Chapter 19
Both of them had hastily thrown on their clothes, pausing for a moment to catch their breath before opening the door. They walked out, swaying slightly, and forced a smile at the smaller figure waiting with arms crossed in front of the room.
"So… how's little Teng?"
The homeroom teacher plastered on a smile, addressing the student who also happened to be the future stepchild with affection, but…
"Uh… your shirt's on backward…"
…oh, and yours too, pants inside out."
"Oh, crap~"
"What's this?"
Thud…
"What were you two doing in there?
Thud, thud…
"Why are you sweaty?
pout…
"Why's your hair all messy?"
Little Teng, six years old and bursting with curiosity, fired off a rapid-fire stream of questions at the two adults who had just emerged from the locked room.
Given their disheveled, pale, suspicious state, anyone would be curious.
The sight immediately triggered the possessive streak in the child. Furrowing tiny brows and crossing arms, Teng interrogated like a little detective, circling the beloved teacher to inspect the situation.
Those narrow eyes kept glancing up at the tall father figure… but no one answered directly.
"Um… little Teng, well… it's… uh… the teacher…"
LukTan wiped sweat from a pale face, struggling to answer the child's barrage of questions. Unlike the father, who didn't need to say a word since the child wasn't looking at him.
Tod rummaged through the snacks that Luk Tan had bought for Teng, starving and distracted.
"Just tell him we came to fix the air conditioner," the deep voice said, mouth full of sweets.
"Wha !"
Luk Tan's eyes went wide. They hadn't even used a bicycle chain like that before…
…fix the air conditioner… whatttt?!
"Not asking," the little one sniffed, lifting the chin and narrowing eyes suspiciously at the tall figure, before turning attention back to the teacher.
"Oh, right… well, I came to see little Teng, but you were already asleep. Then I saw your dad fixing the air conditioner, so I… helped out," Luk Tan blurted, spinning a story that would conquer the world.
"Helped how… with both of you wearing your clothes backward?"
Still curious, huh?
"Curiosity," Tod murmured, chewing on Teng's favorite snacks that Luk Tan had bought, speaking as if to the wind.
"Teacher! That's Teng's treat! He's eating it make him spit it out!"
The little one's face scrunched in annoyance, shaking those still-trembling legs, while the tiny head wobbled. Luk Tan crouched down to soothe and pat the child's head, trying to calm things.
(Even the father needs calming by the child how do these two survive together? Luk Tan)
When turning to get cooperation from the father, the same guy who had professed love earlier just opened his mouth, showing a yellow goo inside.
"Open your mouth, I'll chew and feed it to you."
"Teacher! Teng's snacks have been massacred! Take care of him for Teng's sake!"
Little Teng writhed and twisted dramatically on the floor. Damn… it's like having two kids.
"Hey… eh! Mr. Tod, don't tease little Teng!"
The sweet nickname slipped out, making the mushroom-headed kid freeze.
"What, can't eat it? Share a little! Ever heard of being kind?" Tod said, teasing the kid so much, even though they'd just buried their faces into each other's chest and hugged.
"Teacher!!"
(I'm losing it!)
"Tod! I'm begging you, don't tease him anymore."
The small voice sounded fragile, exhausted, and the two of them father and child locked eyes like rivals before turning away, both wearing expressions like villains.
Tch!
"Teacher, what did you do to get so tired? Did he make you carry him on your back to fix the air conditioner?"
"Uh… y-yeah," Luk Tan's big eyes darted around, suspicious.
"Yeah, you carried him a little too long," Tod added, still teasing, his deep voice cutting through even as he glanced at the TV.
"Tod!!" Luk Tan bared teeth at the mischievous lottery dealer, utterly fed up.
"Better go take a shower, it's too hot to linger here… the kid's jealous, you know," Tod said, whistling as he stripped off his pants while passing the teacher and the beloved little student. He paused to pinch Luk Tan's soft cheek, prompting a growl of protest from the child.
Oddly playful mood, that one.
"Teacher!"
"Yes, little Teng?"
"There's definitely a ghost here! He's possessed for sure! He can laugh so wide… Teng doesn't want to stay here, it's scary!" The little one shivered, hugging the teacher tightly, hands rubbing their back for comfort.
"I understand. Hang in there… (your dad might grow into it eventually)."
Little Teng isn't the only on teacher has already met the ghostly side of your dad, too. And it was intense…
The whole day was chaotic, dominated by quarrels between father and son, arguing over little things like children, yet there was an undeniable warmth.
If we could stay like this, all together, for a long time… it would be nice, wouldn't it?
Luk Tan watched the father and son sprawled out in front of the TV, arms and legs splayed, sleeping soundly. Finally, little Teng got some real time with his dad. Sure, it looked messy and irritating at times, but there was a quiet, growing fullness in their bond, piece by piece.
Tod, the mischievous lottery dealer who'd lived wildly through high school, had accidentally become a young father, still unskilled at handling problems, often coming off rough but rooted in a good family background.
Little Teng, born from youthful recklessness, seemed strong outwardly but was fragile inside, craving love and a place to rely on.
And I… Luk Tan, a kindergarten teacher who adores children, wanted more than anything to pursue my dreams beyond selling gold, yet I always respected my family.
We seemed to get along well fun, lively, a little chaotic but each of us carried walls we couldn't tear down. Dad had always taught me that life isn't easy, and neither is living with someone else.
Tod still hadn't resolved the issues from his childhood. Little Teng still hadn't accepted Tod as his father. And I loved these two dearly, but I loved my own parents, too.
Could the three of us, imperfect as we are, walk this path together? In the days ahead whether full of joy or sorrow would we still hold each other's hands?