Sira said goodbye to his father as read the morning newspaper while having his breakfast.
He got behind the wheel of a tiny box-shaped car and drove to Julius College which was a mile from where he lived.
Sira had been teaching at Julius for nearly two years before his father retired as headmaster after thirty years at the position.
Sira entered the common room which was full of some twenty or thirty male school teachers. Some old, some young and some middle-aged..
Some were listening to sports broadcast or music on the radio, others were reading, while others chatted away as they masticated their snacks.
And a few others were busy grading test papers.
No one took notice of Sira as he made his way over to the beverage station and poured himself apple juice.
"Are the rumors true?"
A figure fell beside Sira.
He looked into the friendly eyes and smile that matched the good-natured personality of his favorite person at Julius College.
Net taught music and art.
"What rumours are you referring to?" Sira sipped his apple juice.
"The rumors of you being in love with Tom," Net blurted out.
"Tom is the one in love," Sira responded with some guilt.
"And what are you planning to do with Tom?"
Net reached for another and poured himself apple juice.
Sira's expression became troubled.
"I do not know yet," Sira replied with hesitation.
"But he has made his intentions known to you?"
"Yes....he has. But I have not decided if I want a relationship with him."
"Are you not sure? You know he is love with you?" Net expressed quietly.
Sira signed as his uneasiness increased.
"Yes I know that. I see Tom as a close friend rather than a lover."
"That's the problem," Net gestured with his glass.
"You see him as a friend while he sees you as the love that destiny has chosen for him."
"I do not want to hurt him," Sira revealed with a choked desperation.
"If you do not choose him you will inevitably hurt him," Net became sympathetic.
Gee, who taught geography, lowered the volume of the radio and stood up.
Looking around the common room, he asked his colleagues.
"Who is going to be the next headmaster?"
"I saw him this morning arriving in a black Porsche," a colleague teacher revealed.
Tom came forward with his phone in hand.
"I looked him up on LinkedIn," Tom said before he proceeded to read his credentials.
The room went silent.
"He attended Trinity college, Cambridge in England. And awarded a first class BA degree in classics."
"He came back to Thailand and was an assistant lecturer at Manhidol University......"
The door of the common room opened and in came Prin.
Prin was a member of the school's board and he was not alone. He was accompanied by another gentleman.
Sira sobered up as he looked at the mysterious stranger that came with Prin.
He was dressed in a formal suit and tie.
He was also taller than his companion and his physique under the suit seemed broad and powerful.
Sira's eyes were completely glued to this mysterious gentleman because everything about him commanded attention.
Sira tried his best to not betray his true reaction as he studied the fine chiselled features.
As introductions were made by Prin, Sira could feel the commanding and authoritarian aura about him even at a distance.
Which was something that could not escape anyone who was present.
Assurance, confidence and power all seemed to pour out of him.
Sira blinked when Net pinched him and broke the trance he was under.
"If he is the new headmaster then playtime is certainly over," Net prophesied in a lowered voice.
Before Sira could blink a second time, the new headmaster was standing in front of him.
How did that happen?
Sira wondered as he was forced to look up at him.
"Mr Sira, let me introduce to you Dr Sutisan, he is the new headmaster. I trust you would not find him too formidable," Prin said in a low conspiratorial tone.
Dr Sutisan took time to survey Sira like a specimen in a Laboratory and then the merest of smiles flickered over his lips as he acknowledged the introduction.
They shook hands.
"Your Father was the previous headmaster?" Dr Sutisan said.
"Yes, he was."
"I will pay him a visit as soon as I can find time. Please tell him to expect my visit. I have to consult him on a few matters."
As Dr Sutisan spoke he held Sira's gaze in such a penetrating way which made Sira withdrew his hand rather quickly.
"I will relate your message to him.," Sira said in carefully controlled voice.
"Thank you," Mr Sira, he said coolly. "I look forward to us working together to make Julius College one of the top schools in the country."
Sira nodded while determined not to lose in the clash of wills that would come in the future with this new headmaster.
Wiwat and Tawan entered a noisy classroom. And as they walked to their desks the latter asked:
"Are we going to Roast after school?"
"Of course we are."
"I wonder if Hun would join us?".
"Maybe," Wiwat sat down.
"I know he has a badminton game this afternoon."
A student who was standing at the door announced:
"Mr Sira is coming!"
Tawan and the other students quickly rushed to their desks.
"Have you done your geography assignment?" Wiwat asked.
"No, I have not."
"Come over to my place and I will help you with the assignment."
"Thanks," Tawan smiled with gratitude.
The classroom was silent by the time Sira entered it. The students all stood up.
"Good morning gentlemen."
Sira always addressed them as gentlemen.
"Good morning Mr Sira."
"Sit down."
Sira went to the teacher's desk and placed his books and laptop down.
"Take your history text book," Sira began as he walked towards one of the windows and peeked out.
"Tawan come to the blackboard," Sira instructed.
Tawan marched to the blackboard and picked up a piece of chalk and started writing on it.
