MY STEPBROTHER, MY RUIN

CHAPTER 013: FISTS AND STOMPS

JUNE;

Today was one of those days I would have preferred to just stay in bed, stare at the ceiling, or just watch my favorite shows while lazing in my house robe.

In those days, the only thing that kept me going was Mary's company, either at her house or at mine. One thing I had in common with her was that we both had single parents. Her mom was late.

I sat up slowly, the thought of her had crept in. I felt so bad. I hadn't been able to see her even when she had proposed meeting up in a coffee shop. She said she understood I was still trying to settle in when we spoke last afternoon. But the whelp in her voice? Oh, gosh! It was too familiar.

I stretched my body, thinking of the new lecturer and why he had asked that I meet him in his office this morning. Was it a crime to have correct answers to questions when others don't? And now I had landed myself in the lecturer's good books, possibly.

But I didn't want that. In this college, where every student looked like they were out to grab my throat, all I ever wanted was to face my studies and head home every damn day!

Well, Ronan had surprised me a bit. The old man had caught him on his phone. He threw a question at him. For a second he paused, I almost felt bad that he might not know the right answer to it. But he gave it. Maybe not in the most elaborate way, but he had an idea.

“At least, he wasn't just an annoying, uncouth boy… He had something upstairs. Even if it's just a tiny bit.” I muttered.

I pulled myself up, I couldn't afford to be late. I had to head to Teacher Harold's office before going to classes. I couldn't afford to be late.

I dashed into the bathroom, the thought of my mom flashed into my mind the moment water cascaded over my body. That woman had disappeared with her man yesterday. She had only said she was somewhere fine when I asked over the phone.

“Isn't a honeymoon for the young and vibrant?” I thought to myself.

Well, I wouldn't call her old. As a matter of fact, she had become even younger since the marriage. And Mr. Grayson? That man could sweep girls under the age of twenty off their feet. I chuckled slightly. Grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my body.

I stood before Teacher Harold's office. Chest thumping, heart racing. I swallowed hard, my toes curling in my new pair of sneakers. Finally, I knocked.

“Yes. Come in, please.”

His voice reached me at the door. If I hadn't heard him teach in class yesterday, I would have mistaken whoever spoke from inside to be a woman. Teacher Harold had such a calm, serene voice for a man in his sixties or late fifties.

Slowly, I pushed the exotic door open, everything about this building and the people in it felt too surreal, too expensive.

The moment I stepped inside. I froze. No way!

Ronan sat there in his front, swinging in the seat slowly, rocking it under his butt. I batted my eyelid, my gaze glued on him.

Why was he here? Then his lip lifted just at the corner, like he was already enjoying every bit of this. Oh! I could flip a fist into his nose for smirking in my face.

I adjusted my backpack, I had switched to it this Morning. It was better than moving around with the peeled-leather tote bag.

“Good morning, Teacher Harold,” I greeted, stepping fully into the office.

My eyes moved to his face again, he was still staring, that smirk I could kill him sat there as if it belonged there permanently, a hand cupping his mouth slightly.

“Good morning, Ms. Rourke. Please sit,” he motioned to the second empty seat beside Ronan.

I moved, taking a few feet toward the empty seat.

“Rourke,” Ronan muttered lowly, just enough for my ears. My eyes widened at him. His mouth sat like he hadn't just addressed me by last name, mockingly.

I hated him. I hated that he found joy getting on my last nerve, just like what he did with the cake the other day. I looked front, Teacher Harold was busy flipping the pages of a big notebook before him.

I tightened my fist, pulling together all the strength I could muster, then I stomped my feet hard against his foot. He winced low, not enough for Teacher Harold to hear. His eyes had gone red. Satisfaction coursed through me.

“Now we're even,” I mumbled as I lowered myself into the seat.

“What?!” I yelled. That had fallen out of me. I leaned back a bit into my seat. Realising I had just yelled, my eyes moved from the old man’s face to Ronan’s face. He seemed to be enjoying this. I mean, why was he smirking?

What Teacher Harold wants both of us to do wasn't easy, and not with him! This man could have just asked for my intestine instead. What does he mean by he wants the two of us to take the rest of the students on extra-mural classes in his course after classes?

I mean, we just resumed. Or was it for the mock test he gave us the other day? I thought he said it was to test our knowledge?

“Is anything the problem, Ms. Rourke?” Teacher Harold's eyes softened.

And the last thing I would want to do is hurt his feelings. But how do I tell him I would rather give out a kidney than stand before that mean set of people, and with this dickhead? Doing what?

“No, Sir. I mean…” I stammered, searching for the right words. But teacher Harold cut in.

“You see, Ms. Harold… The mock test made me realise that a lot of those students are far behind. I put it on the long registration process that took half of our semester for the year,” he paused.

“You and Mr. Grayson here, were the best emerging students, with you at a perfect score and Mr. Grayson at an above-average score,” the man continued, I slowly glanced at Ronan’s face, his eyes had dimmed at the timely revelation. But what he didn't know was, I was freaking proud of him.

“He would serve as your help with the students… That way we would meet up with our curriculum for the semester faster, and attain good results for all.”

I nodded. A smile formed on my lips.