POV: Kelly

It was an absolute disaster for Kelly – well, an innate battle, to be exact. Apparently, she could still feel herself being in Johann’s arms. She could still feel her growing emotions that lingered upon her and created a tingling sensation inside her stomach.

Good thing, Annette was there for her and guided her throughout the Opening Ceremony. Her mind was haywire, but she tried to compose herself, for she needed her job the most, so she pulled herself together – she needed to do it, whether she liked it or not.

“Miss Kelly, I’m done,” little Jillian approached her as she gave Kelly her drawing.

It was Art Time and she asked them to draw their First Day of School experience.

After the Opening Ceremony, they still have to meet their pupils to get familiar with them. It was a great thing that she didn’t need to teach that certain day and she just needed to give some enjoyable activities instead.

She was handling twenty adorable and lovely kids and so far, they were all handy and nice.

Thank God!

It occupied her mind away from her sudden meeting her Johann Baker.

Kelly looked at Jillian’s drawing. It had four stickman – most probably, two women and two men – filled with various bright colors. There was a huge house with so many flowers, butterflies, and rainbows, too. It was absolutely colorful and vibrant – a typical work of a child.

She sweetly smiled at the cute little child.

Jillian was wearing the school uniform and it suited her well. The small blouse with a tiny maroon necktie where the school logo was embroidered matched with the pleated maroon skirt which emphasizes her fair skin. She paired it with white socks that reached her ankles and black shiny shoes.

Her rounded cobalt blue eyes and pointed nose seemed so familiar to her, but she shook it all away. Her long black and shiny straight hair falls on her back – almost reaching her hips. She’s wearing a pink headband with a red and yellow butterfly in it.

“Wow! This is so great! Can you tell me something about it?” Kelly sweetly asked her with a loving smile painted on her lips.

“Well, here are my loving parents. I really love them. Mom prepares breakfast for me every day. Dad was supposed to drive me to school, but I guess not today. Uncle Nick insisted on accompanying me because Dad needed to go to work. Uncle Nick told him it’s kinda urgent.” Jillian smartly explained while she pointed every single detail in her drawing and shrugged her teeny shoulders afterwards.

Kelly’s smile grew. This child was so endearing. Even the other teachers told her so. She would be handling Music and Arts, even Values Education, to the kids, and so far, she was amazed with every single one of them. But Jillian just stood out for being such a clever and active girl.

“Nevertheless, I understand it, though. Mom told me that Dad is doing his very best at work to provide for us. So, I can buy things and eat healthy food – and I’m so thankful for that. Besides, Uncle Nick is the best Uncle in the world. He is always there for me whenever Mom and Dad got so busy. Well, he’s my only one uncle anyway,” she charmingly giggled, and she was, too.

Her smile and giddy giggles were so contagious.

“Miss Kelly,” Jillian called her while still looking at her drawing – she was playing with her fingers and as if she’s ashamed of something.

“Hmmm?” She tenderly asked while looking at her.

“I was really so excited because I know you will be my teacher for this class, so I draw you, too. I really like you since I was in nursery, Miss Kelly,” Jillian cutely told her.

She saw how Jillian’s cheek turned pink because of embarrassment.

“That was so nice of you. Thank you, Jillian.” Kelly sweetly smiled at her.

The child’s smile grew more as she looked at her.

“You can call me, ‘Jill,’ Miss Kelly. I’d love to be called by my nickname. Especially by you.” She keenly said – her bright smile never faltered.

“Sure, that would be nice.” Kelly answered softly.

Kelly smiled as she watched the kid go back to her sit. For the time being, she already had friends in class. Well, she wasn’t surprised, though. The kid was so adorable and nice.

The bell suddenly rang. It was time for the kids to go home. Kelly asked them to organize their things and wait for their fetcher.

“Bye, Miss Kelly! See you tomorrow!” Brendon waved his goodbye at her as he walked hand in hand with his mother, who was smiling brightly at her. Kelly nodded her head and waved her hand as she reciprocated them a genuine sweet smile.

“Bye, Brendon! Take care!” She waved and walked back to the classroom.

Minute after minute, all of the pupils were already gone home, except for Jill, who was frowning now looking at the classroom door. Kelly noticed her and asked to do things to take her foul mood away.

“Hi, Jill, good thing you’re still here. Can you help me with this, please?” Kelly adorably requested Jill to help her arrange the papers on her table.

“Why would you do that to Jill? It is your job to do those things, right?” A deep cold voice resonated across the room.

Kelly’s eyes widened and her heart bet quickened as her vision flew to where the door was. That cold voice sent shivers down her spine – making her absentmindedly agape during the Opening Ceremony.

And now, this!

She mentally counted one to ten to calm her nerves and her heart, which is beating erratically once again – especially when their eyes meet.

“Uncle!” Jill called him.

Her mouth ajar as she stared at the two. No wonder they almost all look the same. She was Jill’s uncle! The one she’d been telling her about.

God! How could she be so careless!

Jillian Nicolette Baker.

Baker!

She’s a Baker!

How did she didn’t notice it earlier?!

‘You’re just too pre-occupied with something – or should I say someone, Kelly. And now, he’s materializing in front of you.’

Her own thought were now teasing her – and she’s hating it.

Yeah, right – she thought.

“Don’t say that to Miss Kelly, Uncle Nick. I was so bored, so I decided to help her. Now, you don’t have to talk to her that way. Besides, you are so late.” Jill pouted cutely and looked at her with a sorry face.

Such a nice kid with a jerk uncle!

Kelly just gave her a knowing and thoughtful smile – trying her very best not to roll her eyes.

