Vira looked into his eyes, like he was trying to read his mind. "Why?" He asked weakly.

"I have a million reasons, and I have no reason. I fell for your smile, your gentleness, your kindness, your sense of righteousness, your wit, your humour, you, in all."

Vira blushed by the second. He fought hard to not avert his gaze. Saka was sincere, honest and when he smiled, he was an eye candy. He showed he was a kid and at the same time did something mature, maintaining a surprising balance which gave a message that he could be relied upon.

"What if I don't love you by this year?"

"I cannot force you to like me, but I will try to win your heart. If I fail this year, then there is always the next."

"And if I fall for someone else?" 

Will he be stalking him?

"I'll walk out of your life." Saka replied, after thinking for a second. 

He looked sad at the thought.

"You'll give up then?" Asked Vira, surprised by the answer.

"Your happiness comes before mine." Replied Saka.

That mature side again, that hit Vira by surprise.

"Hmm.." Vira stared out of the window, lost in thought while Saka looked at his face, trying to figure out what Vira was thinking.

After some time, he turned to face Saka, who was intently staring at his face. "You did put in some thought before confessing, you had ready answers to all my question, it's evident. It is also fair, that I think we'll before I answer."

Saka did not move a muscle. He was drinking in every word that Vira uttered, a sense of dread spreading through him. 

"I do not, in all honesty, know if I like guys, or girls, or both. I dated any girl once, but it didn't last a week. And I have never considered a love interest or marriage, till date."

Vira paused. Saka did not move.

"I have my reservations. I started working when you were just a high schooler. And bigger the age gap, more insecurity."

Saka did not even breathe. He stood still, waiting for Vira to complete.

"You are mature enough to know, I cannot be in a relationship with my student, that might end up looking bad for me and the student. Conflict of interest, partiality... plenty of issues, that could ruin my career."

Saka hung his head. Vira had made up his might and he was reasoning out his thoughts, and Saka knew, he was not going to listen to Saka's arguments. 

"I will not promise to return your feelings but I will consider it."

Saka looked up."Really? Seriously?", asked Saka, surprised by the response.

"Why should I take your feelings lightly when they are genuine?", asked Vira.

"I have my conditions. As long as I am your teacher, I cannot be your boyfriend. However, I don't mind using this time to getting to know each other at our own pace. I will still treat you like a student, mind you. If at the end of the year,on your graduation day, you still feel the same, we can consider dating. Does that sound good to you?"

Vira was curious to know, what Saka would do, to woe him. He had never encouraged anyone in his life, and for the first time he felt the sense of anticipation of being pursued. A small voice in his head said, maybe it's Saka for whom he's been waiting?

Saka felt like his heart might come out. He was ecstatic. How was it possible for one guy to attack his heart a million times in just one day?

Saka sprang up and flung himself onto Vira. "Thank you", he whispered, hiding his face between Vira's neck and shoulder.

Vira gulped. He felt a bit hot. Was it because he was just confessed to? The excitement of it? He did not know, but that hug did speeden up his heartbeat. He gently pushed Saka away after after a couple of minutes, mumbling," You are crushing me."

Saka let him go, laughing happily. He had done it impulsively.

"Where do you stay?"

"At the turning before the mount."

"Ah! Then I'll go with you. I stay in the shrine on top of the mount. "

"Oh! You stay pretty close to me!" Vira exclaimed.

"Lucky me! Now we can go together every single day!" Saka's eyes shone with excitement.

Vira hid a smile, as he got up. "Give me a second, I'll get my stuff from the staff room. We can leave after that. "

"Okay. I'll wait for you downstairs."

******

Vira stopped outside a small yet quaint little house, built facing the sea, which though, was a good few kilometers from where they stood, appeared clear, none the less. The elevation from the ground was obvious with some trees and bushes dotting the sides of the slope.

"And this is where I get off", said Vira.

Saka stopped to check out the house from out. It looked cozy. He wondered how it was on the inside. 

"Looks pretty." He smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow. When will you start to school?"

"Probably 8.30."

"Okay, I'll be here by 8.30. Bye."

With that, Saka hopped onto his bike and rushed off to his house.

Vira stood, staring after him for a few minutes, then parked his bike and walked into his house.

He dumped his bag and flung himself onto the sofa.

Today had been one heck of a day. He sighed and closed his eyes.

Saka. He made his heart race. The red hair, the sparking eyes and that naughty smile. His gentleness, kiddish behaviour, matter of fact approach and honesty, everything made him endearing. When he received the confession, his heart raced at 120 beats per second. He had felt giddy. 

But he could not accept it yet. He could not encourage him. He was his teacher. He would wait. If Saka felt the same way after one year, if he confessed at the graduation ceremony as he had declared, Vira would express his feelings. But until then, he will treat him like his other students.

Just thinking about the confession made him blush all over again. "Vira! Stop it." He muttered to himself. "Getting swayed by a kid who is crushing on you? Seriously? Show some maturity. He'll go to the mainland to study, get a job elsewhere, find a nice girlfriend and live happily thereafter. You are a decade older, stop getting flattered."

He shook his head to clear it. "I guess a shower would help." He mumbled to himself. "I'll fix myself a quick dinner and sleep it off. By tomorrow I'll be in better control of my emotions."