Chapter 29: Luis’s &Garber’s POVs

Luis’s POV

Rolland ignores Garber so hard I convinced myself that the look of recognition in their eyes was my imagination.

“Luis! It's so good to see you,” Rolland sidestepped Garber and pulled me into a brief hug.

“Same! I didn't expect that we'd meet here. Are you a student?” I asked, even though the answer was obvious.

At most, he was there to see someone, but he wasn't wearing any of our uniforms.

“Student?” He chuckled and stepped aside to give me a better look. “I'll take that as a compliment.”

“Oh,” I gasped, and we both chuckled.

“Come on. I'm the homeroom teacher for the 12th-grade advanced class,” he said and led the way away from where Garber remained standing.

The look in Garber’s eyes wasn’t friendly.

“So you're my homeroom teacher then?” I followed after Rolland, deciding to ignore Garber even though it made my chest hurt.

My legs felt sluggish, but I dragged them behind me to catch up with Rolland.

“Yes, remember I told you that I moved in for a job?” he said, and I nodded as I remembered the most traumatic night of my life. “Don’t expect any special treatment, though.”

He pushed the door leading to his office open. “Come on, I’ll show you my office.”

It looked so cool I couldn't help but gasp as I admired it.

It was decorated like a private room.

“Yup. The homeroom staff office was too full, so I got this.” That sounded like he was receiving special treatment. If anything, the other teachers ought to have gotten the room instead.

But instead of hating, I congratulated him…

“You're really lucky. It's almost as big as the principal's.”

“Thanks…”

“Hmm.”

“So was that guy the friend you were talking about?”

“No,” I said immediately as I swirled in his swivel chair to hide my facial expression.

Garber wasn’t the guy I told him about, but we'd been through a lot more mentally stressing things.

“You missed him by a few minutes,” I continued. Then I thought it's good that way, else he'd have seen Garber hugging me from the back.

“Oh… so how is it? Did you resolve the issue yet?”

“Resolve? He wouldn't even listen to me. He blocked me everywhere and threatened to tell everyone if I approached him again.”

“That's terrible. I'll speak to my lawyer friend.”

“What? I really appreciate that. But Chen is my friend… I can't sue him,” I said with a sigh as I pulled at the edge of the table to release my tension.

“If he truly considered you his friend,” Rolland sat in front of me, “then he would at least hear you out.”

I blew out air and crossed my legs as I raised my eyes at him.

“I think I understand him, though…”

After getting to know Clarissa better and all she's been through, I feel a lot closer and more protective of her.

If someone tried to…

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I might even do worse for my sister.” The realization was new, but not one I’d argue with.

“You mean your stepsister?” Rolland peered from the edge of the table where he was seated in front of me.

“Hmm,” I nodded, feeling more appreciative of the fact that he remembered everything from that night.

We’d made good friends.

“I see you got bolder and closer.”

“Yes,” I chuckled. “She really was just being silly and didn't mean any harm. Clarissa is so innocent and naive the more I get to know her.”

“You look so happy. I wish I could relate.” He had a smile on his face, but I could tell there was a lot more.

“You don't have any siblings?” I asked.

“Well… I did,” he replied after taking more time than necessary to answer, and I immediately felt what was wrong.

“I'm sorry, you don’t have to talk about it.”

Even though I don't know the exact relationship he has with his siblings, I can't help but feel sad and sympathize with him.

I patted his thigh as if to pass my condolences to him.

“Thank you.” Rolland smiled. “But I actually don't have any issues talking about it, though. Plus, you told me about your sad story.”

“Hmm?”

“I might as well tell you mine. Briefly, though.”

“Why?”

“You'll be late for class.” He flicked my forehead and glanced at the wall clock.

“So my parents got separated when I was very young, and they split us. Our house caught fire when I was four, and being the only survivor, I remember barely anything about that sibling, and I have no pictures,” he said all at once.

“Whoa, whoa,” I threw my hands up in surrender. “That's one hell of a trauma dump. You need a hug,” I said as I got up to hug him.

“Well, I won't say no,” he smiled and spread his hands, so I got in and patted his back.

“I'll try my best not to get into a fire,” I said—the only thing I could think of as consolation.

“Thank you,” he let out a deep breath and rested his head on my shoulder.

Garber’s POV

I almost broke my arm again when I heard his footsteps and his voice. Luis had come around just like I thought he would because this was his safe space. And just when I was about to put out the air of nonchalance, someone else joined the scene.

It was Chen… his best friend.

Or so I thought until they got into that argument.

I could tell they had unspoken spats between them from the plea in Luis’s eyes and the hard glare Chen sent his way.

Those weren't the eyes of a best friend, so I waited for it to settle before I made my entrance, but it never did…

Luis was left looking lifeless until I approached.

I could feel his body tense up under mine. His want.

He wanted to run, yet he leaned in, and in that moment, it was enough for me—until he started to push back.

Luis was spineless, yet….

Then Rolland came in.

That bastard. He'd mentioned that we would be seeing more of each other in the future, but I never thought it would be this way.

How did he and Luis meet?

Why were they so friendly to each other?

I wanted to pull my hair out as I watched them sidestep me like long-lost friends and leave me in the middle of the hallway.

It was mean.

It tasted like my bad karma, but I wasn't about to let it get to me.

So I followed after them to confront them, only to get stuck when I reached the door. My courage when it came to Luis…

In fact, I seemed to relearn everything about myself when it came to Luis.

Like right now, I was leaning on the door and listening to what they were saying, although it was in bits and barely audible.

That is… until I wasn’t hearing anything.

A thousand questions went through my mind, and right before I lost it, I pushed the door open to see a scene that would scar me for the longest time.

They looked like two octopuses mating.

Hands all over each other.

And that taunting look on Rolly’s face when I pushed the door open.

“What are you doing to Luis?!” I shouted as soon as I barged in and dragged Luis out of his hold.

“What are we doing? Hugging, isn't that obvious?” Rolly asked, his gaze on mine as he curved his lips into a small smile.

He knew what I meant! Yet…

Did everyone want me to lose my mind?!