The Traces of Destiny
Garin's Business

"Did you enjoy the game?" Garin asked. He drives Saras to his car while Raka queues at the snack counter with her friends.

The match was won by Raka's team, and after the match, Raka ran towards Saras to ask if he saw his goal. When she answered yes, Raka beamed and hugged her before rushing to join her friends.

Surprisingly, Garin is ignored just like that, despite the fact that Raka likes Saras - and vice versa - making Garin feel very satisfied.

"it was fun" he admitted. "But I'm sorry I came a little late to watch the game."

In the afternoon sun, his skin shone behind the tanned color he still carried from the rest of the holiday season under the tropical sun. Garin guessed that the woman was spending her time off in a warm coastal area.

"Ngga anything. Raka looks happy you showed up." He glanced at her to the side. "So, what's your agenda after this?"

"I'm going to see my mom for dinner downtown."

"Where?"

"Check Chicken Poultry Ceu' Sully? It's a little dining place not far from where I live."

"I know the place. That's great."

They reach Saras' car, a white Honda CR-V, and Saras begins rummaging through his handbag in search of a key, while Garin secretly notices his every move.

With sunglasses neatly perched on her nose, she looked more like a city girl than a teacher.

Coupled with short jeans in faded blue and long legs, adding a modern twist to its appearance, far from the image of a teacher and he clearly does not look like any Garin teacher who has accompanied his education to grow up.

Behind them, a black-colored MPV started to retreat. The driver waved and Garin replied to him just as Saras looked up again.

"You know him?"

“It's a small town. I know everyone here deh.”

"That must be a relief for a camat."

"Sometimes yes, sometimes not. If you have a secret, this is not the right place for you, that's for sure."

For a moment, Saras wondered if the man was talking about himself. Before he could even think about it, Garin continued.

“Hey, I want to thank you once again for everything you did for Raka.”

“You don't need to thank me every time you see me.”

"I knew. It's just that I've seen a big change in Raka's self these past few weeks."

"I saw that too. He caught up pretty quickly, even faster than I thought. She actually started reading out loud in class this week."

“I'm not surprised by that. Raka has a good teacher.”

To Garin's surprise, Saras blushed instead.

“He also has a good father.”

She liked.

And he liked the gaze that the woman gave him when she said her words.

As if unsure of what to do next, Saras plays the key in his hand. Not long after that he picked one key boy and opened the front door of the car. As he opened the door, Garin retreated slightly, making room for him.

"So, how much longer do you think Raka should stay after school?" Garin tried to ask.

Keep talking. Don't let him go, he thought.

"I'm not sure yet. But it'll be a minute. Wh why? Do you want to start reducing it a little bit?"

"Oh, no," said Garin immediately. "I'm just curious."

"OK," finally Saras said. "We will continue to continue the activities as they are now and see how they perform in the next month. Is that nothing?"

Other Month! He'll keep seeing her at least that long. Goody! Garin's cheer in the heart.

"It sounds like a good agenda to see Raka progress" Garin agreed.

For a long time neither of them said anything, and in silence Saras glanced at the watch in his hand. "Umm well, I'm a bit late," he said apologizing, and Garin nodded.

"I know-you must go" he said, though in his heart he did not want the woman to go first. He wants to keep talking. He wanted to learn all he could about her.

What he really meant was that it was time to ask the woman out.

And don't be afraid this time. No need to hang up the phone, no need to waste the opportunity.

Move fast!

Catch chance!

Be a man!

Do it!

Garin braced himself, knowing he was ready... but....... how should he do it?

God, it's been a long time since he's been in this situation. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or...?

As Saras begins to enter his car, his mind sorts and searches frantically, trying to figure out a way to extend the time to stay with him even longer to figure out anything.

"Umm, wait... before you leave... May I ask you something?" Garin exclaims.

"certain." Saras looked at him in wonder.

Garin stuffed his hand into his pants pocket, felt a small butterfly in his stomach, felt seventeen more. He made a swallowing motion.

"So." he began. His mind raced, the little wheels turning to get everything precious out of his head.

"Yes?" Saras knew instinctively what was going to happen.

Garin took a deep breath and said the first and only thing that came to his mind.

"How's the fan doing?"

Saras looked at him, with a confused look on his face. “Air fan?” he repeats.

Garin felt like he had just swallowed an awful lot of asphalt. A fan? What's he thinking? A fan? Is that all he can think of?

It was as if his brain had suddenly gone on vacation somewhere, but for the sake of his pride, he could not stop....

"Yes. You remember that fan I gave you to install in that class."

"Oh, yes.., the fan has been fine so far," Saras replied unconvinced.

“Because I can buy you a new one if you don't like the fan. Or if the kids don't really like the color”

Saras reached out to touch Garin's arm, a look of worry on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine" Gadin replied seriously. "I just want to make sure you and the students there are happy and like the fan."

"You picked a good fan, very okay." Saras said, raising his thumb.

"Good," Garin replied almost muttering, hoping and praying a lightning strike suddenly struck from the sky and killed him on the spot.