19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Telke

There has to be something magical between Winnie and me. The fire in my stomach is still simmering even though our action is long done.

A light breeze blows against my cap and the grass on the path rustles under my feet. The sky seems a lot brighter than usual and the scent of the sports ground with the plants around brightens the day. Even heading to the morning practice session for the floatball team feels easier.

I wish Winnie was here with me, but she wasn't. She...

I let out a soft sigh. I don't know what happened to her after the night. She didn't talk to me in the morning. I drove her to a nearby breakfast place so we wouldn't be showing up in the school together and coming out of the same spaceship. Maybe she doesn't like me that much.

My cock twitches. I hope no one sees it. With my loose sports pants, I should be fine. I thought we had a good time together. But maybe I've pushed too far, or did I?

Maybe she is in the breakfast place spending her time there, or maybe she picked up her spaceship and went home for some extra sleep.

I haven't been with a human like ever, so... Maybe I did something wrong.

I instruct the floatball team to get into practicing, but my mind is still elsewhere, and I don't like that. I know I should focus more on the team, and I love working with them, but...

"Hey! Focus!" I pick up the bat and whack the floatball back to a group that is doing net practice, but missed the ball.

But I'm the one who's not focusing well.

Wait... I have the important news that I must tell them. The tournament schedule! That's what we've been waiting for. I could tell them about it during the after-school practice, but I can't wait.

Well... I guess I'll wait the ten minutes before it is time to get ready for the start of the school day.

"Guys! Ten minutes left, try harder! Did you even have breakfast?" I wave the bat, making it feel like training season even more.

We're going to get training and get friendly matches with other students in the district, and we're going to...

My phone buzzes in my pocket, so I pull it out to check.

It's Shaq... who is the most annoying being on the planet who wriggles his tentacles all the time with his plots. I take it regardless. "Hello?"

His annoying voice comes. "Hello, Telke. It has been a while."

"What's up?" I want to cut the call and slam my phone in his face, yet... I have to maintain a friendly and polite front.

"The tournament is coming soon."

"Yeah, that."

"Are you equally confident this year?"

I roll my eyes at that. "Like always. I trust my kids."

"Ah, I see. But we're going to beat you this year."

"You said that last year too, but that didn't happen."

"Haha, we'll see." He ends the call a second before I would have done it. I hate that. Maybe I'm overblowing it, but I don't like that guy at all. He is the coach of the other competitive team in the other school, which has been rivaling my team for years. I'm not giving up the wins right now.

Now, my watch buzzes. I wave and shout for the team to gather. I have to make sure the students can get to lesson in time.

"Everyone, I messaged the tournament schedule for this year to your inboxes. Please check it. We're here to dominate the game with our hard work again this year!"

Fine... Looks like I'm the only one who's excited about that.

"Are we ready, team?"

The kids play along and they cheer with me. A few old-timers know me, and I hope they are at least hyped to train harder. Techniques may look the same and boring, but that's how one gets good at a thing.

I usher the students to get ready for their lesson after they pick up the balls and return them to the bin.

I lift the bin and head to the storage room. There is an assembly to attend and more lessons to teach for the day. I already miss having Winnie's soft body in my arms.

Is that... Maybe hugs from four arms aren't as comfortable as I thought.

But...

I shake my head to clear my head. It's time for roll call and I'm expected to be in the staff room.

Is Winnie going to be there? Most teaching staff will be there, but she doesn't have to be when she can be in the library.

I head into the teaching building, letting out a breath when the air-conditioning is on and slaps me in the face. Sometimes, I wonder why it is that strong. I hope the kids won't get sick. Maybe it's just me and some beings need the lower temperature to feel better. At least I can put on a jacket, but they can't go around naked.

There are a few kids hurrying to go back to their classroom.

"Don't run in the corridors!" I shout at them, making sure they can hear me. They slow down, but I doubt that will last longer than they think it takes for me to turn a corner.

I rest my hands on my waist behind me. Winnie mentioned the accident yesterday. Maybe she didn't like how I reacted to the situation.

