Adriana covers her scarf properly looking in the mirror
–making sure she looked like a reasonable teacher to be trusted by parents to
teach their children. Before the student comes, she turns on the air
conditioner of Room 1 and writes on her Note Iphone to express her thoughts.
“I’m so eager of being a teacher! I’m automatically getting super excited
to be meeting these faces of whom I’m going to educate and giving them your
best performance in their academics. The salary promised to be given is
extremely high –but yeah, not excited about that. I’m just that happy new
inexperienced teacher on her first day”. 4.58 p.m: 4th August 2015
*Knocks*
The door finally having to be opened by a boy in his blue
school uniform shirt. Quite good-looking for his age standard,
having fair skin and wide eyes –probably cause his father is a foreigner. He
came over with only a test pad and came to the table, sitting by the end of the
wall –he was shy being alone with this young teacher. She sighs, smiles at him
and tries to be as cheerful and approachable as she can be.
His name is Adam.
“Adam, you may refer me as
Teacher Adriana. So, on our first day together, why don’t we talk about your
weakness in any subjects? Or you can also ask me just about anything”.
“Can I go to the bathroom?”
“What? We’ve been just like 15
minutes here why don’t you-“
But he already paced out the door with a disturbing gesture.
Through the transparent glass walls he went straight to his mother and spoke to
her with a stern on his face. It was clear that he refused to accept this idea
of having himself involved with private tuition in the first place.
He came back to the room, heads down, doing his work a
little before looking at Adriana straight in the eye, refusing to study and
would talk about getting mad at her mom spitting out curse words and even
referring her as ‘nigga’. He was rude to everyone –even Adriana it just left
her with hesitation.
Knowing him for only 2 hours is more enough. Adam was a
spoiled child. Sometimes he curses out words like b*tch, f*ck, etc. He would
even without shame call the other teachers ‘you’re fat’, ’you’re old’, etc.
7.15 p.m :4th August 2015. ‘I’m going to teach this boy for another 22 days every weekday and yet
I know, he’s so naughty and rebellious I can’t handle him. It’s okay, God gave
me this responsibility to teach him, I’m sure I can do it’.
The next day was worse.
“I’m not going to learn anything damn it! You can’t make me
study mum”. His face was raged with anger straight directly yelling at his
mother. Completely frustrated nothing can be convinced to change his mother’s
mind, he came in the room. Adriana couldn’t possibly initiate how to ask him to
do work when all he did was getting in and out to the bathroom and reaching in,
doing nothing but silence.
So she looked at him intensely, telling;
“Adam? I know, you don’t want to study because you’re being
forced but when I was your age my parents always sent me to tuition like almost
every day. I was so lazy and I was never excited for it. But that didn’t mean I
wouldn’t study. It’s just not worth the time right?”.
Silence.
His eyes suddenly softens, finally he speaks out slowly,
only she could her in the room.
“I bought the Iphone but I haven’t registered anything yet.
But I want to download games so badly”
.
She almost wanted to laugh right in front of him. He’s just
upset because of that. Oh, I thought it
was because I wasn’t a good teacher all this time, thankfully. So she
helped registering his Apple ID, his email, his password with a promise
exchange he’d do his work. And he did.
From that moment, though it was still hard to be igniting
his spirits to study, it was the start of the bond created between those two.
Because Adam knew despite of his bad behavior, she was willing to corporate
with that and he was able to fulfill her demands and actually listen to her
teach.
She never liked his attitude but day by day, she was
enjoying to be his private teacher. He would always come in class and tell her
how his day went –like his feelings of wanting to punch the hacker responsible
for fixing his phone on the face cause’ she refused to teach him. He’d tell her
how naughty his sister was. He would show her his phone and introduce his
friends, showing her their photos to either ask if they’re good-looking or
likewise.
He would also talk about what he’s been active in school –a
sprint runner and won first runner up last year. He talks about Steve Jobs only
focuses on math so he hated science. He
even tells her his deep secrets when he’s done doing the revisions. He’ll
whisper to her how he hated the other teacher behind them in the room. There
was even a time he had to go for extra class with a fierce tutor so she asked
how his day went on the next day. He only showed his middle finger in respond.
*They laughed*
It wasn’t just about Adam willingly to be open to her about
anything. It was because Adriana saw how excited he was to be having her as his
teacher. She could see it very clear indeed.
Like when she refuses to talk to him because he wasn’t
paying attention. He’d quickly ask her if she was either mad or not so when she
nodded he’d come and make a joke. He’d do it constantly and it was just so
hilarious how he could make her laugh before cheerfully responding ‘yes you’re
smiling again!’. His ‘knock, knock,
who’s there?’ joke was always the best.
Every day after class
he’d proudly say “Teacher, I know I’m a bad boy, but I’m getting better and
better right?”
Beyond that, Adam really liked his new teacher. He’d
genuinely make a soft facial expression every time Adriana talks about why
education is everything for him. He’d laugh when she’d make jokes to him to get
over his upset mood and also when she’d sneakily ate a lollipop acting childish
in front of him. It’s obvious through his eyes, he was enjoying every second
being under his teachers care. Having his ego high above his nose, never did he
said such harsh words to her –well everyone else except her.
Instead of being a strict teacher, Adriana would encourage
him to focus before having a break and let him rest. She’d say ‘come on’ you’ve
got the looks already, but girls still want boys with brains!’, ‘you told me
Steve Jobs said math is the key to success, but you ain’t getting correct
answers here, let’s do it again!’. Never once he looked away. He always looked at
her and smiled.
2.34 p.m : 8th August 2015 ‘Adam
was responsive to me finally. I just love it how differ he treats me with other
people. Even better, he even confessed I was the best teacher he’s had so far.
I promise, I’m going to take this advantage of being his teacher, a friend and
I’ll have his interest in studying once and for all.’
Until one day, he changed completely.
He was okay the first hour, but it turns out just one word
he’s been avoiding her teaching and refuses to ask her questions of anything in
particular of his confusion. He even starts sitting at another table, avoiding
her.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?” Adriana shrugs.
“Nothing”. He responded without looking at her.
He accomplished everything there is to be taught that day
with pure silence and without a doubt kept on shutting his mouth, not saying
anything. She didn’t know what the problem was, but she kept trying to teach
him as usual.
8 p.m : 10th August 2015 ‘What did I do wrong? It’s killing to know how different he is an hour
ago. But it’s okay. He’s just a kid. They’re always confused and never really
knows what they’re doing. Let him be. Even if I’m quite disappointed, he’s my
student and I’ll forgive him’.
