A TEACHER'S TALE

THE SWAG OF A MILLIONAIRE

BY J. MINAYA

I don’t pace very often, but when I do, I always catch a cheater. “Carl! Did you lose something?” I asked the overweight boy, trying to copy his neighboring classmate’s answer. He might not have been the smartest kid in third grade, but he was one of the sweetest boys in the class.

Lifting his big eyes towards me, he shook his head. “No, missus, Lee,” he said, focusing back on his paper.

I glanced at the clock hanging over the whiteboard and continued pacing to the front of the classroom. “Two more minutes until dismissal,” I reminded everyone. “If you’re done with your test, you may place it face down on my desk, and if you’re not, you still have two minutes to wrap things up. Remember that I won’t be here next week, so please be nice to the substitute. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior while I’m gone.”

At that moment, kids began to walk toward the front of the class and flooded my desk with white sheets of paper. A few students stayed seated to finish up, but I could see the quickness with which they were beginning to write.

Once I made it to the front of the class, I walked around my desk and gathered up the pile of exams I had to grade. But as I looked down, I was forced to stop one of the girls who had just handed me her paper.

“Heather!” I called out, making the blonde girl turn. “You forgot your name, honey.” The girl took the paper I was holding out to her and bent forward over my desk to scribble her name on the top corner.

“Sorry about that,” she said and handed the test back.

“Thanks.” I smiled when the bell suddenly buzzed all around the school. As the class rose from their seats, each kid collected their belongings. “Did everyone turn in their paper?”

“Yes, Mrs. Lee!” The class simultaneously shouted and proceeded to line up right outside the classroom door, one kid at a time. I placed the test pile on the desk and followed the last kid out to the hallway.

“Sarah!”

The sound of my name made me stop and look over my shoulder at the short redhead standing there. Holly was more than just a fellow teacher to me. She was a really good friend.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “You’re going to miss your flight.”

“The kids are about to leave. Once they’re gone, I’ll go. Besides, I packed everything last night and kept my suitcase in the car. So don’t worry. I have everything under control.”

She glanced down at her watch for a brief moment, then back at me. “No, you don’t,” she argued. “Your flight leaves in an hour. If you don’t leave now, you won’t have time to check in and go through security before boarding. Sarah, you need to go!”

“Holly, I’ll be fine!” I rolled my eyes and continued walking toward the front of the line while Holly followed behind. “I just need to get the kids to the pick-up area, and then, I’ll get on my way.”

“Let me take them,” she offered, making me stop walking to look back at her in awe. “My class is already lined up and ready to go. So I’ll just have your students join mine. I’m sure the kids won’t mind.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “Don’t worry. I got this. Go catch your flight.”

Letting out a deep breath, I couldn’t help smiling. “You’re the best,” I told Holly and pulled her in for a tight hug. “Thank you so much. I owe you one.”

“Don’t mention it,” she replied and broke away from our hug. “Now go! And don’t forget to send me pictures.” She grinned and turned toward my students. “Listen up, everyone! Line up behind my class. Today, you’re all walking with me.”

The entire group awed and whined, making me press my hand to my lips to hide my smile. Holly, on the other hand, didn’t find their reaction as amusing and scowled down in shock at the group of nine-year-olds.

“Fix your faces if you don’t want me to keep all of you here this afternoon helping the janitor clean the bathrooms. I bet he won’t mind the help.” At the sound of her playful threat, each kid quickly lined up. Some even flashed Holly a pretension smile as they did as told. “That’s what I like to see!” She smiled back at them and lifted her hand to wave me goodbye. “Are you ready? Let’s go!” she shouted, and they all began following her in a single line.

I didn’t want to admit it, but Holly was right. I didn’t have much time to make it to the airport. So, I pivoted around and hurried back into the classroom to fetch my belongings. I picked up my bag and stuffed the papers on my desk into the leathery pouch. My jacket, phone, and keys were the last items I grabbed before I strode out of the classroom and rushed down the empty hallway.

