My Students Billionaire Father

I can feel pure excitement bubbling up inside me as I dash through the school corridor to my boyfriend’s classroom. The clock says I still have one hour before our date — a planned romantic dinner at a nearby restaurant.

But I can’t wait for us to be together! Honestly, I am ecstatic. It is my thirtieth birthday and our sixth monthsary. I have my own house and own a car. I have investments, some savings and a stable job. Mark, my boyfriend, is also a teacher like me. It’s a simple life, but all in all, life is pretty good. My mother is right, simple things are always the sweetest.

Moreover, maybe now, after six months, we can take a step further in our relationship. I can finally offer myself to a man. It’s been long due. I’ve been a virgin for three decades of my life. It’s not that I am adamant about keeping it until my wedding day, but I just don’t find the right time or the right man to lose it to. I just can’t go on a trip and give it for free, right? Just the idea of it makes me shiver in disgust. Imagine kissing and being touched by a stranger. It’s repugnant.

And so, arriving at the room, I notice that the windows are shut and the lights are turned off.

A student comes out of the room. I remember that his name is Jason, the current school paper feature writer. He bows at me, and I acknowledge his presence.

“Ma’am, actually…”

“Is Mark there?” I ask, making a small smile as I glance at the room he exits.

He nods. “There is just something I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Can the school paper have a feature on you?”

I cock my head at him. “What for?”

“You just won an award at the recent teacher’s conference, right? You also keep on getting promoted. And so, we think it will be motivational to get an interview with you.”

“Oh,” I exclaim. That means more eyes will look at me. In truth, I’ve only done those things for money. A higher position means a higher salary. Better room assignments too and I will be able to handle the star section. “Maybe next time?” I ask.

“But ma’am, you’ve been here for a year…” he complains.

“There are other teachers too, other amazing teachers. You can interview them.”

He grimaces. He’s been pestering me for an interview since the first time I won an award in the regionals. It’s not that big of an achievement. Besides, I only joined for the prize money.

“How about this…” I start. “If one of your team goes to the national competition for the school press conference, I will do the interview. Not only that, but I will also go with you to the city, that is, if you want me there. After the competition, win or lose, I will treat the team to something nice.”

Jason brightens up and responds, “You promised, Teacher Cassie.” He starts to walk away from me as if he thinks that I will change my mind if he doesn’t leave soon. “Don’t forget!” he shouts at me while waving his hand.

“Just make sure you win!” I retort, shouting back so he’d hear me.

And so, when the young man is gone, I shift my attention to the classroom. The lights are dimmed and the room glows gently yellow in the low light. The sunlight from the windows has turned a warm yellow-orange. My boyfriend, Mark Wood, should be leaving by now. It’s already close to six PM and we have a reservation in the local restaurant at seven PM. The chosen restaurant is only thirty minutes of drive so I brought my car, but it’s better if we drive there now. Or rather, he starts to drive. I hate driving. It’s stressful and tiring. I’d rather spend those minutes spent on driving by thinking of other things.

I enter the room. No one is inside. My shoes echo on the tiled floors. The tables are gleaming in the low light. A low murmur comes from behind the door to my left. On the wall beside the door, a symbol of The Circle has been painted, a looping swirl of earth and sky. A black, shapeless blot has been superimposed on the upper right corner, making it impossible to tell what the painting is supposed to be a portrait of. I’m no artist, but I can appreciate that it’s a bold and beautiful painting. As my eyes adjust to the gloom, I realize that everything is cleaned up and organized, which means that Mark is ready to leave. In fact, he has been ready for some time.

He’s nowhere to be found, though. My eyes go to the closed door of the bedroom. He’s a home economics teacher, so his room has an extra room where extra pillows are placed and organized.