Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
JAIN
I slid into my house, closing the door softly behind me.
“Do you think I’m stupid, Jain?”
I whirled around to see my mum staring at me angrily, her hands trembling. She looked pale, her mouth set in a firm, angry line. I blinked before shaking my head innocently.
“What?”
“Your teacher?” Mum whispered, her eyes wide and rapidly filling with fury. “Are you having sex with him?”
I didn’t have time to adjust my face, and I felt the guilt spreading over me like a rash. This couldn’t be happening.
“Mum, I’m sorry—”
“Jain, I’m disappointed in you. What he is doing is illegal—”
“But I love him!” I cried out, a sob releasing from my throat as she flinched.
“Oh, Jain. I do not doubt that you do. But he is your teacher and in a position of authority! Which he has abused ! ”
I couldn’t speak, knowing anything else I said would only serve to incriminate me further.
“I’m in shock, Jain. Why ? Why would you get involved with your teacher, of all people?!” Her voice was eerily calm now, and I tried not to panic.
“I couldn’t help it.”
“Go to your room, please. I can’t even look at you right now.”
“Mum, what are you going to do? Please don’t—”
“What? Tell the police? You aren’t an adult, Jain—you’re still in school! How long has this been going on?”
“I was eighteen when I met him. I’m hardly a child,” I argued, knowing if I didn’t make Mum see how much I cared for him, she would probably call the police.
She gazed at me in disbelief, turning to shake her head. Then, she steadied herself on the side, exhaling deeply.
“I’m not stupid.”
“All those tutorials...” Mum whispered, her voice cracking as she began to realise how long this had been going on. “He never wanted money. Now I know why he wanted you.”
“Mum, he loves me. Please don’t ruin him.”
She closed her eyes before turning towards me.
“Jain, you’re not stupid. I’m sure you feel like you love him—I’m not questioning that. However, I need you to do something, and you have to give me your word.”
Before she said it, I knew what it was.
Terror filled me, and I immediately shook my head.
“You need to stay away from him. I won’t report him if you promise me, you’ll end it all. Right now .”
Tears stung my eyes as she stared at me with anger and disappointment.
“Your exams are in a few weeks—you can stay home and revise if you choose to, it’s a great option that school has given you. I don’t want you in that school unless it’s for your exams. I’m not forcing you, Jain—but what he has done is illegal. You’re his student.”
I knew deep down she was right, that we should’ve waited until I left school. But we loved one another, and there was no way I could be without him. I knew my mum wouldn’t think twice about reporting him, and Evan would lose his job and never work again.
“Please understand, if this was your daughter—you’d do the same. He has taken advantage of you, whatever he has told you.”
I began to cry then, and she reached out for me, wrapping her arms around me as I sobbed. I cried with relief for her finally knowing, for the sadness of what could’ve been, and for knowing what I had to do.
“If he loves you, Jain, he’ll support this. He’ll want what’s best for you, and he will understand he has made a very dear mistake. I will call him and make our position clear . I’m sorry, Jain, but I cannot condone this.”
Part of me wanted to fight, but I knew Evan would lose his job. If my mum called him, I knew he would quit instantly.
He deserved much more than that...
I stared at my mother and realised that if I were in the same position as her, I would be furious too. I felt overwhelmed with tiredness and grief, and my mum reached out for me again.
“You deserve more, Jain. I’m sorry I didn’t see this coming. I feel so stupid.”
“Alright,” I whispered, burying my face into her hair. “But don’t call him. I’ll end it.”
She pursed her lips again and simply nodded.
“Make sure you do.”
I walked away, feeling horrific.
How could I have been on cloud nine less than twenty minutes ago, only to be feeling like my heart has been ripped out now?
I trudged upstairs, aware his scent was still on me. This made me sob more, but I couldn’t face him being ruined for me.
He would argue. I knew it. But how could we ever exist together? My mother would hate him, and I was close to my mum. It meant too much to me what she thought. I felt like I’d let her down, and I felt ashamed of myself. I pulled out my phone before composing a text message to him.
Evan.
This is hard, but I have to end things between us. Please don’t ask me why or try to change my mind. It’s just not going to work. I’m sorry.
Jain.
I had to let go, and so did he.
No matter how hard it would be to survive without him, I had no choice.
Neither did he.