10. The Root Cause
1475 Words
After breakfast, I climbed the stairs to Austin's room. Natalia, on the other hand, had already headed to the office one hour later. As usual, as she strode towards the door her cell phone was stuck to her ear, yelling to God knows whoever might be.
I tapped on the door, and was surprised when it swung open a few inches. When I entered, the bed was empty and the sound of water splashing could be heard from the bathroom.
So, Austin's taking his bath on his own. I walked closer to the bed and noticed the baseball shirt and pair of pants resting flat on the surface of the mattress. I couldn't help but smile. He was only seven years old but already capable of grooming himself. He was so like his mother who was also independent.
As I waited, I scanned his room and my eyes were drawn to the long counter top of the dresser where framed photos were placed. I stepped towards it and held one picture in my hand — it was the photograph of Natalia and baby Austin. I bet the kid was only more or less a year in the picture but already capable of focusing on the camera and smiling. He was in Natalia's arms who was also beaming but only with eyes.
I wondered where the father of Austin was. Was he dead or just gone to other places?
The rest of the decorations were action figures and toys for young boys. But what made my eyebrows raise was the gamestation. There was a huge monitor and customized keyboard. Behind it was a wall with posters of certain characters in what he played online… I guess.
"Hey…"
I gasped and spun around in a nanosecond to see Austin staring up at me. He was already dressed up but still wiping his wet hair with a towel.
"O-oh, hi Austin."
"Have Mum told you to come here and inspect my things?" he asked. There was a cynical undertone in his cute voice.
With a smile on my face, I shook my head, clasping my hands together on my stomach. "I'm here to assist you get ready to go to school. And from now on, I'll be the one to look after you."
He only sighed and continued to wipe his hair. I touched the towel. "Let me help you with—"
"No, I don't need any help," he cut me off, slapping my hand before taking a step back. "I'm not a disabled kid, so don't treat me like one." He turned to his back and disappeared in the walk-in closet.
I wanted to follow him but I found myself just gawking on the door of the closet. I knew he was kind of snobbish since that was the impression he imprinted in my mind. But I didn't expect he could be this cold. He talked more maturely than his age though.
Austin was already wearing his sneakers when he walked out of the wardrobe room. I scanned him from head to toe. He was really a cute boy. He might be a bit irascible but still adorable.
The sight of his school bag resting next to the keyboard caught my attention. It was a big backpack with a 'Marvel' printed on it. I picked it up before he could even say a word. "Let's go downstairs, Austin. Your breakfast is waiting for you. You like french toast, aren't you? Apple prepared it for you."
"Of course," he sighed, rolling his eyes. "She is paid to do that."
I walked out of the room after him. Lydia, who was talking to a helper, greeted him in the living room. However, it seemed like Austin hadn't heard anything. He just proceeded to the dining hall, ignoring the other household people's approach towards him. He was so like Natalia.
However, between the two of them, Austin was more quiet and mysterious. The way he looked at me, I knew he had a lot of questions but just kept to himself. If I was the one to ask about him, his answers were quick and short, like he wouldn't want to talk to me or to anyone at all. Anyway, she didn't know me just yet. It was too early to expect a friendship with him. I wished he would give me his trust, though.
AS AUSTIN attended the class, I sat in the waiting lounge prepared for the students' guardians. I didn't get bored although it took four hours for the lessons to be completed. Thanks for the live television and small chat moments with the other guardians who were also nannies to the students. They shared their experiences in raising kids. But I took a little distance from them when they started to share gossip about the families where they stayed. Seriously, how could they say something bad and intriguing about the people who paid them to work?
But anyway, among all of us, I guess, I was the worst.
I was pulled from my thoughts when the school bell rang. The children began to exit the classrooms, their excited laughter spread across the lobby like butterflies wandering around.
Standing from the settee, I raised my face and tiptoed to search for the kid. Austin had requested me to not enter his classroom even though the bell rang. However, ten minutes already after the dismissal of the class and he wasn't still on sight.
"Are you the parent of Austin Johnson?"
I turned to the woman who approached me. In her hand, she was holding the hand of a boy who, I supposed, was Austin's seatmate. I remembered him when I took a glimpse in their class hours ago.
I nodded but unsure of how to respond. The way she gazed at me, I could sense something was wrong. "N-no, but I'm his nanny. Why?
He looked down at the boy and gazed back at me. "I think you must go to the classroom. Currently, their teacher was talking to him… again."
"About what?" I frowned.
"He just hit a boy."
My jaw dropped. The next thing I knew, I was racing to Austin's classroom. The moment her teacher spotted me standing by the door, she motioned me to come inside.
"What's going on?" I sat on the empty chair behind Austin's seat. I was staring at the teacher but my hands were on the kid's shoulders. He seemed full of tension the way he stiffened.
The teacher sighed and shifted her eyes on the kid beside Austin. I gasped and clamped my mouth, seeing that the poor blonde boy had a bruise on his right cheek.
"Austin made that," the teacher finally said.
"What? No," I disagreed. Austin might be a snob. But he was also discreet and knew how to control his temper. I just couldn't believe the teacher's statement. "He didn't do it, ma'am. Austin isn't capable of hurting anyone."
She raised her brow. "Miss Olsen, your boy punched his classmate right in front of me."
I blinked and turned to Austin who was only staring straight to the window. I wanted to ask him why he did it. But the way his teacher and classmates stared at him was enough— no, much—of humiliation already.
The teacher crossed her hands over her chest. "I've been requesting for her mother's presence since I began to handle Austin. But regardless of my emails, she just wouldn't show up."
"I'll bring this up to Miss Natalia, ma'am," I said, standing from the chair and picking up Austin's bag and hand. "But for now, please allow this kid to be excused. I think he's already tired
But rest assured that we will take action on this matter."
The teacher nodded. "I'm looking forward to that. But I hope his mother will face the kid's problem this time before things get worse. She is the only one that could help him."
AUSTIN was still silent when we arrived at the mansion. The whole trip, I was looking at him, figuring out what to say to him.
The only moment he talked to me was when I followed him to his room.
"Don't even try to lecture me this time."
I froze before I could step in his room. "I… I just want to ask if you're okay."
He looked up at me. "Do I look okay?"
"I know. That's why I'm here. Look, Austin, I will listen to you if you are having troubles. I'm not blaming you for hurting your classmate. But at least, let me know what is going on with you."
I wanted to touch his face or embrace him. But the moment I took a step forward, he pushed me out of the room and shut the door right to my face.
- Writer
