"Sir..." I wince, trying to pull my hand out of his, "You're holding...me tight." I mumble, and he quickly drop my hand like it's boiling hot for him, his brows crunching like he has a slight feeling that he kind of overreacted.

"Don't even attempt to pick it up." Mr. Alex warns as he move back to his seat, his expression stoic and hard.

I swallow, seating down and allowing the pains to eat me up, "But- but, I need them." I protest again, I seriously can't tell him that I need the pills to reduce the menstrual pains I'm feeling. I'm way to embarrassed to even utter it to my dad, talk more of a scary teacher.

Lightening flashes into the room and I look sideways to see that the cloud is heavy and dark. It's about to rain heavily and I'm still here. In school.

"I don't care if you take drugs, just don't do that here," Mr. Alex's voice make me turn to him. He take out his long hand black bag, zip it open and stuff some books in it. "You can go home now, we'll continue tomorrow."

I nod slowly, partially glad the rain decided to stop our section that suppose to end in about thirty minutes. Stiffly, I get up, my eyes down at the pills that is pleading for me to take so I'd be able to get my shit together.

"Are you still looking at those?" Mr. Alex asks, his voice spiced with anger. I shake my head, slowly walking out of the office. I can hear my teacher sigh heavily like he's having an headache by just talking to me and that alone makes my chest twist in sadness. I better just go home, lie on my bed and enjoy the sweet pain pining my stomach. it's a tad better than been here right now.

As I turn the door knob open, I slowly look over my shoulders and see Mr. Alex clearing his table to leave too, not even showing any concern about me. But then, he called it hard drugs. I shouldn't be mad that he doesn't understand. I'm too embarrassed to say anyway.

My chest drops as I open the door and close it behind me. It isn't too late to turn back and claim that there are just pills that I urgently need but it's easy to think of than to actually voice out.

Strolling down the somewhat dark hallway, the rain filled breeze blow silently, causing goosebumps to pop on my skin. As I step out of the block, I gasp at how heavy the cloud is. Pregnant with rain and wouldn't mind pouring out it's content anytime soon. Holding the thick straps of my backpack, I fasten my steps, my skirt and jacket blowing to the direction of the breeze.

The bus stop isn't too far from school so I ran there. Basically because the rain is already pouring down, beating the living hell out of me and, leaving me seat in the bus stop like a wet hopeless puppy. My head, down to my feet is greatly socked, my damp hair sticking to my face as I stare at the downpour, my hands wrapped around me.

It is perfect. So perfect.

I wipe the face of my wet wristwatch to see the time before looking back to the rain that is refusing to reduce. It's irritating enough to see my period today, and the rain just have to worsen it.

I sigh tiredly, wiping my wet hair away from my eyes as I look at how cars passes by in colours and products, partially wishing someone would see me, pity me and offer to drive me home. But then, it's already 7:00pm and the weather is doing no favour as it darkens at every second. My mind tick back to my teacher and I sigh again. Anywhere he is, I know he's happy that 'Salome Alan', is not present to frustrate his life.

Suddenly, full flash lights drives toward me and I squint my eyes at the brightness. As the vehicle draws near, my eyes widens in joy as it happens to be a cab. Finally.

The red cab stops right in front of me, under the rain and I quickly walk closer, hoping to see and tell the driver where I'm heading to. The rain is falling harder, washing me all over as I stretch to take a closer look. He whines down the glass and motion for me to come in without saying a word. A small smile form on my lips as I open the back door in a hurry and slip in, then jam it closed. This man is a lifesaver. He is to be rewarded from heaven. He is-

My mouth hang open to the person seating beside me. The driver had already kick off and just as I'm about to relax my socked body, my eyes fall on my teacher. Mr. Alex. What is he fucking doing here?
I blink my eyes to make sure I'm not imagining things but seeing is believing.

"Where are you heading to?" The cab driver's voice make me turn to see him looking at me from the mirror, his face painted with exhaustion.

"First, first lane...garden estate." I stammer and the man nods, tearing his eyes back to the road.

My brows furrow as I look back at my teacher again. He's seated beside me, arms folded and face positioned outside the foggy mirror. It's more than surprising that I'm in the same vehicle with him but didn't he see me? Or...heard my voice?

I drop my wet knapsack on the floor, thinking of what to say. I should say something.

"Sir..." My voice is causal, but I just hope he won't spot the nervousness in it.

Like he's waiting for me to call him, he turn to look at me, his brows furrowing.

I open my mouth to talk but instead, a smile form on my lips. The way he's looking at me is enough to say that he didn't know it's me that entered.

"How did you-" He starts to say and I gently caught him off.

"I was waiting at the bus stop." I bite my lips afterwards as my teacher stares down at my drenched uniform then back to my face. Even though his face is painted with no remorse or sympathy, I can't help but feel embarrassed at myself.

