Things had been going well for Kreig.
Especially so in his private studies where his progress had been staggering to watch, in all likelihood due to his imnse drive to learn. Of course, this did vary from subject to subject, but as a whole, he viewed his studies more or less as an extension of his free ti, even though he personally had no real concept of work-life balance. To him, work was life.
As such, he held no distaste for working even when he would usually read or paint.
In other words, he did very well while studying, even without Erica present. Though, as might be expected, with her present, he worked as hard as he possibly could. It was rare that he asked her things nowadays. This was not only out of an irrational desire to show her that he knew what he was doing but also because he had learnt how to find his answers on his own, even when it seed a bit unclear.
It was on one such afternoon, during a break that Erica had almost demanded they implent (otherwise Kreig would simply burn himself out on work), that the two of them found themselves on the couch, each cradling a mug of coffee with differing amounts of sugar and cream in it. Unlike their common arrangent, Erica had made it herself as Kreig had never had coffee in the other world.
The pastries lying sowhat haphazardly on the coffee table, however, were all made by Kreig. Stretching her arm over the open pages of her book, Erica grabbed one such pastry before stuffing it into her mouth. This tutoring job was totally worth taking even if Kreig had turned out to be a horrible kid - the food was just that good.
She glanced over at Kreig. Of course, his presence was also very worth it. If hed been so spoiled little governnt-raised brat she might just have thrown the books in his face the second he tried sothing. Luckily, Kreig wasnt like that. He was just a guy. A suprely strange and mysterious guy, but a guy to be sure. Hed been growing quieter as of late, but that was only because he was more focused on his work. He really was doing exceptionally well.
Anyti she brought him a test or anything he just flew through it. Well, sotis he got so nervous he couldnt even put the pen to paper, but she learnt pretty quickly that if she just talked to him a little first about the subject, hed loosen right up.
What a strange guy.
Her hypothesis on his condition remained shrouded in mystery, though she had accepted the idea that he was so sort of secret painter or sothing. In all honesty, even though she was the curious type in every regard, as of right now, she couldnt think of any possible answer that would make her leave. Well, maybe if he was a secret terrorist or sothing, but she didnt think so. Kreig was nice. He was also a good student.
Yes, a very good student. That was the most important thing, right? No matter how good of a person he was, the fact that he was a good student was what kept her there. Yup, thats how it was. Definitely.
Erica sipped her black coffee and glanced at Kreig. The man could barely take a sip of the coffee without frowning deeply, even though the coffee was like 90% cream and sugar. Well, more like 89,99% cream and a single molecule of sugar, but anyway. On that note, it seed Kreig had a certain dislike for sweets since he avoided most of the pastries. Oh well. More for her! Erica shoved a few more pastries down her gullet. She should probably cut back, but she definitely wouldnt.
This silence was a little concerning though. She knew Kreig didnt speak much, and she obviously didnt mind sitting in silence with him, but it did feel a little too quiet. And it wasnt as though she didnt have any questions for him, like How the hell do you have ti to work out? or Why would you go into teaching? and How have I not dissuaded you from such a treacherous path?
In the end though, she could only bring herself to ask one question. Uh, you got into teaching, right? Hows that working out for you?
Kreig tried to stall for ti by taking a sip of coffee only to instantly furrow his brows and scrunch his nose. Next ti, Erica would make tea or sothing. This wasnt working. I enjoy it. It reminds of my ti training soldiers.
...Training soldiers?
Erica quickly rewrote her entire backstory for Kreig. Okay, so he wasnt just a painter, no, he was so sort of sergeant, too. Maybe he rose in the ranks of the military or secret service or whatever by using his painting skills to sway the hearts of commoners and terrorists alike, becoming a secret weapon or sothing? It was possible. No, knowing his paintings, it was almost obvious.
The students havent been giving you any hard ti? Erica asked carefully, trying not to rember her own ti as a teacher. If they say anything an, report it to the headmaster. He probably wont do anything but then you can write in your evaluation that he willingly ignored your warnings. Gives you the upper hand.
Kreig stared at her for a mont, and for so reason, he felt speechless. I have had no need to report anything to anyone. The students are most kind to .
Erica wasnt sure if he was just saying that to calm her down or if that really was the case. Or, possibly, he might just not understand that what the students are doing to him is harassnt. Knowing Kreig, that was equally plausible. Mm, okay, but if anyone says anything youre not sure about, make sure to make a harassnt report, okay? Doesnt matter if it was a joke, you can still squeeze money outta them.
I see Kreig scratched his head and almost made to sip his coffee before realizing his mistake and putting the cup down on the coaster. No, the students are not like that. They treat very well, despite my obvious inexperience. Furthermore, these past days, they have begun growing braver, suggesting various gas for us to play. It is most refreshing.
Erica thumbed her lip. Hmmm, well, yeah, I guess you could call them brave Noticing that Kreig was staring at her, she quickly waved her hands dismissively. No, No, I just Well, I worked there for a short period of ti when I just finished college. Painstone, right? Yeah, Id recomnd you try to get into so other school. I know this city needs an international school or two, but working willingly at one of them is Its admirable, I guess?
Kreig was still staring at her. I-, I just Look, Im gonna be honest. When I worked there, every single kid I t was a dick. Straight as that. I know its different from year to year, but literally every kid I t was just a total dick. And then I switched to another school, and it was the sa thing there! Dicks to , dicks to each other, dicks to their family I couldnt stand it. Just-, just look out for it okay?
I don't think theyre That way anymore. Kreig seed to genuinely be trying to search his mories for any evidence of them acting like the dicks Erica knew they were. Forgive , I cant seem to rember any such occurrence. Even more so, I am rather close with one of the students, whom I can say for sure is not Like that.
Yeah, sure. Like Erica could believe that. That school couldnt change if you hit it with a mortar shell.
While Erica ntally thought about bombing a school, Kreig seed to have thought of sothing. In what ntal state were you when you began teaching?
Huh? What sorta question was that? Of course, she was absolutely exhausted. She could rember wanting a five-year break but only being able to spend a few days in relaxation before having to work again. In fact, just three days after her graduation, she had sought a job as a teacher for a few sumr courses. Few attended the courses she held, but each and every one of them would much rather have been anywhere else. Of course, during this ti, she also had two part-ti jobs that drained her of ti and energy.
Then she began working full-ti at Painstone. Calling her tired would be a grave understatent. No, shed felt like a zombie who just crawled out of the grave and was forced to work custor service at a DMV.
Shed wanted to die. Thats for sure.
Kreig, who had only been watching her until now piped up. Were you in any state to comprehend the personalities of students?
Of course-, she wasnt. It was only now that she had a semi-stable job and could think about it in this clear state of mind that she could even consider it. Shed been distressingly overworked. Working full-ti as a teacher and part-ti as whatever was open. Why, if shed t Kreig as she was then, shed probably think he was a dick too: barely talking, making her job harder by hardly asking questions, not understanding things as quickly as she would have liked
Anyone can be a dick if youre tired enough.
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