13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Winnie

I check my watch again before I go into the staff room. Today should be the day Telke can get out of the hospital and be back at school, but is he feeling well enough?

I've been visiting him after work every day since he ended up there. He kept saying he is fine.

Maybe he is fine, but it feels like he is trying to look strong in front of me.

I want to hug him and tell him everything's fine, but who am I to do that?

Are we that close to each other?

I go to my seat, finding his seat empty. His backpack isn't there yet. Maybe he isn't here. Or...

Is he in the sports field with the kids?

He doesn't like to work that much, right?

I put both cups of coffee on the table, letting out a breath.

Maybe he...

"Good morning, Winnie."

I jump when he scares me.

He chuckles. "Do you miss me?"

"Geez... do you want to murder me with a heart attack?" I roll my eyes, but I...

If there was no one around, I'd hug him and tell him how much I miss him, but I probably shouldn't.

He looks in the direction of the door before he wraps an arm around me and pulls me to his side. "A small side hug?"

I roll my eyes, but I hug him back on the side. "Yeah, sure. Are you really fine?"

He nods. "I've been fine after the first round of healing ray, the doctors are just a bit too cautious."

"Are you sure about that? How many rounds have you gone through as a whole?"

"Um... Almost daily. I think they are secretly trying to roast me from the inside."

I laugh at that. "So... Do kot'olls taste good?"

"I've never eaten myself before, so..." He leans close and winks. "I suppose you can have a dose of kot'oll if you want."

A surge of heat spikes in me. What did I say...? And... What's in his mind?

He moves back. "Hope I didn't scare you."

My gaze drifts to his crotch even though I probably shouldn't, especially not after he teases me with that...

What kind of monster is he hiding in his pants?

Oh, fuck... He is such a big guy that he has to have a huge cock to be matching. If he gets his way with me, all his arms and those muscles... will probably destroy me in a good way.

What do I say to that?

There is a throbbing pulse inside me that is... asking for his touch. Maybe it is wrong to let him hug me, even though it's just a side hug.

"Good morning!" Another teacher comes into the staff room. I can't even see who that is when I'm too short to look through the partition board, but Telke probably can see who that is.

Regardless, I take a step away from him before someone sees us cuddling. We're supposed to be professional at work.

Telke greets the teacher with a slightly upset face. I want to hug him some more now.

Maybe there's a reason I feel so inclined to visit him every day even, though... Technically, I didn't even have to visit him once. I think some of the teachers that are closer to him went, but I'm new, so no one asked me to go with them.

Not to mention, I may have been there with him more than his family... Something must be wrong with me.

I let out a soft sigh as I sit in my office chair. I'm only in the staff room because I want to know whether Telke feels good enough to show up. So...

It is Jackel. He comes with a heavy-looking suitcase, probably stuffed full with art supplies. "Hello, Telke! It's so nice to see you again."

Jackel smacks Telke's shoulder with his tentacle hand. "Looks sturdy."

Telke chuckles and flexes his two top arms. "Of course. The doctor said I have a good base, making it easier to recover from the accident. Thank you for visiting me."

"Sure thing. Don't have to thank me for that. Everyone worries about you."

"I'm back stronger than before."

I wonder how Telke can remain happy and positive all the time, almost as if the accident didn't even faze him. I roll my eyes. "Let's hope you learned a thing or two and won't get hurt again."

Jackel says, "Come on. I hope that too. I won't forget about the..." He looks at the door, probably trying to make sure no one else is around. But given the time of the day, there have to be others around.

He continues, "The long speech the principal gave. I'm never forgetting that, and I hope I'd never have to go through the whole thing again."

Oh, right... The stay-safe-in-traffic talk that lasted for half an hour. I don't need that in my life either. I doubt that was the first time the kids heard about similar topics anyway. They had to know, it's just... sometimes they aren't that good at controlling themselves or remembering what they should do. Part of it is just kids doing kids' things, but it doesn't mean it is fine.

Telke chuckles. "Guess I'm not going to be upset about missing that."

Both Jackel and I smack Telke's shoulder, each on a side. I hiss at him. "It's not a joke."

Telke still chuckles. "I know. I know. I'll be careful, okay?"

I stare at the blank computer screen. Somehow, I doubt Telke learned a lesson, but maybe he just isn't showing it.

Oh, right, the coffee.

I peek over the partition board to his side. He is busy working on his clipboard while putting on his cap. "Telke..." I lower my voice, trying not to catch others' attention

"What?" He blinks, seemingly to catch on. "Are you telling me that you're mad about what I said?"

Ah... The eating a kot'oll thing?

Geez... He won't let me off the hook, huh?

I hiss at him. "Get your mind straight. I have an extra coffee. Do you want it?"

His grin grows. "Thank you."

My heart skips a beat. He knows how to warm me with just a smile. He doesn't even need those arms to make me feel good.

I take the coffee and give it to him, turning to the screen soon enough. Why am I even thinking about that?

I bought an extra coffee, wanting to return the favor. If it's up to me, I'd save my money, but he bought me a coffee first. Maybe I don't need to feel the need to pay him back, but...

Whatever... That's all about it. I'm not looking to hook up with him or anything, definitely not.

Maybe we somehow talked about tasting a kot'oll. I'm not going to suck his cock or something.

My cheeks grow hotter as I... can't help but imagine what his cock will look like.

I don't need to think about that...

The bell rings and I almost jump. It has been days since I've been here, yet the bell still catches me off guard all the time, which makes me feel dumb more than I'd want to.

It means there are a bit more than fifteen minutes to go before I have to show up in the assembly hall. And... I'd be sitting next to Telke and his arms will remind me of his presence for as long as we stay there — even when he keeps them well by his side and away from me...

What's wrong with me?