Chapter 42

The urge to gag as the warm liquid rolled around on her taste buds had to be repressed. Mia forcibly swallowed despite her body’s inclination to do the exact opposite. She cleared her throat and placed the coffee mug down on her desk. That was the first and last time she allowed someone else to pick up the staff’s coffee orders. The bitterness of black coffee was not something she could ever grow accustomed to, she had a sweet tooth that enjoyed creamy, sugary coffee. That, being said, she lifted the mug up to her lips a second time and gulped down a mouthful. Her tongue erected a temporary barrier blocking off access to her oesophagus that crumbled from her shoving the liquescent further.

Beggars could not be choosers. The plane of self-depravation that she’s ascended to required external stimulation for her daily tasks. Extreme caffeination was her only option.

She propped her elbow up on the desk, running the length of her index finger along her lower lip absent-mindedly, her vision unfocusing from its target; the textbook spread out before her.

“Mrs. Evans.” A rush of voices came at her, snapping her attention back to the present moment. She gazed at the class, some students looking at her in confusion, others whispering to their friends and snickering.

“I apologise,” she directed to them. “I’ve been up late correcting your exam papers,” she made an excuse for her lack of presence and awareness. It wasn’t a complete lie. At first, she’d opted for a good restful night, showering, fluffing her pillows and creating a cozy area for herself. It might as well have been twigs set out in a corner covered by mud and leaves because Mia had shuffled about so much in just half an hour trying to get comfortable that she’d knocked over multiple pillows. Her blanket and bed sheet became a muddled mess, indistinguishable from each other and they too ended up on the floor. She’d angrily thrown herself off the bed and pulled out the exam sheets she collected.
Mia had barely gotten through quarter of them, her mind running back to Harvey and their fight.

“Are ya’ll finished with the exercise?” she eased back on her chair, grabbing a white board marker in her hands. She had to shake off the thoughts of Harvey and sleep-depravation, the two dragging her into an eternal circle that only spelled damnation for her.

“No, there is someone outside the door.” A female voice echoed throughout the class, Mia’s head twisting instantly to look. A sickening chill crept its way down her spine, one slimy tentacle at a time.

“He’s been knocking for a full minute now.” A male voice added on, she couldn’t find the appropriate brain function to identify the students that spoke to her. Mia was transfixed, her body slipping back and forth into that flight or fight response.

*What was he doing here?* Her legs gelatinized under her as she took two steps towards the door. A voice inside of her pulling her backward. She paused halfway to the door. She turned around and scrambled her cell phone off the desk. She called the main office and asked for a substitute to come down to supervise for her.
He’d turned around, his back visible through the glass door. He knew she saw him and he was waiting patiently.

“Are you guys ready to correct?” Mia turned her attention to the class while she waited. A resounding ‘yes’ echoed and she nodded. The door eased open and Mia’s chest began creaking in response. She couldn’t stare in the direction.

“I am free now, so take your time.” Russel came up next to her, Mia nodded. “Thanks.” She replied weakly. “They are finished with the exercise on the board, please correct it with them for me.” She advised.

“No worries.” Russel looked at the board.

“Sir here is going to take over for a bit.” Mia turned her attention back to the class. “Please be on your best behaviour.” She warned them, walking as slowly as she could muster to the exit. If only the ground would open up and drag her down before she reached the devil at the end. The way she saw it, death was inevitable either way.

“Is Mrs. Evans okay?” A male student, Russel didn’t know his, or anyone else’s name in this class, questioned.

“Why do you ask?” Russel was reading the questions on the board before he began correcting it with the class.

“She seemed terrified before she went outside.” Another person piped in. Whether it was a boy or girl, he hadn’t taken the time to notice the tone of the voice.

“You must be mistaken. That’s her husband,” A unanimous expression of ‘oohh’ and ‘ahhh’ filled the classroom, “Now,” Russel’s voice boomed over the students, causing them to immediately quiet down. “that’s it for minding other people’s business. Let’s correct these exercises.” He assigned students to come to the front of the class to solve them on the board.

Eva had been struck dumb. She peeked at the silhouettes outside of the class room door. Mia led the man out of sight and hearing from the class. This was one time she wished she was wrong. Should she tell Harvey? What was one to do in these situations?
Her mind was even further flustered. She adored Mrs. Evans. She was definitely one of the few teachers Eva didn’t find useless. Should this alter the way she viewed Mia?
***

“What are you doing here?” Mia didn’t have the venom in her to snarl at him. She’d lowered her voice once the door behind her was properly closed, glancing around the corridors to ensure no one was around.

“You really didn’t think I was that oblivious, did you?” A smile spread across his face. Mia was shaking; she moved a few steps down the corridors, away from the eyes of the students in her class. This also made it easier to speak to him without fear of anyone overhearing them. Gabriel mirrored her movements, waiting for a response.
When she didn’t answer, pulling the sides of her sweater closer to each other and hugging herself, Gabriel sucked in a voluminous breath, “Oh, you did.” He nodded for a few seconds to let that sink it.

“Did you come to make a scene?” She lowered her voice to hide the trembling in them. The last thing she needed was to be embarrassed in the midst of her co-workers and students. The only thought occupying her mind was, ‘how the fuck did he know?’

“I brought you lunch.” He said slowly, correcting her, altogether ignoring the implication in her words. It was then she’d noticed the bags in his hands. “Thought we could eat together, today.” He flashed Mia a smile; his perfectly sculpted teeth irritating her. “From one of your favourite restaurants.” He held the bags up and did a small shake, alternating his weight from on leg to the other.
Mia eyed him carefully, her brain refusing to concede its mental fortification. If she was about to face humiliation, she wanted to be prepared. “No, really.” She didn’t believe him. Was the food poisoned or drugged perhaps? His plan to humiliate her may be dragging her away with a struggle. How was she to know his intentions?

“Mia,” he began, sighing heavily. “I have known about this job from the inception. If I wanted to cause a scene, I wouldn’t have to be in person to do that. It would take a single call.” His hands dropped to his sides again and he blinked at her.

“Then, what’s your motive?” Mia’s fear was dissipating. It was being replaced with a more useful emotion; anger.

“No motive.” He shook his head concurrently, “I want you to be comfortable and if working provides that for you, then by all means, continue to work.” He said nonchalantly.

“Why come here if not to make a scene?” Mia narrowed her eyes at him, her breathing becoming more and more forceful.

“Think of it as a peace offering.” He shrugged his shoulders, “I felt bad having you sneak around me, I want you to know that you can be honest with me about your needs.” He replied as if their history had been one long nightmare; fictional and fading.

“Is this a joke?” Mia couldn’t control the rise in her tone and neither the screwing up of her face.

“So distrustful…” Gabriel sang buoyantly. The past insubstantial and unworthy of thought in his eyes.

“I have reason to be, need you conveniently forget.” Mia growled at him. Her distrust had been feed and watered from the day of its implantation. The curator of it none other than Gabriel, himself.

“I haven’t forgotten,” he said defensively, but his control was surprising Mia. “ but we have a daughter to raise together and that is best done on good terms.” He continued.
Mia chuckled, a rising laughter burning a hole in her throat until it erupted further. “Since when are you interested in raising our daughter on good terms?” Mia managed through laughter induced tears.

“I don’t want my daughter growing up and viewing me as a monster, I am trying to change.” He declared, giving her a tiny smile. He didn’t seem fazed at all by her words or reactions.