But what else could I have done instead? Let that kid die?

Maybe she just worried about me a bit too much.

The warmth in my stomach comes back stronger than before.

Now I miss her even more.

Maybe she didn't like how I joked about it. I understand the situation, I just don't want to make it too tense for her. The result is that the kid and I are both fine, so... Maybe she should let it go and stop thinking about what could go wrong.

Inside the staff room, Winnie's seat is empty.

I silently sigh as I get into my seat and take a sip from my water bottle. I'm not surprised at all. Is that a human thing? Or a female thing? Or... Just a Winnie's thing?

Maybe I did something wrong without knowing it. I guess I'll look for her later.

Someone, Jackel, smacks my shoulder. "Hey, why are you looking down? Isn't the tournament schedule announced? This isn't like you."

I force a smile. "I'm excited. I just can't stop planning for the year."

"I see. Wish you all the best. Imagine all those kids driving their gaming ship around. I've always thought that it was impressive to have no injuries since the tournament started, at least no major ones."

"Yeah..." Accidents, huh?

There are some scratches here and there from ships crashing into each other, which are allowed by rules. "Yeah, I think everyone has been lucky to a certain extent, though we do train for good technique and ways to reduce injuries and stay in the game for as long as we can."

"Makes sense."

The bell rings and everyone moves to get ready in the assembly hall again. Sometimes, the life of teaching and coaching bores me. It feels like I'm doing the same thing again and again.

But maybe it is the same as whatever job I work. Something is going to be repetitive, and I have to find the good and fun in it.

I glance at Winnie's empty seat again before I head out of the staff room. I wish she was there, then I could ask her about...

I shrug and follow Jackel and the others. It's not like I can ask her in front of everyone anyway. It's going to be worse when my question may as well be whether she is upset about the sex we had last night. No one will want to be asked that in public.

But I can't stand not knowing the answer. I suppose...

But she invited me into her place. And she said that if she didn't want me, she would kick my ass out of the door, so...

Maybe she's just—

"Hey! Be careful."

I look up at the closed door of the lift. I guess the lift hasn't arrived yet.

A few teaching staff are clearly containing their laughter. I think I'm pretty silly for not even watching my path. At least there are no students around, which will make me look even dumber. I'd for sure never live it off.

I stand to the side of the lift to give room to whoever may be inside.

Another staff elbows my side. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes."

"So... You haven't had coffee?"

I give a wry smile. "Probably. Maybe I didn't sleep well last night."

"I see. Early training session with the floatball team is clearly not helping."

I sigh. It's better for him to think that way than otherwise. "I suppose. A slow start, but maybe it's like a warm-up and I'll be ready soon enough."

"Well, we're going to be listening to the principal soon, so... I hope your warm-up won't take too long."

I roll my eyes after making sure only the teaching staff is around. "I'll be ready by then, probably."

"Hopefully."

The lift dings as it arrives, and the door opens. Everyone goes in one by one, and I follow them. I lift my arms and try to put them in a way that won't end up in someone's face while maximizing the efficiency of the lift. It's not a good look to be late for the assembly.

The door closes, and the lift descends. I hope the early training session didn't leave me too sweaty. It will be... mean to my co-workers who are confined in this tiny space with me. No one is scowling or staring at me, so I imagine it is fine.

It doesn't take long before we get inside the assembly hall. Winnie is sitting by my side, like always, but her face is colder than ice. Maybe she doesn't want to see me.

What did I do to her? I'd apologize if I knew what that was about, but it wasn't even fair when she said nothing. I don't know how to mind read, so...

I squirm in my seat, trying to stay focused on anything other than my own thoughts.

She glances at me, so I hurry to put my arms away. I don't think I touched her, but maybe they were too close to her for her to feel safe.

Why does it have to end up like this?

She could have told me what was wrong. I'd listen to her.

The principal is still rambling on the stage, and I can't process a single word from him. I'm not hearing a single word.

When will this be over, and I get to talk to Winnie?