A Book Can't Be Judged By The Cover Chapter 8: Exposed

The sight of his mom walking toward the center table with a bowl of rice suddenly filled Haji’s vision. Then there was his dad, casually reading the newspaper and then glancing towards the television from ti to ti. Every five seconds or so, he adjusted his glasses. The glasses didn’t really need any adjusting, it’s just that it beca his habit to adjust them so.

His sister was also sitting on the opposite side of the table, chewing on oranges. Her eyes were glued to the television screen while she made small talks with their mom. After a few seconds, her eyes darted to the side, and finally, she noticed Haji walking inside.

"Oh, you’re ho— "

Her sister’s voice trailed off before he could even respond. Slowly and as if to play with his emotions, everyone slowly disappeared, their lingering presence dissipating into thin empty air. The once clean room turned into a ss, chaotic even. Even the television, which was supposed to be on one end of the room, was gone. ’Why did I even think about that scene, I sold the television a few months ago. Of course, it won’t be here.’ Haji said to himself.

No word left his mouth as he slowly dragged his feet to the room on the side. He was tired for the day and the nostalgic scene he just witnessed didn’t help at all. With a sigh, he collapsed on the bed, wondering when everything will ever end.

....

The next day flew by pretty much like yesterday. Haji was able to receive his monthly salary from his construction work and once again, he missed the morning classes. Akamine-sensei gave him another earful but she didn’t violently react to his absence. In fact, she was so calm that Haji wondered if sothing was up...

"So, what did you do this morning?" Akamine-sensei asked for the second ti. It had only been yesterday since she called Haji to her office and now it’s happening again, giving her an odd sense of deja vu.

"I’m sorry sensei I— I can’t tell— " Haji twiddled his thumbs. He didn’t have any excuse but he couldn’t say it outright to Akamine-sensei either. However, he was interrupted before he could even finish his sentence

"You an, you can’t tell about your construction work?" Akamine-sensei smiled.

’Gasp. But how did she find out? Was she watching this whole ti? If she did, how did she handle the morning classes? Did she assign one of the teachers to swap with her? No, that’s impossible!’ Haji said inwardly in his mind.

"H-how did you... how did you know?" Haji stamred in disbelief. He had been trying so hard to hide it and he was successful. And right at that mont when Akamine-sensei beca curious, she managed to find out! How could that happen?

In response, Akamine-sensei smiled a satisfied smile and leaned back on her chair. "I just happened to pass by where you work and I noticed... isn’t he too young to be a construction worker? Alas, who would’ve thought it was you. It was by pure luck that I saw you on my way to school."

After her explanation, Akamine-sensei then changed her pose and leaned forward, her hand clasped and placed on top of her desk. "Now, why were you working as a construction worker instead of going to school and attending your morning classes?"

Gulp! Haji nervously swallowed his saliva.

"T-that... I can’t tell you sensei." Haji had no words to say except try to hide as many details as possible. He didn’t want his teacher to take pity on him. And furthermore, he didn’t want her assistance. He could tell that his teacher would fully support him if he told him the reason behind his part-ti job. He shook his head. ’No, I won’t say any more than this. She doesn’t have to know. I don’t want anyone to know. I can do this by myself.’ He thought to himself.

"So, you can’t tell, huh," Akamine-sensei muttered. "Well then, Haji, I would like you to bring your parents to school tomorrow. I think we have to talk about your current behavior and put a stop to it. If you don’t bring your parents to school, then I would co directly to your address and converse with both you and your parents, do you understand?"

’Parents? Aren’t I self-enrolled? What does she an by parents?’ Dumbfounded, Haji wondered if Akamine-sensei was actually slow in understanding. ’Or maybe she just assud I have parents... why though? She’s never seen them for the past year.’

’Now that I think about it... this brings back mories, huh.’ Haji trailed off in his head as a distant mory resurfaced.

...

"Dear, what did you do this ti?" Haji’s mom concernedly asked as she showed him a text that she received from his teacher. "Did you cause any trouble? Again?"

"No, mom," He then replied defensively. "Everyone’s parents were given the sa mail. I think it’s got sothing to do with my dream job. They do it every year, mom."

Haji’s mom sighed in relief as she sat beside him. He could feel the bed curving downward as his mom sat since it was ridiculously soft.

’Mom was really happy back then, huh.’ Haji sighed.

"Oh, so it’s that ti of year already, huh." She said while looking at the ceiling. "Well, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

’I can’t rember what I said back then. Maybe I said sothing about becoming a construction worker? Did I say that I want to beco a driver? Or maybe I said sothing about going to the army? Or is it sothing about being a businessman? I can’t rember all the details since this mory was so hazy. It seems like this happened a long ti ago. I can’t even rember my mom’s face...nor my dad’s when he entered my room after overhearing our conversation.’ Haji continued his trail of thoughts, totally forgetting that he was still talking to Akamine-sensei.

"So you want to be just like dad, huh." Haji’s dad enthusiastically replied as he grabbed a chair and sat in front of him. "Want to co tomorrow, son? I think you would be a little more confident when I’m there."

"But hon, don’t you have a very important eting with your clients tomorrow?" His mom asked.

"Oh, right! I forgot!" He said, then he smiled. "My assistant’s pretty reliable so I’ll let him take care of it. My son’s future is more important than my eting."

’My future huh...’

’... Is it really that important? My future?’ Haji’s gaze went upwards towards the single light bulb that lit Akamine-sensei’s office. That mory replayed itself a second ti, detaching him from reality.