How to Hate Your Crush - My Teacher is the Devil

Chapter 7

            Thanks to the devil’s revenge, I was stuck afterschool as everyone else packed up their things and ran outside into freedom. I sighed in jealousy and sighed once again as I sat on a desk, waiting for my cleaning partner, who never showed up. Just my luck. First, Mr. Brady forces me to do this, then my partner bails and now I must do this alone. I sighed once again before hopping back onto the floor and began straightening desks. I then began clearing the board, having to stand on my tiptoes. Why are teachers so tall? I struggled to reach most of the scribbling and tried jumping up and down as I swung the eraser round the surface. At that moment, two large hands took hold of my waist and I stopped jumping. Rather, my feet seemed to have screwed down onto the floorboards. Despite the warm touch, I shivered all over – that familiar, eerie, yet tingly shiver. I knew immediately who it was. Revolted, I turned my head abruptly, smacking it straight onto his nose.

            Mr. Brady grunted, “What was that for?” He rubbed his nose bridge and I gasped.

            “S-s-sorry!” I yelled.

            Wait. Why am I the one apologizing?

            I then immediately backed away before he could do anything else to me. Who knows what he could be devising right now. I bet he is involved in the absence of my cleaning partner.

            “Don’t worry.” Although his words attempted to reassure me, the fiendish grin on his chicks grew. “I won’t do anything,” Mr. Brady arched his back with his hands stored in his pockets, placing his lips just millimeters from my ear as he whispered, “yet.”

            I felt my ears burning and from his chuckle, I knew it had turned a deep shade of red, along with the rest of my face. He then took a closer look at my face and his chuckle deepened in amusement, mocking my fluster.

            “Where’s my cleaning duty partner?” I asked, brushing off his fun and attempting to change the conversation.

            “Oh, him?” he had an innocent look on his face, despite his next remark, “I sent him home.” I knew he had something to do with it…

“I wouldn’t want to leave a girl afterschool alone with some lusty teen.” Mr. Brady nodded wisely at his own words, playing innocent and caring, even though he was the biggest predator in this jungle.

And I bet he is here because…

“Don’t worry. I’m here to replace your partner.” he winked, making me shiver once again. Does this man have no boundaries?

I tried ignoring his remark and turned back to the board. However, as I attempted to clean it, my arms trembled and I gulped as I struggled to reach the top writings. This is even harder with him standing near me. I have no clue how to act around him. I peeked behind occasionally to check just how amused he appeared to be. He is probably mocking me for being so short and laughing endlessly in his mind. However, he seemed to be trying to restrain himself, until he finally could not hold it any longer and burst out into a fit of laughter. I could not get a look at his face, as he bent down and covered it with his hand, but I bet he was even in tears from laughing so hard.

I pouted, but my eyes widened once he lifted his head and I blushed at his cute expression. Just like a child… His lips widened, revealing a perfect set of pearly whites, his nose crinkled ever so slightly, and his eyes nearly pursed, leaving a glittering gleam that enhanced a sense of false innocence along with the slight blushing of his cheeks.

I paralyzed, observing his expression and my heartbeat fluttered softly, but uneasily as I felt butterflies wallowing up. My mind went blank and, observing this perfect image, I forgot all about his teasing, his cruelty, and his mischievous grins.

“Here, I’ll help you.”

Mr. Brady wiped the corners of his eyes and I awoke from my trance. However, I was not awake enough quite yet to defend myself. Mr. Brady walked behind me and, upon gently shifting my hair to the side, he grabbed onto my waist and lifted me up. I gasped and exclaimed, confused and shocked by his actions.

“I thought that by ‘help’ you meant you would clean the board yourself.” I protested.

“And what’s the fun in that?” the non-childlike treacherous grin returned. I pouted once again.

“Come on, hurry up. I’m strong, but you’re quite heavy, you know?” he teased.

I scowled and faced the board once again. It’s best if I just get this over with. I wiped the black surface as fast as I could so I could be set down and free myself from the demon’s grasp.

“Are you done?” he asked impatiently.

“Yes.” I said.

However, contrary to my expectations, instead of setting me down, Mr. Brady dropped me on top of the teacher’s table. I do not know why I am still surprised by these actions – it is him, after all. I tried to get off and escape before he tried anything, but it was too late. Mr. Brady closed the space between us and rested his forehead on mine, which was burning from all the blushing that only increased with his touch. He leaned in, approaching my lips slowly with eyes half shut and a dreamy expression.

