After that night, Luktan honestly had no idea how he even made it back from the lottery guy's place he must've passed out before the owner of the house did.
His whole body felt wrecked, like he'd been squeezed, held, and pushed around for hours. He practically felt drained, and ended up skipping work the next day because he was sure he was coming down with something.
His legs were shaking so badly he had to crawl for anti-inflammatory pills. When he finally checked himself in the mirror, he could barely believe his own eyes his skin was covered in reddish and bluish marks all over.
He looked… kind of like a gecko with all those spots.
Their bare bodies pressed together, heat rising with every hungry movement, as if something irresistible kept pulling them close again and again.
Each encounter left the room marked by their reckless desire, a haze of satisfaction lingering in every corner.
The thought of it alone made him dizzy pleasured and sore all at once, intoxicated without needing a drop of alcohol.
He never imagined it would actually happen… all because he recklessly provoked someone as intimidating as the new lottery boss.
Sex wasn't just sex anymore it somehow made my painfully ordinary life as a kindergarten teacher feel a little more… vivid. It unlocked a side of me I honestly didn't know existed.
I'd always assumed I was good at keeping my own heat buried deep down where no one could see it. But the moment I met him, every bit of hunger I'd been hiding just tore through that bland little mask of mine so much that I somehow became the one who started things without a hint of shame.
This kind of taste is… dangerously addictive.
—
"Teacher Luktan, you didn't come yesterday. Are you alright?"
Teacher Wanlapa asked the moment my tiny kindergarten-teacher-self finally dragged itself onto campus like any other day.
"Well… just sore all over, that's all. I'm okay now. Who watched the kids yesterday, by the way?"
"Oh, Teacher Somchai helped out. You should go thank him later~"
"Sure, I will. Excuse me for a bit."
Luktan slowly made his rounds to thank the teacher who took over his class before stepping into his own room where all those little troublemakers were waiting.
He missed them every second he wasn't with them… but the moment they showed up, they were determined to drive him crazy again.
"Teacher Luktan's here! Why didn't you come to class~?"
A little knee-high whirlwind barreled in, bouncing and shaking my legs with reckless abandon.
These scruffy, snot-nosed kids weren't exactly cute in the delicate, precious way people would expect. But my instinctive love for children never let me resent anyone.
Sure, these little troublemakers could be exhausting, but I always reminded myself: teaching little kids was the job I truly loved.
"Teacher Luktan, that kid came to sell lottery tickets too!"
'Somying' the tiny girl with a constant itch from lice—whispered immediately, spilling the gossip about the unbelievable little "business" happening in our pure, innocent kindergarten classroom.
"What? Somying, you're only five! You know how to play the lottery?"
"Even Teacher Looktan plays, so why's it strange?"
She tilted her head and shot back at me, and I could only gape, powerless to argue. Looks like I was going to be trampled into submission… again. (sniffle sniffle)
"My grandparents play too, so it's not strange, but bringing work into class while learning is inappropriate!"
The small lips of the homeroom teacher opened wide in astonishment at the thoughts of the six-year-old, who lifted their chin proudly, as if a Sailor Moon aura were hovering over them, making the teacher shake their head at their own overactive imagination.
Who says rural kids are dumb…
This is pure genius!
"Who's selling lottery tickets in class? Tell me, Somying."
"There… that one."
The little stubby finger pointed at the kid who had been constantly at odds with the teacher since the very first day. Just seeing each other meant glaring, and nothing the teacher said seemed to stick. The clothes that came home dirty every day? That was all because of this kid.
"Little Teng, what are you doing?"
"Writing down lottery numbers, can't you see?"
"This is a classroom, you know. No selling lottery tickets in class or in school. Understand?"
"But the teacher buys them too! And doesn't even pay!"
The little boy, with a mushroom-shaped head and an expressionless face, jotted numbers on his paper, leaning back and forth as he worked. For these kids, playing lottery wasn't really about money it could be candy or some other trade instead.
The teacher stared, feeling utterly helpless. See how hard it is to manage these kids?
This is exactly why teachers are at the bottom of the food chain: you have to be kind, love kids, give in to them, gentle, and proper.
"Alright, let's take a little break from business for now, okay, champ? Let's focus on learning first. Otherwise, the principal might give everyone a punishment. Come on, come on, let's study, my lovely students."
The sweet-faced teacher gritted their teeth and smiled at the dozen or so tiny students in the classroom, who were more chaotic than crabs in a basket.
Every day, this angelic image was carefully maintained, making the teacher approachable, no matter how exhausting or overwhelming it could be (fist raised to the sky, chin lifted high).
The kids tilted their heads to look at the old ceiling, watching the teacher pretend to fly, utterly confused about what on earth their teacher was doing.
Just then, a voice rang out, pulling the teacher's attention back to the lesson:
"Crazy…"
After the exhausting day of wrangling the little troublemakers in the class, and nursing sore muscles from all the commotion, the urge to try some luck crept into the mind dreams of winning the lottery and getting rich.
When would a winning ticket finally come? Cravings went unsatisfied, trips were missed, and treats for the kids were limited to a coin or two each. The gloom returned, leaving thoughts drifting and losing track of time once again.
Outside Wat Sasi School in the evening.
The small kindergarten teacher lingered as the last to leave, always slow because the mind was never idle. Big round eyes roamed the ground and the sky aimlessly until they landed on a small figure slouched low on a motorcycle, head almost resting on the chest, looking eerie in the fading light.
"Wha…who…who's there?"
"…."
"Teacher asked, who's there?"
Whoosh! Waaahhhh!
The pale face spun around at the voice, while a bird fluttered out of a bush, sending a shriek from the young teacher that could almost have embarrassed anyone nearby.
"So noisy, little teacher," the voice teased.
Gah!
Kid!
Little rascal!
Teng!!
It took a few moments to realize it was the beloved, bossy little student, and the near heart attack was real. Powdered so white—have they emptied the whole jar already?
"Teng, why aren't you heading home yet? Kindergarten ended at three, and it's nearly five now."
"No one came to pick me up."
"And the usual person where are they?"
"Quit."
"Again?"
"That's normal."
"So what are we going to do if no one picks you up?"
"Sleep at teacher's, don't want to stay home alone."
"Wh…what?! No, no, no! That's not okay, the parents don't even know where you are!"
"I called. Told them I'd sleep at teacher's because pickup was too late."
"But…"
"I can tell lottery numbers. I'm good at it. Want some?"
"But…"
And there it was every single time, this teacher fell victim to this fearless little student. Truly a child who was terrifyingly persuasive.