06. The Betrayal

It was at noon, after lunch, that I started to hear the rumor from the teachers, something about Yu Bin and his wife.

I was in one of the stalls in the restroom, peeing, when I heard footsteps; they were more than one person, that much I could tell.

“So, I finally asked my friend, you know, the one I told you works at his company,” the lady said.

“She said he got a divorce, but the details are private,” she said.

I was doing my business, low key wondering who they were talking about, and who was talking.

“Woah, who would want to divorce such a man?” A new voice dreamily said and the others laughed. 

“Let’s head out, the bell will come in any moment now,” someone said and one by one, I heard people walking out. Why the fuck were people like that?

How would you give half information? What about the others that didn’t know shit, like me? How was I supposed to know who they were talking about when they didn’t disclose the name of the person?

I rolled my eyes and cleaned myself up. All the while laying curses on all the ladies that talked about it.

When I left the restroom, on my way to my class, I heard it again from behind the janitors closet.

“Wait, you mean he’s divorced? How’d you know that?” Came the question.

“Yes, he’s divorced. A friend of a friend told my friend,” came the reply.

The teachers at the school sure knew how to gossip than they knew how to do their jobs. The only thing that infuriated me was that I didn’t know who they were talking about. Hell, everyone seemed to know, except me. Weren’t the teachers scared that the students were going to hear them talking about it? I mean children never forget things, and they might go around thinking it’s come kind of good news or something. 

Thankfully, I saw Sarah walking towards me; well not towards me per say, but I was on her way. After that incident in my classroom, I knew she pegged me  as her sworn enemy, which I didn’t really mind, but I needed information from her, and judging from the type of person she was, she knew exactly who the teachers were talking about.

“Hey,” I called out to her. She shit me a nasty look, looking at me from head to toe like I was disgusting.

“There’s this rumor going on, what’s it about?” I asked her.

“And why should I tell you?” She folded her arm, with a certain look on her face.

“I knew the rumor wasn’t worth my time, thanks for not telling,” I was playing with her mind, because I knew she wouldn’t want me feeling bigger that she was; especially since she hated me

“It’s your students father,” she smiled. My students?

“What?” I asked her.

“The twins, the late comer? Yes, he’s divorced,” she was happy with herself.

“That’s who y’all have been talking about all day? Are you aware of his children?  They school here!” I asked her.

“What if this news gets to them, how do you think it’s going to make them feel?” I asked her.

“What’s why we haven’t used his name or anything, get over yourself. I know you’re more happy about the news than anyone else,” she spat.

“It’s a rumor though, so we’re not sure. I’d confirm the details before I spread my legs, if I were you,” Sarah added and walked away from me.

She just accused me of sleeping with my students father! That fucking bitch!

Yes, I felt relieved in a way, but I felt bad for Yu Bin and the children most importantly. Was that why he came over to pick the children even when his wife had picked them up already? Do they not even talk?

My heart was out to the little children who were in the middle of their parents drama. How were they coping? Did they know that their parents were divorced? Were they afraid of being separated?

All those questions ran through my mind for the rest of the day. Sometimes I just paused to look at them, to observe them, to know if they were sad or not, but they always looked happy, always pranking others.

So that day, when Yu Bin came to pick up his children, I don’t know the monstrosity that made me ask:

“Are you okay?” He gave me a confused look, probably hoping I’d say more, but I didn’t.

“Yeah, I’m okay, are you okay?” He asked me, I nodded. He didn’t get what I was trying to ask, or maybe he did, but he was trying to shy away from it, which I understood, I mean I was basically a stranger to him, a stranger with no rights to ask him of his marital issues.

I know I was being biased. I didn’t know who was filed for the divorce, or who caused the divorce but I automatically concluded it was his, well, ex-wife. I had met the woman once and she was nice, she had a smile on her face all through, and there was Yu Bin, who looked happy but had loneliness in his eyes. I just couldn’t see Yu Bin cheating on his partner, which was a wrong way to think, but I didn’t care. The man was perfect in my eyes and couldn’t hurt a fly in my head, so why would he cheat on his partner?

“You,” He has his head tilted to the side like he was thinking about something from another angle.

Just as he was about to talk, my phone started ringing, it was shit-head Eric calling.

“Sorry just a moment,” I told Yu Bin and picked up the call.

“What?” I said into my phone.

“What a pleasant way to greet the love of your life” Eric joked and I laughed.

“You’re still at work yeah?” Eric asked.

“Yeah, why?” 

“I’m close, I’m coming to get you,” he said, I thanked him and hung up.

“Are you sure we haven’t met before?” Yu Bin asked immediately and I dropped my phone on my desk.