“Don’t.” a soft voice blew from my lips. I turned my burning face away and fought my desire for his warmth.

A discrete smirk formed on his lips and he cupped my chin in his hand, whispering soothingly, “Can I ask you a question?”

I kept my face to the side and did not turn to face him, but my eyes glanced in his direction, stretching to observe him curiously. He had a serious expression, which only enhanced my intrigue and made me doubt my actions.

“Well, can I?” he insisted.

Filled with uncertainty and curiosity, I nodded, although only lightly for I was still skeptical about his intentions.

Mr. Brady closed in against me once again and I wondered if I made the wrong choice. He placed his lips close to my ear. I felt it turn scarlet and warm with the heat of his breath brushing against it gently. “So,” he whispered, “when was the last time your breasts grew?” he grinned.

A wave of heat struck my face, turning all of me into a new shade of red. I felt as if I looked like a humanoid tomato from head to toe. The only thought that crossed my mind, besides a ton of confused exclamations was, ‘How could he just ask something like that so bluntly?’

“So? Your answer…?” he teased, asking ask though he actually expected me to reply.

Is there any meaning behind all this teasing?

However, before I could revolt or paralyze in shock, I flipped myself off the table and turned my back towards Mr. Brady, deciding to ignore him. I walked into the next classroom, hearing the dragging footsteps following me. I lined the desks and chairs neatly as I attempted to control my breath to cool down my burning cheeks. This time, I grabbed a chair and dragged it towards the blackboard, keeping a calm and collected expression as I felt a set of eyes following me everywhere. I stood on the chair and cleared the board.

Probably feeling bored and defeated, for I had succeeded in keeping my cool, Mr. Brady leaned on the board. He seemed ready to resume his mockery.

“If you won’t answer, can I go ahead and try to guess?” He took my silence as a sign to keep on talking. “Tell me if I get it right, okay?”

I swept the floor as he kept on pestering me, repeating “okay? okay? okay?” over and over again until his voice grew louder and harsher with impatience, just like a child desperate for his parents’ attention.

“Hey, Ellie, are you listening?” his voice boomed, and he slammed the wall behind me, cornering me. “If you don’t, I might as well resume our private biology lesson.” he scoffed, lifting my chin up.

I turned my head to the side, yet this time I could not control my blushing. I cannot believe he is forcing me to say something so embarrassing. Nevertheless, I ended up giving a slight nod as I remembered what happened in the last ‘private biology lesson’.

“Okay!” he yelled out with a victorious determination.

I walked into the next classroom as he followed me. The other two students in charge of the same floor as me walked past and I lowered my head, worried that they could read into my eyes and figure out what Mr. Brady was doing and everything he had done. But if they saw him following me, they might still figure it out. I lowered my head even deeper until it was engraved in my chest. Everything seemed to slow down and they appeared to be taking forever to cross paths with me. When they were finally behind me, I counted three steps before looking back. Mr. Brady was nowhere to be seen. I sighed in relief. Despite being reckless enough to touch a harass a student in school grounds, he is still intuitive enough to hide in times of need.

I sighed once again, facing forward and resuming my path towards the classroom. If I’m lucky, he will not come back to haunt me again today. If I’m very lucky. I straightened the desks and chairs and cleared the board and was just about to start sweeping the floor once I jumped up in fright and sent the broom clanging onto the ground.

“Let me guess… grade school?” The sudden voice startled me and all my organs seemed to jump up in place. I looked behind and there he was, leaning onto the board with his arms crossed and one leg bent before the other, forming the number four, just as if he had been standing there all along.

I was too much in shock to say anything, but I mustered up a frown.

“No? Then, middle school?” he teased. I could tell be the look on his face and that annoying smirk that he expected to be wrong again, but I fell silent and that gave it all away. I could feel my face burn, so I lifted the broom and waved it back and forth in swift motions, attempting to hide my face. However, as my father always says, I am a terrible liar.

Mr. Brady froze in place and his smirk slowly faded, forming a small ‘o’ with his mouth. He breathed out what I think was a chuckle or a clearing of the voice before he could speak. “No way…” His eyes then widened, and the grin returned, ready to torture me without holding back. “You can’t be serious.”

I did not answer, nor did I nod, but, as I have said, I am a terrible liar, and he knew immediately it was the truth. Mr. Brady broke into laughter without considering my feelings and did not seem to have the strength to stop himself. Once he finally looked at me, I sent him a glare and grimaced at him. I threw the broom and ran out the room.

