"Alice can you tell me why you decided to stay back after school?" Manson asked in his nicest 'you are in trouble' tone.

The small family had just finished a light dinner and were sitting around the dinning table leisurely.

'i knew it would come to this.' Alice sighed. She hurriedly racked through her head for a lie only to be shut down by her father's disapproving gaze.

"Alison—"

'haaaa......am screwed.' "I was trying to find a job." She held her breath, waiting for the storm.

"Alison—"

'He called my full name twice—this is it—get ready to welcome me grandma.'

"Am sorry sir." Alice quickly apologized

"Have I ever complained to you about the expenses Alice—"

"No." Alice pursed her lips, her teeth clenched. "But—"

"But what, Alice?......" Manson sighed.

Roy listened to the two of them silently, deciding it would be better to pretend he was invisible.

"School is already very hard, although I have always been proud of your results and acknowledge your capabilities, I need you to fucus on the most important thing, that's education. You need to get a good grades, and gain good education so you can have a bright future. That's all I need you to do Alice. I need you to focus on school."

"But—" Alice still wasn't convinced. She was sure she would be able to handle both school and work without much problem.

"It's my responsibility to look after the two of you, Alice—and maybe in a couple of years it would be your turn. "

"Still, I want to help." Alice refuted. "You are working so hard, handling those many jobs, am afraid that—"

"Hah...." Manson sighed at the discovery.  Although she didn't look like it, Alice was a very smart and observant person. But some times, he wished she wasn't that smart. "I am fine Alice. Nothing is going to happen to me. Do you not believe in your father?"

Alice lowered her gaze to her plate, refusing to answer.

"You are not going to give up are you?" Manson rolled his eyes at her act.

"I can work on weekdays." She pointed out her thoughts. "That way it won't disturb school."

"That's still not going to work." Her father still shut down the idea.

"Why won't you let me help?" Alice sulked with a black face. "I feel bad having to watch you work so hard while I sit around doing nothing."

"How about this?" Manson decided to compromise. "you can get a temporary job during the holidays."

'That's not a bad idea.' Alice agreed. "Okay."

"But—you are quitting immediately school resumes." Manson stared sternly.

"Hmmm." Alice nodded, letting his gaze and they both made a silent agreement.

"If you guys are done, can I tell you what happened at school?" Roy immediately perked up. The excitement clear on his face.

"Did something interesting happen?" Alice tilted her head, giving him her full attention.

"There was a new student today." Roy put down his spoon.

"A new student? But it is almost the end of the session." Manson raised a brow.

"I know right. But the school allowed it." Roy continued. "Nancy said that he should be from a very rich family since he was able to get into the school when it's not yet the beginning of the session."

"The teacher asked him to sit next to me
"His name is , he said it was the first time attending a school." Roy pursed his lips in doubt. "But if it is really his first time shouldn't he start from the basics?"

"He must have been homeschooled before." Alice stated.

"Homeschooled?" Roy inquired.

"It's just like school, but instead, the teachers goes to his house to teach him." Alice further explained.

Roy exclaimed with wide eyes. "Really? That's so cool."

"But ....said he doesn't have any friends—that's because he was homeschooled right?"

"Our Roy is very smart." Manson praised.

"Then it won't be cool. School isn't fun when there is no one to talk to." Roy pouted. "..... doesn't talk a lot."

"He must be shy." Alice

"Shy?" Roy thought about it then nodded. "Why didn't I think about that?"

"He is so quiet that I don't think he will be able to make any friends." Roy tsk. "Then as his new seat mate, I will have to help him."

"That's right. Helping others is a good thing to do." Manson nodded.

Alice rolled her eyes at the righteous two, then urged. "It's already late. Roy let's go take a bath. You have to sleep early for the test tomorrow. Dad, you should go to bed early too."

"Cold water?" Roy asked,

"No it's too cold. I already heat up the water earlier."

"But I like cold water." Roy complained.

"And that's the reason you also catch a cold." Alice pointed out softly.

She check in to make sure Manson was already asleep, secured the door, attend to her assignment, before turning off the lamps.

She was just about to fall asleep when she realized the text from earlier. With heavy eyes, she sent a short reply.

AM HOME. Adding two love emoji's at the end, out of habit.

She tossed the phone to the side, sinking into her pillow when it clicked.

Am home. Love, love.

'Did I just send a love emoji to teacher Alphonso?' At that moment every single trace of sleep evaporated from her eyes.

"Damn it!!" She almost tore the roof with her scream, fortunately her rationality stopped her just in time. 'how do undo it? Should I delete it?I don't think it would work like that.....why does things like this always happen to me? How could I have made such a mistake. Stupid Alice. Very stupid Alice.'

After repeatedly slamming her head against the pillow, she pull herself together after some minutes. Accepting the bitter truth. 'What has been done, has been done. Guess there is nothing I can do about it. I will have to feign ignorance. Am sure he won't push it, after all it's not like I have a crush on him or something.'

She thought back to his pair of different coloured orbs and slightly coloured lips then made a concession. "But he sure is handsome."

'snap out of it Alice! Snap out of it.' A nagging voice rang continuously in her head. '

She shook the weird thoughts out of her head, hugged her pillow, and immediately fell into a well deserved sleep.