Chapter Text
“Hey, Sam. Did you see the video I sent you yesterday?” Jim nudges Sam from behind. They were sitting in the meeting room with other teachers waiting for Nita, the head of the school, to start the first meeting of the new academic year.
“Oh God, yes I did. Honestly, I don’t understand why you find the weirdest stuff funny.” Sam says faking an annoyed expression on her face. Although she doesn’t show it to her friend most of the time Sam finds Jim’s quirks adorable.
“I’m sorry I always forget your brain is too artsy and stupid to comprehend my advanced humor.” Jim bites back.
“What did you just say?” Sam quickly reaches back for Jim’s arm to give her a pinch but the try goes to the waste as Jim successfully traps Sam’s hand in hers just in time and gives it a not-so-gentle squeeze. This is why you should never mess with a PE teacher actually. “Ouch ouch Jim, please, let go of my hand.” Sam pleads regretting her decision to attack her friend.
“You are stupid AND weak.” Jim laughs and Sam rolls her eyes while retreating her hand and rubbing it to soothe the pain.
“Will you two ever grow up? You have been working here for two years yet I haven’t seen the slightest change in your behavior.”
This guy speaking would be none other than Mr.Chin, the infamous math teacher. Not every student likes him.. in fact, it is actually difficult to find anyone who truly likes his classes among the school goers. However, it’s not that he doesn’t know his job, this man knows how to explain even the most complicated math rules in the simplest way possible. He just needs to learn to be more friendly with the younger generation and his classes would become the most popular at the school.
Jim and Sam both joined the school staff two years ago. Despite Jim being three years older than Sam they get along very well. Sure it wasn’t easy for them to establish a friendship at first because the art teacher is much of an introverted person and it takes her a while to get used to new people and environments. But she has to admit that with Jim it seemed a lot easier because her positive energy can make anyone feel at ease almost instantly. As years pass by their friendship is becoming increasingly stronger.
“Finally, the queen bee is here.” Jim whispered to Sam as Nita walked into the room and straight to the pedestal. This slender woman in her late thirties is the head teacher of the 'NSchool'. Miss Nita is a gorgeous woman and she has a pleasant personality to accompany her looks. However, the head teacher always has this polite smile plastered on her face which makes it difficult to make out what her true feelings are behind that mask. Is she going to kiss you on your forehead and tell you are doing great or does she want to point a gun at you and make you beg for forgiveness? You never know.
“Okay now shut up and focus.” Sam whispers back and leans in her chair folding her arms in front of her chest. As much as Sam doesn’t like gatherings like this she is a well-mannered woman and knows to respect the rules.
“Hello, everyone, I hope you had a nice time on holiday and you are now full of energy!” Nita starts her speech silencing the hall. Her elegant presence enables her to take the spotlight in any room she walks into without any difficulty.
“Before we move to the serious matters I want to express that I am over the moon to welcome you all back to our school, I hope we will have a productive and most importantly fun year together.” Nita’s eyes fall on Sam and she sends a wink her way. Jim doesn’t miss a second before she starts poking Sam’s back from behind to which Sam answers with a sigh. She very well knows what Jim is implying by that.
Nita is a confident woman, Sam respects her and admires her in a way you would your older sister but that’s it. However, according to Jim’s crazy speculations, Nita seems to pay relatively more attention to the young art teacher than she does to other staff members. Sam can deny the accusation as much as she wants but that never stops Jim from teasing her about it.
At that moment, the door opens and a young woman with an apologetic and bright smile sticks her head inside and looks at Nita turning everyone’s focus towards the door.
“I’m so sorry, I had a hard time navigating through the town.” Nita gives the woman a warning look and nods to indicate that she’s fine to come in and take a seat. When the woman opens the door and comes in Sam has a chance to take in her appearance. Her hair is midnight-black and it stops over her shoulders. The stranger isn’t tall but she has a shapely figure and the black blazer and matching pair of pants she’s wearing accentuate her figure perfectly. A handsome woman indeed. Her eyes glow with excitement as they wander over the people sitting in the hall. It is easy to tell that she has a bubbly and joyous personality just by looking at her face.