Once I passed the doorway, I heard him breath out, “s**t” and I knew he instantly regretted his words, but I did not stop. I kept running until I found my safe hiding place, where I hugged my knees and hoped that he would not find me – though part of me still wished he would, no matter how much of an insensible jerk he was.

I heard footsteps dashing from hallway to hallway and back, stopping at corners and peeking into classrooms. Tears rolled down my scalding cheeks and I held my breath as he called my name. No. I really do not want him to find me. Though, a sob escaped my lips. My eyes widened and I covered my own mouth as though it was somebody else’s. Thankfully, however, the footsteps did not stop. They kept pacing around the building until I could not hear them, but they always returned. When will he give up? It has been a while since I ran away and he still has not stopped running or calling out my name. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he actually cares. But I silenced the part of me that had such a thought and reminded myself of all the cruelties he does to me.

I embraced my knees and tightened my grip inside my safe, tiny hideout. For years I have hidden in this same locker and no one has ever been able to find me. In middle school and grade school there were other lockers, and no one ever found me in those either – the perks of being a tiny human being.

However, as if in cue, while I ran through memories of the past and my secret hiding places, the pacing suddenly approached and stopped. I sensed the shadow right in front of my hideout and held my breath once again. I thought that maybe I had gotten distracted with my thoughts and had made more noise than I realized. But it was too much of a coincidence. His feet were clearly pointing at this particular locker. I wept my eyes and kept a hand over my lips just to be safe. Yet, the shadow grew larger until it was no longer a shadow and it banged against the lockers. The figure dragged in a downward motion and I could tell he was now sitting against the locker. He definitely knows.

“Ellison, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Where are you?”

He knows where I am. I know he does.

“Your body is fine.” Mr. Brady spoke in a soft tone, which somehow soothed me. How can he still calm me despite hurting me immensely just moments before?

“You know, I actually prefer small bodies like yours.” he continued. “You’re actually cute.” This last part he spoke in a lower volume, as if he were somewhat embarrassed. I too felt my nose, cheeks, and ears burn at the sound of his words. He does? He really does? Then why would he say such awful things?

“You can come out now, I know you’re in this locker.”

My eyes widened. Throughout so many years, no one, up to this day, has ever discovered my secret hiding place. How could he have figured it out so easily?

A soft, almost inaudible sound escaped from my lips, stuttering “H-how?”

“You’re quite predictable.” he said after a long pause. Then he sighed in a way that I could tell he was smiling. “Only you to fit in such a place. Or to even think about it.” His calm voice then grew impatient, “Are you coming out or what?”

Despite his harsh words, he could open the door himself if he wanted to, but for some reason he is waiting for me to do so out of my own will.

“Will you stop teasing me?” I asked shyly, wanting to escape from this panful charade. I only want to be kissed by someone who actually loves me back. I can’t keep letting him toy with me.

In a quick response, he replied with a straightforward “No.”

“Then I won’t come out.” I threatened, only later realizing how much I sounded like a child throwing a tantrum.

A sudden light blinded me as the locker door flew open and I closed my eyes. Before I could open them or even gasp in surprise, Mr. Brady had already wrapped my curled-up body in his arms.

“Mister—”

“I’m sorry.” he interrupted as his grip grew stronger and it became impossible to escape. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” he said in a reassuring voice that soothed me along with his warmth.

I was speechless. I never expected him to apologize, not since he acts like a jerk most of the time. I never thought he considered my feelings in any way. Moreover, I was being engulfed in my crush’s – and teacher’s – nourishing warmth. I could feel his serene, soothing heartbeat as I allowed myself to lean further against him, drowning in his fervor. To make me feel so calm after agonizing me… what kind of demonical being is he?

However, the embrace did not last that long, for Mr. Brady, probably feeling embarrassed by his sudden actions, quickly pulled back. He attempted to cover his face coolly, but it was too late. My eyes had already spotted his rosy, blushed cheeks. I giggled in response to such a cute expression. He isn’t that much of a demon, after all.

My amusement seemed to have annoyed him, for he narrowed his eyes and brows. “Stop slacking off.” he snapped, returning to his normal self. “Get back to work.”

“O-oh, right.” I had completely forgotten about that.

I immediately jolted back up to my feet and ran off to resume my cleaning duties as Mr. Brady observed without lifting a finger. What a partner…