Thanks to my fast pace, I made it to the exit in no time and continued walking toward my car across the teacher’s parking lot. Before reaching the vehicle, I pulled my phone out of my bag and dialed my husband to let him know I was on my way.

“Hey, babe!” Kyle answered in his usual cheerful manner.

“Hey, are you on your way to the airport yet?” I asked and jogged across the parking lot in an attempt to reach my car faster. “I just got off work, but I’m heading out now.”

“No, I’m still at the office,” he answered. The happiness in his voice was now gone. “Sarah… The brokers came through at the last minute, and the Montgomery property is finally being sold. I have to do the closing in the morning, or I’ll lose the commission. I’m sorry, baby, but I have to stick around for the weekend if I wanna keep my job.”

At that moment, I stopped running, walking, and moving altogether. It was not the first time I had to be alone for a special occasion since Kyle prioritized his job over everything else— including having children. The problem wasn’t that he didn’t want to be a dad. The problem was that he wanted to be an exceptional one. The need to provide a good future for our family drove him to neglect the one person who had always been by his side— me. But what could I do about that? Kyle was working for us, for our future, and the future of our children. I couldn’t be selfish and demand his attention. I had to be a good wife and support him even when it killed me inside.

“So, you’re going to miss the wedding?”

“Sarah, I don’t have another choice.” A silence followed before he let out a deep sigh. “Look, tell Jake that I’m sorry, but my hands are tied here. I would’ve loved to be there, but work is work, and I have to be here if I want to get paid. Your brother is a businessman too. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

His words made me sad, but I still forced a smile on my lips. “Okay, I’ll tell Jake,” I said. “I guess I’ll see you Monday?”

“Of course, babe,” he replies. The joy in his voice felt like a knife stabbing me right in the chest, causing a knot to form in my throat. Hurrying into my car, I sat behind the wheel and kept my gaze at a distance. Tears were clouding my vision while my breathing began to accelerate. “Babe, I have to go, but we’ll talk later. Okay?” he told me.

“Ye-yeah. I’ll call you when the plane lands,” I answered back. My voice cracked at first, but I was able to mask my pain with a fake smile. “I love—”

As the line went dead, I couldn’t hold back my emotions any longer, and a tear spilled down my cheek. Knowing the parking lot of an elementary school is not the ideal place to cry, I quickly wiped my face and cleared my throat. My brother was getting married in the next forty-eight hours, and I had to do what I must to make him happy, even if that meant faking the smile on my face all weekend long.

***

To say that it had been a long day was an understatement. After the sad drive to the airport, the run I had to make to the gate, and the three hours I spent next to the snorting old man in the plane, I was finally in New York City, the place I once called home.

I still hadn’t left the airport, but I could already see the chaos of the big apple. People were rushing down the halls and yelling at one another. Mothers were towing their children by the arms while businessmen wouldn’t even bother to look up from their phones.

Standing off to the side and away from the madness, I lifted on my tiptoes and looked over the crowd, hoping to see my brother, but Jake was nowhere to be found. So, I tiptoed again and looked some more. Still, he was nowhere in sight. Worried that he had forgotten about me, I pulled out my phone from my bag and dialed his number for the fifth time.

“Sorry I missed you. Please, leave a brief message, and I’ll get back to you soon.”

Being greeted by his voicemail had never made me so angry. Jake knew I wasn’t familiar with the city anymore and still chose to leave me stranded.

“Come on, Jake!” I growled at his voicemail. “Where the hell are you? Call me back.” After hanging up the call, I ran a weary hand over my head and scanned the crowd once again. At that moment, a man standing across the room caught my attention, making me do a double-take. This man was not my brother, but his face seemed familiar, nevertheless.

He was scanning the crowd just like me. His eyes were darting in all directions as if he was looking for something, or better yet, someone. The moment his gaze landed on me, a cute smile sprung up on his lips, and he began making his way over.

At first, I thought I was mistaken, but after looking at him a bit more carefully, I was beginning to think this man was Ryan, Jake’s best friend.