“This would be the newest member of our family, Miss Kornkamon. She has finished her degree in England this year and will be teaching English to our kids.” Nita announces “Take a seat, Miss Kornkamon, we are just starting the meeting.” She says facing Mon and starts to set the presentation up on the screen.
Mon brings her palms together and bows her head to other teachers as a greeting before quickly making her way to the other end of the hall as she spots an empty seat in the front row where Sam is seated.
“Hi.” Mon whispers as she sits down.
“Hello.” Sam whispers back.
“I’m Jim.” She offers her hand over Mon’s shoulders. Mon has to slightly turn her head to shake Jim’s hand.
“And you?” Mon turns to Sam.
“Huh?” Sam was so lost in studying the girl’s beautiful face that she zoned out and missed her question. A typical artist behavior.
“She’s Sam” Jim answers instead, rolling her eyes.
“Well, nice to meet you two.” Mon says and when Sam is just about to open her mouth and say something back Nita starts her presentation which forces them all to concentrate on the woman in front of them making Sam swallow her words.
Kornkamon, or Mon like everyone calls her, is excited and scared at the same time. It’s her first year of teaching and she doesn’t know if she can meet the requirements of a good teacher. Mon had had practice teaching periods when she was studying for her degree so she knows what to expect. Still, it’s going to be a whole new experience to be the person in charge of the class during the whole lesson because she always had a mentor with her during those practicing times. Nita’s encouraging words during the meeting add to Mon’s motivation and she starts feeling a lot more confident after the meeting.
When they are dismissed Mon has a better chance to talk with her seatmate and her friend. “Hey P’Jim, so what do you teach?” Mon asks as they are waiting for the people who are sitting closer to the door to go out of the meeting hall first. “I’m a PE teacher.” Jim smiles back at the girl.
“Oh, nice! And you.. P’Sam?”
“I teach art,” Sam answers with a soft voice,“ and please you don’t have to call me Phi, I’m not as old as Jim.” She says pointing her head towards her friend and immediately receives a hit on her shoulder.
“Hey, who did you just call old?”
“Ah and a reminder: never mess with her she has strong hands.” Sam says wincing from pain and it makes Mon laugh warming Sam’s heart for an unknown reason.
“I’d recommend you the same then. Stop putting your life at risk.” Mon’s humorous energy matches well with the duo and it instantly removes all the awkwardness that comes with first meetings.
“I like you, Mon. I think we should adopt you.” Jim jokes and Mon lifts her fists in the air as a demonstration of her victory.
“Yes!” Sam laughs at the two women’s exaggerated behavior. She can’t believe how she has two crackheads as friends.
“So Kornkamon” Sam starts speaking but she’s cut off by her new friend “It’s just Mon, guys.” She looks at the two of them and they nod at her.
“Okay, Mon. Why didn’t you stay in England after graduating?” Sam continues her earlier interrupted question as all three walk out of the hall.
“Ah I wanted to but my mum lives in Thailand and she misses me a lot and I miss her too so I decided to spend a year, maybe two, with her before I go back to the UK again.” When Mon speaks about her mother her eyes sparkle with excitement and a faint indication of regret passes by very quickly but Sam is able to catch it on time.
“I know students can be a pain in the ass sometimes but they’re good people in general. I’m sure you’ll fall in love with this school and want to stay here forever. That’s how they bastards got me actually.” Jim laughs making Sam and Mon burst into a smile as well.
“How long have you two been working here?” Mon asks looking at Sam.
“Not that long, it’s only the third year but yeah Jim’s right, this place is amazing.”
“I’m really nervous, though. Because it’s my first.” Mon voices out her concern.
“That’s what she said.” Jim responds quickly so that she doesn’t miss the perfect moment to land
her joke.
