A Tutor For My Bully

Chapter 20: More Than Money

Akira's POV

I stood quietly in the hallway not knowing what next I should do, all I could think of was the tension I was going to put my mom into if I didn't find that envelope.

Breaking the news to my mom that I'll need to get new notebooks when she knows this section hasn't ended would be me trying to make her work extra time which I wouldn't allow.

“We have to look for that envelope.” I said looking at Camila in a confused state.

“Yes we should” she quickly attested to it.

As we searched the hallway for the envelope, my mind was beating faster than usual because we searched the whole place. I could remember I had passed but there was no sign of anything brown, not to mention an envelope on the floor.

“Damn it” Camila yelled, I was brought back to reality from my thoughts.

“Damn what?” I asked.

“We should go check the principal's office” she replied with wild eyes. The idea had just hit her.

“Yes we should”

As we both hurried to the principal's office I could hear my head full of thoughts again, The envelope… Mom…

The novel and the mathematics notebook I just finished organizing.

I know for sure that if I could get the envelope and replace everything I had lost, that notebook wouldn't be a problem for me to finish up.

“Let me just get my hands on the envelope”, I prayed silently.

We finally got to the principal's office, luckily for us we came right in time because she was about to leave her office. I quickly knocked at her door and she responded with the sweet voice I had always known, but this time a bit faint and I could tell she was already tired from today's work.

“Who is there? She asked.

“I”…

“It's Camila and Akira ma”

Camila quickly answered her because I was about fidgeting but she quickly noticed and helped me out, that I can tell she's beginning to know me too well.

Aside from being bullied and always saying sorry even when I'm not at fault, I'm a shy type.

“Oh, come inside”

“To what do I owe this visit” She asked while facing down her desk to continue what she was doing.

"Ma'am, we came to check if the brown envelope you gave me earlier is here. I think I misplaced it," I said, my voice shaky but hopeful.

"No, Miss Owen. You didn't leave it here," she replied without looking up, still packing her bag.

"As you can see, I'm about to leave".

"It's alright, ma'am. Thank you. We'll take our leave now."

We stepped out of the principal's office and the hallway felt colder

"Nothing," I whispered, even though Camila had already heard me say it 3 times. “We've checked everywhere, Akira. Classrooms, the hallway, even under the branches," Camila said, dragging her feet, "Where else could it be?" I didn't answer. My chest was tight. Mom... new notebooks... extra work.

"Let's check the stairwell one more time," I said, even though my voice didn't believe it.

My mind was already writing the speech I'd have to give my mom tonight.

Akira and Camila searched the stairwell one last time before deciding to head toward the school gate.

>>>>>>>

The gym door slammed behind them.

Kael and Adrienne were walking toward the ice hockey ring, hockey sticks tapping against their legs, talking about drills and who was going to be goalie. "You're late again, coach is gonna scold us," Adrienne laughed, shoving Kael's shoulder.

"Blame the incident that happened earlier," I hate it when Linda thinks she can bully Milky the way I do, I thought. "What incident?" Adrienne asked.

"Linda is trying to play games with Milky and it's annoying because I get to bully her myself with no assistance from anyone, especially from Linda." Kael said, eyes on the floor.

That's when he saw it.

"The envelope"

Halfway tucked under the bleachers. Brown. Creased at the corner. His stomach dropped.

That's Milky's envelope. He knew it immediately. The way her name was written was small in the corner in a blue pen. A. Owen.

Kael bent down and picked it up fast, heart pounding for a different reason now.

Adrienne didn't notice. He was still checking his messages. "I gotta use the restroom real quick," Adrienne frowned.

" 2 minutes. Save me a spot," he said, already turning away.

"I lost it..." Akira cried out

Camila tries comforting her.

Just then… A familiar voice.

"Looking for this?"

Kael is standing a few feet away, holding the envelope, Akira's eyes widened.

"My money!" She rushes over and takes it carefully with both hands. "I thought I lost it forever."

She smiles—a genuine, relieved smile.

"Thank you so much”

"You're hopeless, Kael said."

"I was thanking you, I said with my face down busy playing with the ribbon hanging out from the edge of my school bag because I couldn't look him in the eyes, he's being him again, damn it I thought."

"I know."

"...So why did you insult me?" If only he knew the courage I took to ask him that.

He shrugs.

"I felt like it." I rolled my eyes.

"You're impossible."

"And yet..."

He smirks. "...you still tutor me."

I chuckled.

Adrienne, standing a few steps away, notices something strange.

He has never...

Ever...

Seeing Kael makes someone laugh like that.

*******

Whistle Blows. Puck slides past the net.

Coach notices Kael is distracted, he misses an easy s**t.

The coach blows the whistle.

"Blackwood!"

"Yes, Coach?"

"Where's your head today?" Kael glances through the school building. "Nowhere". The coach narrowed his eyes with hands folded. "I've coached you for years". "I know that look".

Kael frowns. "What look?" "The one player gets... "...when they're in love".

Kael almost drops his hockey stick. "What?"

The whole team bursts into laughter. Adrienne laughs the loudest, Coach chuckles. "I'm kidding ". But... Kael didn't laugh. Because for one terrifying second... He actually wondered if Coach was right.

>>>>>>>

By the time I got home, the house was quiet.

I walked into my room and carefully placed the envelope on my desk. A smile finally appeared on my face, everything was alright now. I opened my school bag to arrange my books.

Just then...

A folded piece of paper slipped out and landed on the floor. I frowned.

“Wait... I don’t remember putting this here.” My hands were already shaking before I even picked it up. I unfolded it. Slow, my eyes scanned the page once. Then again.

Stay away from Kael... or next time, it won't just be your locker.

My breath caught. The smile I gained after getting the envelope back earlier? Gone. Just like that. I whispered to myself, “What...” My voice sounded small. Even to me. I looked over my shoulder.

Hallway. Empty. Kitchen. Empty.

Mom hadn't returned from work yet. “Someone’s watching me,” I said out loud, even though no one was there to hear it. The paper crumpled a little in my grip.

My heart was beating so fast I could hear it.

Kael?

Linda?

Claire?

The locker? That was what I could think of admitting what happened earlier. I sank onto the chair.

“Who is this?” I whispered. And the worst part?

I had no answer.