Wintercrest Academy

Unplanned Meetings

      Bren’s eyes flutter shut for some seconds and then jerk back open like he’d seen something scary while his eyes were closed. He massages his neck, once, twice and when he cranes it, he meets his father’s gaze.

           “What, Dad?” he continues allaying the pain in his neck.

           “Dozing off on a school morning?” Jacob Kang asks, arcing an eyebrow at his son.

           “I was up all night.”

           Jacob nods. “You should have had some coffee, at least. If you fall asleep like this in class, how would you learn?” He smoothens his hands over his crisp, navy blue suit jacket.

           Yeah, no thanks. Bren had taken an entire pot of coffee while trying to keep wake at night. He had and still has no intention of risking a caffeine overdose. If Willow was home, she’d scold him senseless and watch over the coffee pot like a hawk. “You push yourself too hard, kiddo,” she always says. But how couldn’t he?

           “Well look, isn’t that the new scholarship student? Kaia Mahoe.” Jacobs peers at the window past his son’s shoulders.

           Well crap. Bren tenses at the mention of her name. He slowly and very dramatically looks over his shoulder and actually sees Kaia walking, headphones on.

           “How—why do you know what she looks like?” Bren is truly awed.

           Jacob smiles, one that looks very much like Bren’s. “I’m a member of the schools parents board, I know these things. Michael, stop.” He orders their chauffeur.

           “Stop?” Bren gets hysterical. “Why? We’re not at school yet.” Oh no, please no!

           “Brennon,” Jacob says, his voice warm like a hot cup of coffee. “I didn’t raise you to be a brute. Isn’t it polite to pick up a classmate who’s walking to school?”

           Bren screams inwardly, because if he did it out loud, the glasses would shatter. “It’s bad enough that you’re bringing me to school today, then you know the name and face of the new student which is very creepy. And now you want us to pick her?”

           “I’m meeting Principal Jan; doesn’t it make sense that I drop you off?  Michael, reverse, we’re picking the girl up.” Michael does as he’d been ordered and they slow down beside Kaia

           Bren shuts his eyes hard like he can’t stand to look at Kaia whose face is twisted with confusion. Jacob winds the window down. “Miss Mahoe?”

           “Uhh, hi?”

           “I’m Jacob Kang, father of your classmate, Brennon. Since we’re all headed the same way, join us.”

           “No sir, it’s—”

           “I insist.”

           Bren’s eyes remain shut till her hears the opening and slamming of the passenger door. Crap, crap, crap!

           “Is this something kids do these days? No exchange of pleasantries?” Jacob glances between the teenagers when the car has been silent for a while. Bren and Kaia say awkward ‘hi’ to each other.

           “Congratulations, Kaia. I heard that you broke Brennon’s entrance record. You must be a pretty smart girl.”

           “Thank you,” Kaia says in a modest manner. “I do my best.” Little brat!

           “Keep that up. Do nothing but your best.” He transfers his gaze to his son for a brief moment and then takes it away.

           Bren burns red with fury. What the heck is his Dad thinking? When they pull up in front of school, Kaia thanks Jacob and Michael and then alights the car. Bren takes a deep breath, knowing that Wintercrest students with their swift eyes and lips would make this into a bigger deal than it is.

           “Son,” Jacob calls just before Bren slams the door. “We’ve got some talking to do.” He gets out, throws his shades on and enters the school building. Jacob Kang is the definition of a cool dad.

                                                                                   ****

           “Explain this.” Shira pushes her phone into the face of her scowling best friend the moment he strolls in.

           “There’s nothing to explain.” He reclines in his seat. Darn Wintercrest and the internet. How speedy are they with gossip?

           “Nothing to explain? You come to school with your archenemy and there’s nothing to explain?” Rosco sounds genuinely excited and it infuriates Bren the more.

           “Okay,” Rosco tones down the excitement. “It could have been a coincidence. There’s no way she slept at your house.”

           “Gee, that was hard to figure out, genius.” Sarcastic Bren.

           “I don’t understand why you’ll pick her up though,” Shira says, obviously upset.

           “It was my Dad. He spotted her for reasons I don’t freaking know, asked Michael to pick her up and voila! Here we are.” He grunts. “He even brought up the entrance record thing. I’m so pissed because I don’t know what he’s doing.”

           “Kaia’s the problem,” Shira says automatically.

           “Bro, chill. It doesn’t always have to be about her,” Rosco counters.