Mon starts laughing hard throwing her head back and Sam gives Jim a warning.
“Don’t be inappropriate, we’re at school.”
“Yes, grandmother, I’m sorry I will remember my manners from now on.” Jim’s words make Mon laugh even harder.
“Guys, I’m so happy I met you here. I can feel that my year is going to be interesting.” Mon looks at Jim and Sam with a genuine happiness present in her expression
“I’m sure it is.” Sam chuckles “I just hope you won’t regret befriending Jim.” another hit on the shoulder sends Sam wincing.
“I just need to remember not to get on her nerves so she doesn’t beat my ass up and that’s all,” Mon says pointing to Sam’s hand rubbing the place where she received the punch.
“Good girl. You do learn fast.” Jim claps her hands in a playful way.
For the next hour, Sam and Jim take Mon around to introduce her to the school. All the way they try to give some advice as to what to do in certain situations during her classes. When they reach Sam’s class Mon is left mesmerized.
“Wow, Sam, this is so beautiful.” She says walking in as she takes in all the wonedrful art filling the walls, leaving no vacant space. The sun rays peeking through the big vintage-looking windows light up the room and makes it look magical.
“You are talented. Did you make that all yourself?” Sam looks down and smiles shyly. No matter how many times she gets complimented about her abilities Sam can never get over it without blushing. “Most of them are mine but there are also some of my students’ works. They usually gift me an artwork or two when they finish school.”
“It looks like you are good at teaching too because I can’t tell apart which work is yours and which is your students’ ” Mon grins at Sam making her blush even harder.
“Look at you, why do you get so red so soon?” Mon laughs and Jim joins her in the teasing.
“Believe me I’ve been training her to be tougher but no such success so far.”
“You two are annoying, you know that?” Sam bites back crossing her arms and crinkling her nose and that makes the two laugh even harder and soon Sam joins them too. When Mon is finished with observing the details of Sam’s drawings they finally move on to the classroom which is right in front of Sam’s.
“And that would be your room.” Sam says opening the door and inviting Mon in.
“Oh, so we will be near to each other that’s good.” Mon says nodding her head and looking around the room. “Not as exquisite as your room though.” Mon wrinkles her nose.
“You can always visit her in between breaks. I always do that.” Comments Jim despite knowing how Sam hates being interrupted in her personal time which she doesn'tt get too much of during workdays as she is usually crowded during her breaks by students asking for advice on how to improve their pieces.
“Uh.. no I don’t want you two distracting me during working hours, please.” Sam glares at Jim.
“Whoops, you don’t really have a choice. I’m sorry I’m nosy.” Mon fakes and apologetic face.
“I can feel a headache coming.” Sam responds with the same level of humor and walks out of the room and the two teachers follow her.
“Well, Mon, that’s about it. We have shown you everything.” Jim says looking up and down the corridor to make sure they hadn’t missed anything.
“Time to go home then?” Mon says clasping her hands together. As much as she wants to spend more time with her new friends Mon needs to calm her nerves before the big day by going home earlier and resting.
“Yeah, we have an exhausting year ahead so better go and ready ourselves.” Jim says leading them to the school gate.
Once they are out they say goodbyes and everyone goes to their transportation Mon can’t hide her surprise at Sam getting on a bicycle but she quickly recovers and shakes her head.
“Of course, you ride a bicycle to work.” She states looking at Sam amusedly.
“It’s calming.” It is obvious by her body stiffening that Sam got a little defensive.
“You’ll be seeing a lot more of her antics. Get used to it.” Jim says pulling down her window and putting on her sunglasses.
“Will you just shut it?” Sam sends a glare to Jim's way
“Love you too! See ya amigos!” Jim waves goodbye at her friends and drives out of the lot.
When Sam puts on her headphones Mon looks at her and says. “Be careful, will you?”
“Thanks, I will.” Sam says and then hesitantly adds “Have a good day, Mon.”
“You too.” and with that Mon drives away as well.