Mr. Alex nods slowly, taking his eyes back to the glass. Is anything going on outside this cab? Because all I see is tears from the cloud hitting all the corners. Yet, his eyes are fixed on it.

Your teacher doesn't want you here, Salome.

I sigh softly, pushing bad thoughts away as I turn to face the glass beside me, spotting rolls of streetlights passes by, the rain pouring uneasily. For a split second, I forgot my harsh teacher is seating beside me. In the same space with me.

Soft hums from the speaker make me turn to the driver. He's turning up the sound of whatever music is almost starting and a small smile form on my lips. This driver should be awarded for been this thoughtful.

Arcade by Duncan Laurence. It's now recognisable as the song goes deeper. The soft light beat occupies the vehicle and I find the urge to get comfortable. I look back to the glass, watching as the rain finally decrease. The road becoming clear but the cloud still dark and heavy. The ground wet with droplets falling from the sky. Weirdly a beautiful scene to stare at, with the slow music adding more perfection to it. The twisting pains I once felt also seeming to flow with the atmosphere. Mild and calm.

My eyes trails sideways to see my teacher, surprising the hell out of me that he's still keeping a straight face, his arms crossed and...his expression more tense? How can he still be his way for like, ten minutes straight?

The vehicle stops abruptly and I wipe me head front as Mr. Alex gestures to open the door. Looking around, I try pinpointing the environment we're in. Before I figure it's also the same estate with mine, Mr. Alex slams the door shut, walking to the glamorous house by the side. My mouth is hanged opened at how beautiful the building is. Is this truly a teacher's house or am I just seeing things?

As he moves down to the brown gate, I strain my eyes closer to see the inside when he pulls it open but then the driver starts the vehicle to zoom off. Mr. Alex pulls the gate open without making screeching sounds and walk in, closing it behind him without glancing back.

I don't know what took my eyes to the balcony but what I sight makes my brows furrow. A lady in thick white robes. I glue my face to the glass, squinting my eyes to get a better look but the driver takes it as a clue as he speeds off instantly.

(Mr. Alex's dwelling place✨☣)

The middle aged man slows down when he entered the first lane, patiently waiting for me to point to a particular house for him to stop. On a contrary, my mind is ten percent in the cab and a thousand percent on what I saw. A lady in white robes. I don't know if this is something I should have seen or even talk about to anyone but it's more than surprising.

"House number?" The cab driver asks, piercing through my thoughts. I avert my eyes out the window.

"Here. Here sir."

The man drivers stops abruptly and I search through my jacket to get some cash. Just like he knew my apartment, he stopped right beside by house. Stretching the cash to the driver who collect and quickly count through, he nods, referring that I'm free to go and I gesture to open the door knob when my eyes meet a black jacket laying beside me.

"This should be Mr. Alex's..." I mutter, tugging it in my hands.

"Any problem?" The driver peep over to check. I shake my head, smiling as I push the door open, say a 'thank you', and slam it shut.

The rain is stopped now and it's dark outside. I inhale deeply, the smell of wet grass and flowers feeding my nostrils. Exhaling sharply, I walk through the wet grasses, holding my teacher's jacket properly so it won't fall. I won't be surprised if I'd return it tomorrow and he spots my fingerprints on it.

Giggling at my absurd thought, I press the doorbell, shifting in my foot. My first priority is to take off this wet uniform and bounce on my bed, food can come later.

My mind twirls back to the white robed lady and my smile fades instantly. Is it because Mr. Alex has a wife, or fiancée, or a girlfriend, that he doesn't interact with any other lady? Well...I shouldn't interfere in his business.

The door knob turns open and I flash a wide grin to my aunty. She watches my wet figure, her brows knitting together.

"Good evening aunt Jenny," I greet, the cold breeze penetrating through every pulse in my body. My aunty moves back and I hurry enter my warm home.

Jenny bobs her head, standing akimbo. She is cuddled in ash hairy long sleeves sweater, black shorts and white flip flops. "What happened? Don't tell me you walked under that heavy rain."

I giggle, lifting my shoulders in a shrug. "I had no option..." I drawl, dragging my feet towards the stairs, "Is dad home?" I look up over my shoulders to ask.

Jenny shakes her head, picking her phone from the glass center table, "No. But you should have called Salome, I could have gone to pick you up."

A tired sigh leaves me as I spin around to face my aunty, my left hand on the stairs handle and my right holding my teacher's jacket to my chest. "I had extra classes with Mr. Alex"

"Oh..."

"Yep! The type I don't think I want to remember."

Jenny's brows furrow. "Why?"

Her eyes somehow captures what is in my right hand and she points to it. "And...what is that?"

