On 19th March, I treated the kids of 3 Amanah to yogurt drinks because they managed to answer the quizzes I had for them.

Smart kid they are.

Problem was, they came barging on me right in the middle of English class with 3 Sabar, demanding yogurt drinks.

I hurriedly passed the boys of 3 Amanah a green bill.

Of course, it fueled 3 Sabar’s jealousy, especially those of Ikbal, Hazim and Raja.

At the end of the class, I had to surrender my defeat to one whining Ikbal. I passed Raimi a green bill and asked him to buy ten yogurt drinks for the class.

I dismissed the class and stayed back to pack my stuff. And to answer Nikochan’s call. Soon, I walked towards the 3 Sabar gang in front of the stall.

Raimi bought nine because Aqil didn’t fancy strawberry-flavored yogurt drink and there was a 50 cent change. Ikbal saw me and yelled, "Teacher, can I keep the change? Can I? Can I? Can I?"

"Sure, Ikbal." I sighed at the child’s enthusiasm while continuing my answering the phone.

"Don’t be too stressed, Nik." I nodded and accepted my yogurt drink from Amni. "Just get your facts straight."

"Who are you talking to, teacher?"

"They really should grant you that leave, it’s all on the paper."

"Your boyfriend, teacher?"

"Ikbal, I’ve no boyfriend." I scowled at the boy’s happy face. "Nik, just tell them firmly yet gently. Don’t be too hard on yourself."

"Don’t be too hard on yourself." He drawled.

"Ikbal, don’t mimic me." Nikochan laughed over the phone.

Ikbal laughed and sat next to me.

"Hard to be a teacher, eh?" Nikochan remarked.

"You bet."

All in all, I treated them RM10 that day. I am so kind I could cry.

Today, I craved for ice cream during recess. Since I was already in the class 3 Sabar, I asked Sadiq to buy one for me.

Sadiq kindly obliged. He ran back to the canteen. Haikal came in class and asked me, "Teacher, did you ask Sadiq to buy ice cream for you?"

"Yeah. Why, Haikal?"

"They’re sold out, I think."

The color drained from my face.

Minutes later, Sadiq returned with no ice cream in sight. "Sold out, teacher."

"Told ya."

I groaned and rested my head on Anis’s table. Pupils came streaming inside and saw me.

"What’s wrong with teacher?"

"She wanted ice cream."

"Buy her one, then."

"Sold out already."

I stood up and stared at the clock. 10.15. Time for class.

During class, Ikbal kept reminding me of my ice cream craving. "Teacher, go to Pak Mud’s stall and buy one for yourself."

"Too lazy to walk, Ikbal."

"Buy one for us while you’re at it." His eyes glisten with mischiefs.

I scoffed at him.

Class was dismissed. I walked to Pak Mud’s stall and bought 26 ice creams. Total in RM5.20.

Class resumed after solat. We had ours in the library, with me retelling stories after stories to pupils while Ikbal kept mimicking me and Raimi chuckling softly in the background.

I was a prefect when I was 9, but never did I behaved like those two chipmunks.

I think. Oh well.

Three minutes to the end of class. "Raimi and Ikbal, look after the class for a while, please?"

"Where’re you going?"

"Pak Mud’s." I smiled. "I’ve bought ice cream for all of us."

"Alright!~"

p/s: Later that evening, I treated myself, Ilham, Naim, Haqim and one of Ustaz Azmi’s son drinks of lychee, with Naim requesting for a corn-flavored.

All in all, RM2.50.

"Can’t do this always, Ilham. My pocket will die."

"What’s wrong with that?" He smirked.

I laughed despite the need to strangle him on the spot. As we waited for our drinks, I saw Ikbal paying at the counter.

"Oh my God." I said to Naim. "Don’t let Ikbal know I’m treating you guys; he’ll ask me to buy him drinks, too."

"Aw," Naim smirked. "What’s wrong with that?" And he sauntered towards Ikbal, arm over the petite boy’s shoulder while eying my scowling face.

"Teacher, can I ride in your budu?" Little Ikbal asked enthusiastically.

"It’s parked in the field." I gestured towards the said car. "Go settle yourself in it."

"Okay!" The young boy ran.

"Budu?" Ilham piqued out in perplexity.

"The car’s plate is BDU. Kids read it as BUDU."

We laughed.