Chapter 06 - Lukas, the Campus Crush

Monday morning starts normally except for a new student who enrolls in the school. It’s not as chaotic as I expected, though. In fact, the little boy is able to immerse himself in the crowd. I think one reason for his quick adjustability is that he is already wearing the school uniform. Some female students can’t help but point at him, though. It’s also understandable. The little boy is a looker. Straight black hair, fair skin, tall and cute. He is also carrying himself well, as if he knows people would like to befriend him. It won’t be long until they label him as the Campus Crush.

The boy’s name is Lukas Reeves, a transferee from the city, and the cause of the excitement of the female students. In fact, when I was having my lunch with my co-teachers and I told them that I would like to take a break from all the blind dates they were setting me up for, they agreed without a fuss. Then their conversation shifted to the new transferee.

It was only until Friday afternoon that I discover I should be worried about his appearance in the school. I mostly handle science subjects, and I had a regular end-of-the-week quiz for all my classes. Everyone is aware of it, so it surprised no one. Well, that is, except for Lukas.

The class is out and everyone is in their after-school activities when I call Lukas to my room. We need to talk about his quiz, which is a perfect zero. He did not even try to answer each question and just left everything blank.

“What is this?” I ask when Lukas is already standing in front of me. “Did you get any issue with the questions?”

“No,” he curtly answers.

“And so?” I ask. He didn’t follow it up. Instead, he just looks at me as if I am asking him nonsensical things. “Lukas, can you explain why you did not answer any of the questions?”

“It’s stupid.”

I raise my brow. “The quiz questions are stupid?”

“I don’t see why I will need to know the answers to those questions to succeed in life.”

I raise my brow. “Then, will you tell me what you need to succeed in life?”

“Money. Influence. Power. Family Name. C—”

I cringe and raise my hand. He sounds like a corrupt politician who knows nothing. Someone who talks a lot and thinks that he’s saying something smart, but in fact, most of the people who will listen will see that he’s stupid.

“Then, let’s go to the elementary-level science. Explain the greenhouse effect.”

“It’s not important.”

“It’s not important because you don’t know what it is?”

He didn’t respond again. Seems like silence is his only answer to things he doesn’t know. That, and glares. He is looking at me as if he can destroy my life with just a flick of his wrist. I lean on my chair and look at him.

“Who takes care of your education?”

“My father.”

“He’s the one who teaches you these things?”

“I am in high school. Why would he need to bother?”

Oh, bother. So, his relationship with his father is bad. “And your mother?”

“She’s out of the country as of the moment.”

“Your parents sound busy.”

“They are. They are business people.”

Ah, so that’s why he has that mentality that education is not as important as money is. “Do you know that in the corporate world, you need to decide a lot?”

“Of course!” he snaps at me. “I am not that stupid!”

“I just said that you will do a lot of decision-making when managing businesses.”

“What’s wrong with it? I just need to say yes or no.”

“And do you care if you are making the right decisions?”

He scowls at me again.

“How do you think you can make a correct decision?”

“My employee can do it for me.”

“And if they plan to take advantage of you? Let’s say two people say two different things. How will you know who is correct? And you need to get it right, or else numerous people will lose their jobs and suffer. Your business will also take a plunge.”

“Why are you asking that?! That’s not on the quiz!”

He’s evading it. Maybe, this student will be a good statesman if trained properly. “Your family has businesses. So come on, you should be able to answer that one.”

To my surprise, he lunges towards me and takes a hold of my collar. “You are just a teacher. I can destroy you if I wanted.”

I smirk. This time, I think I have a little monster in my class. I glance at the fist that’s holding my collar and then at his angry face. I grab his wrist and tighten my fist around it.

“You need knowledge, Lukas. To make good, wise decisions, you need information, and to understand the information.”

“And what about common sense?!”

“Common sense is taken and learned from experience. If you won’t educate yourself, you will be the downfall of your family’s fortune.”

“You want me to be a nerd? I don’t want to be like you. I don’t want to be so uncool.”

Suddenly, he spits in my face. I loosen my hand on his wrist to wipe it from my face. “That’s how low you are. So, start looking away from my infractions if you don’t want my father too—”

I suddenly reach for his hands and pull him towards me. In a split second, I move towards him. I bend my arms and hit his neck with my elbow. He falls backward and drops to the floor.

“Spitting on your teacher, or to anyone, is rude and nasty, you little shit!”

I am about to take him by his collar when he falls unconscious. I snort, seeing that I won’t be able to scold him more. Angrily, I stride towards the bathroom and wash my face. That idiot of a student! Taking the collar of his teacher and then spitting on her! I feel sorry for all his previous teachers!

I soap my face multiple times and take a towel to pat myself dry. Suddenly, someone screams. I rush outside to see what the commotion is about. Mark is tapping Lukas’ face to wake him up, while female students are looking afraid of the scene.

My mouth opens wide. I drop my towel and realize that, yes, I have an unconscious student in my room while I am cleaning myself up. What the hell? Am I too angry that I’ve become so shortsighted again?!