During lunch break, Tomás was dragged by Sunny to apologize to the teacher. Her idea was that a letter of apology and an act of repentance would shorten his punishment. At least, that was the idea.
As they walked up the hill towards the high school, Tomás's face went from calm to tense, eventually settling into genuine repulsion.
However, Sunny could be quite perceptive at times, though most of the time she was too absorbed in her own thoughts and various activities to demonstrate that ability.
"Could you change that death glare?"
"Sorry. I really didn't want to come."
"Don't act like a child now," Sunny retorted. She knew very well that if she looked away and let go of him, he would run back to hide in his house.
"They humiliated me, you know that well. Why should I apologize? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"
Sunny stopped without letting go of Tomás's hand and looked at him with some annoyance. "Don't be a coward now."
"What... I'm not being a coward. They attacked me, and I have to apologize? Are you kidding?"
"Enough! Do you want to be locked up for two weeks at home? Do you think you'll be fine there, in solitude? Is that what you want? To wallow in loneliness?"
Tomás looked down, embarrassed. "Okay, you don't have to get so angry."
"You're the one making me angry," she sighed deeply, as if releasing all her frustration.
Tomás was grateful that Sunny never stayed angry for long. Her sparkling and volatile personality had good things about it, like that: she never held grudges, she hated and forgave easily. Though, sometimes, that very trait worked against her.
On the way, Tomás regretted it several times, and Sunny dragged him along just as many. Until she finally left him in front of the staff room.
"I can't go in with you."
Tomás glanced at her. "Do you think I'm a child?"
"Better not say anything, because I'm starting to think you are," she replied mockingly.
Tomás approached the door, but before entering he asked, "Are you going to wait for me here?"
She winked at him, smiling. Clearly, this situation amused her.
Tomás took a deep breath and walked into the room. Some teachers looked at him as if to say, "What's he doing here?" Or at least, that's how he felt. Crossing the room required a good dose of courage, especially when Sofía noticed his presence and followed him with her gaze as he approached.
When he reached Sofía, they stared at each other for a few seconds, in silence, as if they were the only ones in the room. This time, Sofía looked at him with compassion, like someone finding an injured puppy. Finally, she gestured for him to sit next to her.
"I honestly didn't expect you to come."
"I'm not here to fight, if that's what worries you."
"Relax, I was actually thinking that perhaps I was unfair to you. But rules are rules."
"Don't worry. I actually came to apologize."
Sofía raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "Are you serious?"
"Serious enough."
"Well, I didn't expect otherwise once you walked in. However, I'd like to hear those not-so-sincere apologies."
Tomás glanced at the door for a couple of seconds. Sunny wasn't watching him. Luckily.
"I apologize for offending you, Professor," he looked down. He actually felt genuinely regretful. "I apologize," he extended his hand in a sincere gesture.
Sofía shook it in the same way. "I suppose with this I can reduce your punishment to one week," and, without letting go of Tomás's hand, she added, "If you apologize to Samuel, I could reduce the punishment further. Are you interested?"
"What do you think?"
She released Tomás's hand. "I suppose that's a no. Your loss; these kinds of offers aren't common."
"A week of vacation sounds great to me, honestly."
"Shameless."
"That's right."
Sofía returned a smile of relief. Somehow, she felt they were apologizing to each other. He, for what he had said without any control. She, for having hit him... though perhaps not so much.
She opened one of her desk drawers and handed him his manuscript. "It's already revised. It has potential, but not to be a commercial success. It's more of a book for yourself. I don't think any publisher will be interested."
"That wasn't the intention anyway."
"Well, you should think about something that is both: as personal as it is commercial. Publishing books is a business, after all. No one is going to bet on a book that no one will want to buy."
"That's a good point," he had actually thought about it before, but the publishing business was something he never considered in his manuscripts.
"Take this too," she placed a brochure on the manuscript. "In a few months is Editorial Élan's winter contest. There's enough time to write something good. You should take this opportunity."
"A contest?" Tomás frowned.
"You have to prove yourself. Finding real readers is part of writing, letting everyone taste a piece of the pie."
"And put their dirty fingers in it."
"Of course, not all diners are the same. I won't pressure you, but you should take opportunities when they come looking for you."
Tomás stood up. "I'll think about it seriously."
"I hope so. See you next week."
"See you."
He left the room, but this time he didn't even think about the glances that pierced him.