"Kong, what is the June 4th Uprising in Ghana's history?"
Kong stands up and answers.
"It is a revolution that happened in 1979 due to conflict between lower ranks within the Ghana armed forces."
"Very good."
"Rawlings became very discontented with the government of that time due to corruption and economic decline of the country."
"Rawlings was part of the Free Africa Movement. In May of 1979, he staged a coup against the government of General Fred Akuffo with six other soldiers."
"They failed and were arrested by the military. Rawlings was imprisoned and then put on public trial for attempting to overthrow the government."
"He was sentenced to death but by that time he had won civilian sympathy."
Looking around the classroom Sira asked.
"Lata. What happened afterwards?"
Lata stands up.
"I do not know Mr Sira "
"While awaiting his execution, a group of young soldiers sprung him from custody. He then led this group of soldiers to oust the Akuffo government and the Supreme Military Council."
Sira started walking in-between the rows as the class listened attentively.
"Rawlings and AFRC group rules for 112 days during which time he arranged for the execution by firing squad of eight military officers."
Sira paused and looked around the class before continuing.
"These executions were the dramatic events in the history of Ghana."
"Elections were held shortly after the coup and in September of 1979 Rawlings peacefully handed power over to Hola Limann."
Sira turns and moves to the front of the classroom.
"Michael Foucault once said. Where there is power, there is resistance."
Wiwat raised his hand.
"Yes, Wiwat."
"What happened after Hola Limann became president of Ghana?"
Sira smiles.
"Two years after he became president Rawlings ousted him in a coup d' etat."
After school Wiwat and Tawan arrive at an iconic shopping complex.
It was a major hub for both locals and tourists seeking world class shopping, entertainment and cultural experience.
The food court was a hangout spot for anyone seeking a place to catch up with friends. It had amazing panoramic views.
Their destination was Roast which was on the first floor.
Roast was a chic cafe with a cosy space. It was a sort casual all day eatery or better yet the place where Wiwat and Tawan mostly spent their lazy afternoons after school.
After finding a table Tawan asked.
"If you were giving an eulogy for me, what would you say?"
"Oh come on," Wiwat moaned.
"No, Wiwat, I am serious. I want to know."
Wiwat frantically thought of something to say to his best friend.
"I..... would say you were kind, decent, sweet person. And the best friend I ever had."
Tawan listened carefully and remarked.
"You said nothing about how good looking I was."
"Well, I would say you were the most handsome human I know. Now what would you say about me?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes."
Tawan looked into space for a moment.
"I would say that I loved our outings together because you paid for everything."
Wiwat became disconcerted as Tawan went on..
"I would say I always enjoyed talking to you whenever I got I a new crush," Tawan continued happily.
"And I would say you always did my homework whenever I didn't want to and I always looked up to you as my older brother."
"But we are the same age!"
"I know that," Tawan laughs.
Wiwat now retaliated.
"Oh, and I forgot one thing. I would say you had the tiniest penis among all my friends."
Tawan nearly choked on his bread.
"That's so mean," Tawan looked like want to cry.
It was at this precise moment when Hun showed up at their table.
"Hello."
"What a pleasant surprise," Wiwat said, ready for a change of subject.
"Come on and join us," Tawan invited.
Hun sits next to Wiwat.
Looking at the menu Hun asked.
"What are you having?"
"I am having a truffle Alfredo. Tawan wants pasta."
"I will pay for it," Hun offers. "It's my treat."
"That's nice. Thank you," Tawan was surprised by this generosity.
Not long after another young man came to their table and sits next to Tawan without an invitation.
Hun introduced him to Wiwat and Tawan.
"This is my cousin Jet. He is a second year computer science student at Manhidol University."
"I found out you represented your university at the badminton games," Hun was saying to Jet.
"It's quite nostalgic playing for Manhidol University. I remember when I was in high school watching their badminton games. Now that I am representing the university feels like such an honor."
"I also saw your family there."
"Yes, my family being there made it really special."
Jet then starts sniffing the air.
"What's that awful smell?"
The rest at the table became confused.
"What do you mean?" Wiwat asked.
"I smell narcissus and jasmine, which I find revolting," Jet revealed while still sniffing the air.
He started moving closer and closer towards Tawan with his nose till face was almost buried in his neck.
"It's you!" Jet accused Tawan.
Tawan blushed with embarrassment.
"Excuse me?"
"That awful smell is coming from you," Jet continued his persecution of Tawan's perfume.
"You don't like his perfume?" Hun looked at his cousin pleading with his eyes for him to stop.
Jey nodded with disgust.
"It's getting on my nerves."
Tawan was now beyond offended and could not hide his agitation but said nothing.
'I will take my leave now," Jet gets up, takes out his wallet and drop a wad of cash onto the table.
"Lunch is on me but I will eat mine somewhere else."
"What an asshole."
Tawan remarked bitterly as he watched Jet leave the eatery.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpeDJ09bEA
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tFzSSjEPK
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH9a3IEyos
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpDtOvmrEF
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleWsHI82Jy
and then Add to home screen.