2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Telke

I hum a song as I head down the corridor inside the staff room. I have the schedule for this year in one hand and wave to a few of my colleagues with my other. At least that still leaves me enough hands to hold my suit jacket and my water bottle as I make my way to my seat.

"Look at you, already ready for business, huh?" My next-door neighbor, Jackel, chuckles as he eyes me up and down. We sit side-by-side in the staff room, separated by the partition board between us. He is one of the beings who I don't understand. He teaches kids art, which is a bit too delicate for me to understand.

I hate to feel like a muscular body with no brain, which beings tend to think when they see a kot'oll. I'm pretty smart too, but just not with art. It's kids' stuff, though, so I guess there's not a ton of artistic value other than letting kids play with their imagination. I love working with kids and teaching them sports, but at the same time, they make me feel old now and then.

I smile back. "Looks like you're also getting ready."

"Yeah, I am. This term, I have fun projects for the kids."

I wink. "I'm hoping I'd find a few that love floatball."

Even though I don't understand Jackel's sense of fashion and art, he and I get along well. But that empty space to my other side...

My heart skips a beat when I think about that new librarian. I don't even know her first name. The first day at school is always chaotic, even though we've done that a lot of times. All I know is her last name, which... Between teaching staff, we usually don't go with last names unless kids are around.

I like her ponytail. She seemed to be nervous when the principal called her to the stage, which reminded me of my first day here. Sometimes, I envy beings with fewer arms. When they get nervous, they don't have as many arms and fingers to keep under control and keep them steady.

Regardless, she makes my heart race. I want to get to know her, but if she's the librarian, maybe she won't be around the staff room much.

I fix my hair as I take a sip of water and check my schedule again. First thing, I have to get out of this suit; it doesn't fit me at all. This suit has been with me for longer than I can remember. I only wear it two days a year, the first day of the school year and the graduation day for the kids. There aren't a lot of incentives to get a new suit that will fit me better. It feels like the suit is secretly squeezing the air out of my lungs, which isn't very fun.

That's another problem with being a kot'oll. More arms mean that clothes are more expensive...

But that cute librarian...

Does she like beings with four arms?

I shake my head and silently shout at myself before I make everyone in the staff room uncomfortable. Why am I even thinking about that? Other than sitting side by side with each other, we haven't even talked.

Maybe she's in the library already. I think kids like the library too, even though I think the sports ground is better. Breaking a sweat is the thing for me, compared to sitting inside and reading a book.

Do I go to the library later in the day to see whether I can chat with her?

Somehow, it feels like I have to get to know her a bit more than just exchanging a smile inside the assembly hall. It always kills me to stay there for long. I'm probably like the kids. None of us want to stay in all the time. However, the principal loves to share his experience and all the speeches he prepared beforehand with the kids. Maybe some kids that are new will enjoy those cheeky jokes.

More importantly, we have a new teaching staff with us.

Maybe I'm hyping myself up a bit too much.

Jackel chuckles by my side. "Are you going to scare the new librarian in no time?"

I roll my eyes. "Come on. I'm not scaring anyone."

He chuckles some more, and I have to resist the urge to smack his shoulder or something. "You're just excited to meet new beings all the time."

Maybe I am. When Jackel joined us, I gave him a welcome hug. He seemed to be choking. Maybe I didn't remember how strong I was. I always remember that when I'm around kids, but when it comes to other staff who are also adults... Not always.

I roll my eyes when Jackel sips his tea with his annoying smile still hanging on his face. He should know better with his tentacle hands that look slimy all the time. "Come on, I'm not going to go hug her. Don't even worry about that."

"Ah, so you finally realize, huh?"

I flex one of my arms. "Time for you to get stronger."

This time, he is the one rolling his eyes. "Whatever. I have a lesson coming up. Talk to you later."

"Sure, best of luck with the kids."

I don't have a lesson to lead in this time slot, so I have some time to get out of this suit. I stare at the ceiling. It is so quiet here. Teachers who have lessons are gone by now, leaving those of us who are free. At the same time, they are busy preparing materials for the lessons. At least the school year just started and there shouldn't be assignments to mark.

I enjoy being a sports teacher and coach. There are no exam papers and no assignments to look at.

I stretch my arms. Will the new librarian sit by my side at times? I know she's supposed to be in the library most of the time, but this is the staff room, so it will make sense for her to be around here too, right? There's an empty spot by my side, so it will make a lot of sense for her to be assigned there, right? Right?

Maybe I should focus on not scaring her. A lot of beings find more arms scary or at least intimidating though...

But maybe I'm just overthinking it. Despite what Jackel says, I give good hugs. Maybe she likes good hugs. Not when we've barely met, though.