Well, not in front of the kid.

“Say ‘sorry,’ Uncle,” Jill demanded as she raised her eyebrow while looking at Johann.

Yes.

It was Johann Baker who was standing in front of her classroom door.

“What the-” He was about to curse when Kelly warned him by clearing her throat.

“I mean. Why would I? I was just protecting you, Princess. I thought she was making you do things that you aren’t supposed to. We are paying them to do their job, and this is part of their job.” Johann tried to explain his reasons as he moved his head towards her – his eyes laced with pure disgust.

Kelly clenched her fist. She was totally offended by his tone and on how he looked at her. As if he was emphasizing something. But she didn’t want any commotion – not in front of Jill.

But the pain that was slowly creeping down her veins, and she immediately washed it away. She shouldn’t feel anything anymore. It’s been years.

Besides, she didn’t know why the heck he was mad. As a matter of fact, she was the one who needed to be mad about meeting him again. She should have been the one who was throwing wicked words at him and not the other way around.

But she didn’t! And she wouldn’t!

Kelly wouldn’t stooped down doing things that were long due and so done.

“But Uncle, I told you. I was the one who insisted on doing those. Stop using offending words. Mom told me that ‘don’t assume unless proven to be the truth’ so since you’re wrong, you needed to say sorry.” Jill insisted and looked at her, then winked.

Kelly crossed her arms in front of her chest. She didn’t want Jill to stop her whims. In the first place, she wanted to hear those words from him… though it was not meant for what happened between them – three years ago.

“Sir, the car is ready.” A man in his mid-fifties appeared all of a sudden – breaking the tension growing between them.

He was a tall man with a pencil thin mustache on his face. He was wearing a white polo and black slack pants, which he paired with his shiny black shoes.

“Harrison, take Jill to the car. And buy her some ice cream. I needed to say sorry to Miss Kelly, first.” He sarcastically said as he emphasized the words ‘sorry’ and ‘Miss Kelly.’

She was silently praying to God that Jill would insist on being there, but this time her hopes crushed down as she watched how the child’s eye twinkled with the magic word – ice cream.

Well, she wasn’t surprised. Johann knew the child’s weakness, and he’s using it to his advantage – more to her dismay.

“Alright. Say sorry and don’t fight, okay?” She told him warningly as she looked at him with those narrowed eyes.

Johann slightly chuckled. He was so entertained and amused by his cute little niece.

While Kelly’s heart beat quickened – just by hearing his genuine giggles.

“Fine.” Johann answered sweetly and shrugged his shoulders.

“Alright.” Jillian sighed with defeat and smiled brightly at her.

“Goodbye, Miss Kelly!” The kid joyfully exclaimed as she waved at her.

She waved back. She wanted to return that subtle smile so badly, but her heart, which was beating feverishly, didn’t allow her to do so.

Jillian was now out of her sight, but she didn’t have the guts to look at the man – standing at her side. She heaved a deep sigh, and her eyes unexpectedly went to him. Her heart jumped when she caught him staring at her.

Kelly couldn’t comprehend what he was thinking about – his face was blank and stoic.

“So, you are Jillian’s teacher. I won’t be surprised if you already trick her with your b*tch face. She already asked you to call her by her nickname.” His voice was painted with venom as he sprouted those words to her.

An evil smirk formed on his lips.

Her mouth grew wide open as she stared at him unbelievingly. Her chest tightened just hearing those words from him – pain crept into her system.

Where the heck did those words come from anyway?

“W-what are you trying to say?” Kelly’s forehead creased as she stuttered her question – confusion was written all over her face.

Johann slowly took a step towards her. She wanted to run, but she was glued to the floor where she was standing. Her knees trembled as her heart beats doubled.

“Stop wearing that innocent mask. Do not poisoned Jill innocent and naïve mind. Your job is to teach, nothing more, nothing less. Stop getting too close to her. You’re just a teacher, act like one.” He emphasizes every single word from that sentence.

Despise was evident in his tone of voice – which Kelly didn’t know where it came from.

She was so hurt but still tried to compose herself.

She wouldn’t let this man treat her like this. Not this day and not in a million years.

“I’m sorry if you think I did something that wasn’t supposed to, but I was just doing my job. My job is to teach and part of teaching is to make this class a place where they needed to have fun, too. I was just watching her frown while impatiently waiting for you, so I asked her to help me, so her mind would be pre-occupied with something else. I don’t mean any harm, but if you think I do, then that wasn’t my problem anymore.” Kelly clearly stated as she stared blankly at him.

He moved towards where she was standing. Kelly wanted to move away, but her feet were glued to the floor. Her heart beat throbbed hard that she breathed unevenly. Her stomach flutters as if there were millions of butterflies flying inside it.

Johann stopped in front of her and bent – making their faces an inch away from each other. Kelly wanted to move her eyes away but couldn’t. She could feel the table behind her, and Johann placed both of his hands at the edges of it – caging her. She was now stuck with him.

Her breathing hitched as she gawked at his evil smirk and moved his head near her ear.

“Very well said then, Miss Kelly. Like you always do. Like how you manipulated me with your acquitted words three years ago.”

He whispered breathily as he clenched his jaw. His words cut like a knife – which was confusing to her.

Johann stood straight and his eyes full of abhorrence while looking at her. Then he walked away from her – leaving her there – with all the pain and bewilderment on her face.

Kelly’s knees weakened and that caused her to plop down on the nearest chair as her tears flowed down her rosy cheeks.

“How can you say those words to me, Johann? How can you keep on hurting me like this?” Kelly whispered as she covered her wet face with her both hands.