My mouth form an 'o' as I raise the jacket up to show her. "It's Mr. Alex's, we boarded a cab together and he..." I trail off, staring at how surprised my aunt looks. Her mouth is wide opened and her eyes glistening with excitement, making me chuckle. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

She starts to laugh and then chokes. On her own laugher. I shake my head at her acting.

"I honestly do not know what you're thinking aunty, all I know it, my teacher forgot his jacket," I raise it forward again, "And I'm going to return it tomorrow because I'm a good student—no—attempting to be a good student for him. Thanks." Without waiting for her nasty reply or looks, I spin around and race up my room before hearing more drools about Mr. Alex who I just confirmed has a wife. Yeah, I said that.

The door bangs loudly behind me and I pay no attention to it, it's probably a reflex from my mixed up thoughts.

It didn't take me up to five seconds to peel off my wet sneakers and socks off my feet, fiddling them afterwards and flinging my bag to a corner. Gently, I place the black jacket on my bed, smiling at how smooth and well ironed it is, even after a long day.

I slip into the shower and take care of my business, walk out a with a relaxing smile, and throw on a pink hoodie and black joggers, my curly black damp hair bouncing at every movement. Now I'm refreshed.

The curtain puffs up, follow by cool air and sounds of wind. Moving closer, I wrap my hands around me. Before pulling the blinds up, I peep outside to the black cloud which appears heavier than before. The breeze blowing the flowers around like it would uproot them at any minute from now.

A ding from my phone alerts me to close it all up and grab the device. Sliding the screen open, my eyes involuntary sight the jacket again and I catwalk to it, twisting my mouth around. I don't know where the eagerness to touch the fabric haunts me but still the owner isn't here, he wouldn't know what his pretty black suit jacket would go through, right?

Covering my mouth to stop snickers, I continually poke the helpless jacket, then slowly graze my fingers through it. The material is quite soft and shiny I must say. My brows furrow as I feel something underneath. I deep my hand into the pocket to take it out, wondering how I didn't notice earlier.

It's the pills. The blue bills. The ones that slipped off my hands and scattered in Mr. Alex's office. I scan through the small white transparent polythene, staring deeply at it. Did he pick them up and wanted to give me?

No, Mr. Alex can't do that. He. Just. Can't.

Or probably he just wanted to clear off the dirt in his office. Yes, that should be it. Something he should have just leave me with, instead of making me look stupid under his glares.

The exact way I took it out is the same way I tuck it back into the inner pocket. I don't need it anymore anyway.

As I'm about to pull out my hand, I feel something else in the same pocket. Curiosity swallows me and I find my hand taking it out to take a look.

My phone dings out in the quiet room again and I jerk to the loud sound. Blinking away from the wrapped set of what looks like sparky coloured capsules, I grab my phone and quickly slide up to see a new message. From a new number.

09055712212;
It's Mr. Alex...

My body stiffens as the name sinks in. It's not the end of the message but I can't take my eyes to read the contents. Even if the cool air is still slipping through, engulfing my room in coziness, I can still feel heat crawling all over my body. Shutting my eyes, I flip my phone to read again, opening it slowly.

...I forgot my jacket in the cab earlier, don't know if you saw it. If you did, take it along with you to school tomorrow.

And that's it.

So professional and clean.

I stare at the WhatsApp message from my teacher, biting my lips and tapping my feet on the soft rug beneath. With how he has been treating me, it's enough to say I didn't see anything relating to his and keep the jacket forever.

But then, the right thing has to be done no matter what, right? He's my teacher and I'm his student after all.

My breath hitches in my throat as I tap on his profile picture. Even though his face is not showing, I can bet with my life that it's Mr. Alex. His built screams like his and the way his chest is a bit out is just...

Another message dings in and I jerk again, repeatedly tapping minimise like I'm been caught watching porn.

Say that to your dirty mind.

My subconscious slips in and I bite my lips. It's not porn. Staring at my teacher's sexy body isn't porn.

It's still porn.

No it's not. I battle back, staring at my funny wallpaper and thinking of a mature reply to give.

(Mr. Alex's profile picture guysss😶)

Exhaling sharpy, I turn my phone to type back the truth. Yes, the truth.

Me; Yes sir. I saw it and I'll take it along with...

I trail off, stare at my reply for a second and clear it up, the thought of seeing that white robed lady clouding my senses. She might be anyone. A relative. Or his sister... But my head just don't want to accept that innocent fact.

Sighing for the umpteenth time, I lay flat on my bed, facing the ceiling, with my hands above my head. Not like Mr. Alex would care if he doesn't see his jacket again. Either would he bother if he sees it and take it back anyway.

Glancing sideways, my eyes spot the capsules again. I stretch forward to take it, wondering why my teacher's jacket is stuffed with drugs.

Well, just two.

One's mine.

Please vote vote, and comment😍🤗
See you in the next chap!
We might get to see Mr. Alex's POV too!🙈