To say the least, Ryan turned out to be a handsome fellow. So much more than I ever imagined. He wasn’t the skinny teen dressed in punk clothes I remember. No. Now, he had the swag of a millionaire. The light buttoned-up shirt he was wearing fit his body quite nicely, while his folded sleeves put a rather flashy Rolex on display. His light beige slacks weren’t any better. They were tight enough to leave nothing to the imagination while complimenting the gorgeous tone of his suntanned skin. His dark hair was also gelled and combed back, bringing all the attention towards his big, dark eyes and the beautiful white smile that curled his lips.

I didn’t know what had happened to him.

But I sure was digging this new look.

Running my hands over my skirt, I tried to flatten the wrinkles of the fabric. The braided ponytail falling down my back was now holding on by a thread as many strands from my dark brown hair had escaped the restriction of the rubber band and were now cascading over the side of my face and neck. In an attempt to fix my appearance, I slid my loose hair behind my ears, swept my fingers under my brown, upturned eyes, and checked my breath against my opened palm.

“Hey, Sarah!” He stopped in front of me with a wide grin on his lips and pulled me into a tight hug I wasn’t expecting.

The move caused my face to press against his chest, allowing me to see that the skinny body Ryan once had was no longer there. Now there was a toned chest hiding beneath his shirt while his muscular arms held me tight but gentle at the same time. The smell of his cologne wasn’t making this situation any easier. It was manly and powerful enough to make me forget I had a husband since I closed my eyes to savor his scent a bit deeper.

“Long time no see.” He pulled himself back and pressed a kiss on my cheek. Looking down at me, he flashed me another cute grin and said, “Man, you look the same as I remember.”

A chuckle escaped my lips as I looked at his face.

This was Ryan, alright.

This was definitely him.

“I don’t think I can say the same thing about you.” I smiled too and took a step back. “I mean, just look at you… What the hell happened to you?”

“I guess you can say that I grew up.” He gave me a careless shrug. “Did you get your bags yet?”

“Um… no, I haven’t. I was kind of hoping to see Jake first.”

“He had to meet with the investor this morning. It was a last-minute thing. So he asked me to pick you up and take you to him.”

I let out an angry chuckle and shook my head slowly. Kyle was right. Jake is a businessman, and just like one, he stood me up too. “So freaking unbelievable!” I growled through snaring teeth, making Ryan frown.

“Hey! At least I’m here!” he protested. “So take a deep breath, and let’s get your bags. I promise to help you kick Jake’s ass later.”

Ryan’s comment made me laugh. “Fine! But only if you hold him down while I punch him.”

“You got yourself a deal,” he replied deadpan, making me laugh even harder.

After retrieving my luggage from the moving belt, Ryan carried it outside to his car. The green Toyota parked by the curb looked new and shiny, with a pair of white dice hanging in the mirror. The car didn’t match Ryan’s wealthy appearance, but I guess we all got what we could afford.

Right?

To my surprise, Ryan didn’t stop at the Toyota and continued making his way to the brand new Corvette packed behind it. The red convertible looked like something out of a magazine. It had beige leather seats, rims as shiny as diamonds, and a small black plate upfront that said the word “Ride” in bright red letters.

“Holy crap!” I shouted once I saw the car respond to the keys in his hands. “This is your car?”

He chuckled and tossed my bag into the open trunk. “Yeah, why?” he asked and slammed the trunk shut.

“It’s… It’s beautiful!” I told him and took another look at the magnificent car in front of me.

“Thanks.” He smiled and walked over to my side to open the passenger door for me.

As I climbed into the convertible, I let out a deep sigh to contain my excitement. The leather felt extremely comfortable under my butt, making me wiggle in place to get a better feel before Ryan made his way around to the driver’s side.

“Do you like speed?” he asked as he stepped into the car and shut his door.

Tilting my head to one side, I shot him a blank stare. “I’m an elementary teacher who drives a Prius to work. Speed is not something I get the privilege to have.”

Ryan grinned and kick-started the engine. “Then I guess it is your lucky day,” he said and pulled out of the parking space so fast that the wheels squealed against the hard cement.