           “It doesn’t? Do you not have any idea how often Bren talks about her? She literally lives rent free in his head. I hate it. She’s the reason Bren is like this lately, and I’m going to fix it. I’m going to fix her.”

           “I don’t know, Shira. Don’t you think you’re doing too much? I mean, yeah, we’re all best friends, great, but you’re kinda acting like you’ve got beef with the girl.”

           Shira snorts. “I do. Whoever messes with my Bren in any way messes with me too.”

           Rosco abandons the issue. Shira wouldn’t rest till she gives her Bren the world. He silently questions the motive. Pure best friendship or not? Bren, on the other hand, has fallen asleep.

                                                                       ****

           Kaia and Adan hang out on Saturday. They window shop and talk at the mall for a while before sitting down for ice-cream. Kaia get the buttered pecan caramel and birthday cake flavours, while Adan gets mint chocolate chip and black walnut. They trade scoops and Kaia hates all of Adan’s choices.

           “Remind me to never go for ice-cream with you again.” Kaia washes away with the taste of mint by taking large scoops of her ice cream.

           Adan’s lips downturn in sadness. “But, this is our first ice-cream date. How can you reject me on the first date?”

           Kaia rolls her eyes but smiles anyway. “Don’t be dramatic. You have the worst ice-cream taste. Ever. Who eats mint chocolate chip?”

           “Student Council President Adan Ramirez Perez.” Adan grins and takes a big scoop. He closes his eyes and his face relaxes with pleasure and joy. “Mmmm.”

           “Eww,” Kaia feigns retching and they giggle.

           “A circuit has a resistor with a resistance of 3ohms followed by three parallel branches, each holding a resistor with a resistance of 5ohms. What is the total equivalent resistance of the circuit?”

           Kaia raises her eyes to the ceiling like the answer is hidden there and then turns the question in her head for some seconds. “14/3 ohms.”

           “Ding, ding, ding!” Adan applauds her and she bows. “Excellent.” He’s been randomly asking her questions all day as a way of keeping her alert and ready for The Metleys. She hasn’t gotten any answer wrong.

           “Mr Ariel is going to have you on lock and key from Monday, right?”

           Kaia heaves deep and loud and Adan chuckles. “Yes, yes, he will. And I don’t have a problem with that. I mean, I basically sobbed like a child when he came to my dad’s restaurant to check on me, but Bren. I don’t know how I feel about studying with him.”

           “It wouldn’t be so bad.”

           “Yeah, right. When he acts like I’m the competition and not a colleague. Let’s not talk about that.”

           Adan nods immediately. “Astrid, any luck with her?”

           “Nope,” Kaia takes the final scoop of her ice-cream. “I’d talk to her again on Monday. I hope she’s ready to talk to me, after I’ve ignored her all the while.”

           Adan asks her more questions, they share jokes and get more cozy and comfortable with each other. By the time it’s evening, they start heading home.

           “Adan!” someone shrieks as they pass the lingerie section of the mall. The both of them turn at the same time and Kaia notices how Adan freezes when he sees the woman: body like an hourglass, beautiful two-piece dress and cropped hair. Kaia loves her nose piercing.

           “Oh, wow. It’s good to see you out here.”

           “Yeah.” Adan’s reply is stiff. “You too.”

           “Look,” the pretty woman continues. “I’ve been trying to reach your dad. Business talk and all that, but I can’t get to him. Do you mind?”—she quickly runs into the store and returns with a card she hands Adan— “Tell him to call me. We have a lot to discuss. Business.” She runs her hands absently over her flat belly. “You say hi to your mum and Ava for me.” She reaches out to touch Adan but he recoils and Kaia sees the flash of pain on her face.

           “You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend now. She’s beautiful. What’s your name, sweetie?” her smile is captivating and Adan pulls Kaia to himself before she can answer.

           “Bye, Elena.” The way he’s walking is too fast for Kaia so she runs to catch up.

           “Adan, is everything okay?” she grabs his arms. He looks angry and sad at the same time. What’s wrong with him?

           “I need to go, little K.” his voice is shaky. “I had fun today and I hope we can do this again, but for now, I need to—”

           “Sure,” Kaia rubs his arms in up and down motions. “Thank you so much for today. Call me when you get home.” They hug and he practically runs off, leaving Kaia unsettled and realizing that maybe her safe place has some unsafety of his own too.