Ms Sandy stood in the middle of the classroom. She slowly lifted her hand on the rim of her glasses, lazily, she pulled her glasses up on her face before gazing at the students.
"Make sure you all finish your assignments on time, if you want to graduate," she said and all the students nodded in agreement.
She collected the books on the table and tucked them under her arms before bidding her students goodbye.
Out of the room, she sighed as she walked towards the elevator.
"Can't this term just end already?" She thought to herself as she pressed on the elevator button.
The two doors of the elevator paved way and she walked inside. The books were weighing on her but she didn't let them fall down, instead, she tucked them deeper under her arms before pressing on the ground floor button.
When the door was about to close, a hand stopped. The elevator opened and there she stood, tall with curves that turned heads without trying. Her curly hair framed her face in wild, effortless waves, like it had a mind of its on. A red lollipop twirled slowly between her lips, playfully and bold, just like her, Cindy.
She was the best performing student in the final year. Despite that, she was not Ms. Sandy's favorite person.
She drew the lollipop from her mouth with a slow deliberate slurp, strands of glossy saliva glistening like silk under neon lights. Leaning lazily against the elevator frame she tilted her head , eyes dark with mischief as they locked onto Miss Sandy. "Room for one more, or should I behave?"
Ms. Sandy looked at her, eyes wide with disbelief. She has been teaching for two years now and encountering a student like Cindy has never been in her bucket list. She swallowed hard and crept to the corner of the elevator leaving a room for her.
Cindy marched inside the elevator and instead of keeping her distance, she stood in front of Ms. Sandy, held out her hand to touch the books in her hands.
Ms Sandy quickly pulled the books towards her bosoms, feeling smaller in the presence of this tall student, she couldn't say anything.
"I just want to help," Cindy said before stepping back and standing next to her English teacher.
The elevator ride was silent and awkward at the same time. Ms. Sandy kept to herself, she is a teacher who never speaks much.
"How is your husband doing?" Blurted Cindy.
Ms. Sandy quickly lifted her gaze at Cindy. She couldn't believe how Cindy could ask such a question.
In her practise as a teacher, she has always been warned about engaging in indecent topics with the student. She has never been involved in any disciplinary committee about her behaviour with the student apart from when she accidentally broke a student's phone. Listening to the question posed by her student, she knew she had to stop this from going on.
"Other teachers are praising you for your hard work, but you don't do the same in my class, is there a reason?" She asked, her voice hoarse like a tired donkey.
Cindy chuckled, she crushed the lollipop in her mouth before looking at Ms. Sandy.
"We are just two people here, Sandy, why are you so timid?" she asked before laying her back on the elevator.
"I am your teacher can you be respectful?" Ms Sandy lashed out.
Ms. Sandy knew that the conversation with her student was going over board and before she messes it up, she had to correct everything to avoid getting her license suspended by the school.
She opened her mouth to speak but Cindy was to quick.
"I am not some kid, I am twenty years old. Do you think I will be here to do some teenager talk?" she questioned before pulling herself from the wall.
Ms Sandy's body coiled on the corner of the elevator but there was no more space for her to escape too. She was a small human being and she didn't want to get on the bad side of her student.
Despite the effort of garnering her strength to say something to Cindy who had the upper hand at playing games, she lost it when Cindy's figure stood in front of her.
Cindy lifted her chin up, forcing Ms Sandy to look at her. "I am not here to hurt you," Cindy said in a low assuring voice. Ms. Sandy felt hopeless. She wanted to fight back and push Cindy but she knew that the student she was teaching, were from filthy rich families who will sue her and let her rot in jail. She already has a debt of a student phone she broke in class, she didn't want to do anything to add on to that problem.
Cindy moved closer, closing the gap between her and Ms. Sandy. Ms. Sandy coiled on to the cold elevator wall.
"I am just wondering," asked Cindy before she pulled the scarf on Ms. Cindy's neck revealing the purple marks on her neck. Her hand curled into a fist as she saw how dark they were. The fresh marks were laying on top of the old ones. "How long are you going to allow that pig to do this to you?"
Ms sandy had her eyes closed. She could feel Cindy's breathe on her neck.
Cindy slowly brought her fingers on her neck, the small graze of her finger on Ms. Sandy's neck, made her to flinch.
"Please, let us stop this," begged Ms Sandy. Her eyes close, a lone tear slowly finding its way on her cheek.
"What if I don't want to, Sandy?"
"Stop!" shouted Ms Sandy.
She opened her eyes and looked at Cindy, anger evident in her glare as she tried to push Cindy away.
She wanted to open her mouth to say something but the elevator chimed.
"Good evening Mr. Thornson?" Cindy greeted cheerfully as she glared between him and Mr Thornson..
Mr. Thornson nodded to his greetings before turning his gaze to Ms. Sandy.
He took a step towards Ms. Sandy. Ms Sandy curled her fingers into a fist as she tried to back int a corner. Forcefully, Mr. Thornson grabbed Ms. Sandy's elbow and whispered something in her ears.
It didn't take long before the elevator stopped and Mr. Thornson, smiled at Cindy before walking out leaving the two alone.
"Why would you even say she is your husband?" asked Cindy before popping the gum in her mouth.
"Please, stay away from my life. Can you respect the boundary?" asked Ms. Sandy.
Cindy looked at Ms Sandy before taking another step towards her. She pulled the glasses from her face leaving Ms. Sandy blind. She knew that she can't see very well without them.
"I don't like your husband, he has what is mine and he is not taking god care of it."