Chapter 53: LUNCH IN THE CLASSROOM

The Phoenix Academy school cafeteria was located on the west side of the main building, a separate building that was quite spacious with a curved tin roof and white-painted wooden walls. Inside, there were several rows of long tables made of old teak wood with long benches on both sides. The tables were a little worn—there were small scratches on their surfaces, the result of years of use by students. In the corner of the room, there were several small round tables usually used by students who wanted to eat more casually.

The appetizing aroma of cooking spread throughout the room—the scent of chicken soup, fried noodles, fried rice, and various other foods available in the cafeteria. On the left side of the room, there were rows of long tables filled with various foods neatly arranged on large trays. There was warm white rice in a large rice cooker, golden-yellow fried noodles, crispy fried chicken with yellow seasoning, thick omelets, fresh green vegetables, and various other side dishes. On the right side, there was a glass display case containing various cold drinks—boxed tea, packaged juice, mineral water, and boxed milk.

WUUSSS... The large fan on the ceiling spun slowly, bringing fresh air amid the cafeteria crowd that was starting to fill with students from various classes. TAP... TAP... TAP... Their footsteps echoed on the ceramic floor that was starting to look dull. WHISPERS of their conversations could be heard faintly, mixed with the sound of clinking spoons and plates.

The students of Class IX-9 walked together with Lydia, surrounding the new teacher with enthusiasm. They spoke in voices that weren’t too loud, not too soft—enough to be heard among themselves, but not disturbing the other students eating at nearby tables.

"Ms. Lydia, this is the school cafeteria," Mira said enthusiastically, her hand pointing to the entire room. "Mira’s favorite place! Mira often comes here with friends."

Lydia observed the room with sharp eyes, noting every detail—the tables, the food, the students eating. "Quite spacious," she commented softly.

"Yes, Ma’am," Ella added. "This cafeteria can hold many students. But it’s usually busiest during break time."

They walked toward the ordering table located on the left side of the room. Behind that table, a middle-aged woman with a white apron and chef’s hat was busy arranging food on trays. The woman smiled when she saw them approaching.

"Mrs. Sari!" Mira called out cheerfully. "We brought a new teacher! Her name is Ms. Lydia!"

Mrs. Sari lifted her head, her eyes looking at Lydia warmly. "Oh, a new teacher? Welcome to our cafeteria, Ma’am. Please choose whatever food you like. Everything here is delicious."

Lydia smiled politely. "Thank you."

Iris, standing beside Mira, immediately nudged Lydia gently toward the ordering table. "Come on, Ms. Lydia, order first! Don’t be shy!"

"I want to help choose too!" Mira exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "Ms. Lydia, do you like spicy food? If so, try the spicy fried noodles! That’s Mira’s favorite!"

Lydia blinked, slightly surprised by Mira’s enthusiasm. "Spicy fried noodles?"

"Yes!" Mira nodded quickly, her hand pointing toward the golden-yellow fried noodles with red chili slices on top. "It’s really delicious! The spiciness is just right, doesn’t hurt your stomach!"

"I recommend fried rice," Rin cut in from behind, her arms crossed over her chest. "The fried rice here is the most delicious. The seasoning is absorbed well, not too oily. I always order that."

Iris shook her head. "Fried rice is just ordinary. Try the chicken soup! It’s healthier. Besides, it’s your first time here. The chicken soup here tastes like home cooking."

"Chicken soup is also delicious," Ella added, smiling. "But if you want something more filling, try the fried chicken. That’s everyone’s favorite."

"The fried chicken is big," Sera said, joining in. "One piece is enough for one person. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside."

"I agree with Sera," Rina added, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "The fried chicken here has a perfect balance of seasoning. Not too salty, not too bland."

Luna, who was usually silent, also spoke up this time in a soft voice. "The meatballs are also delicious. The broth is warm. Perfect for weather like this."

Nora nodded. "The meatballs here are chewy. I like them."

Liliana, standing beside Nora, smiled slightly. "I suggest you try the omelet. Simple, but delicious."

Aria, standing a little behind, bit her nails nervously. "I-I usually order white rice and omelet. Cheap, but filling."

"I like fried noodles!" Irene exclaimed enthusiastically, hopping lightly. "The noodles are long, like ropes! I like pulling them!"

Katrin laughed softly. "Irene, you’re like a little kid."

"What matters is it’s delicious!" Irene replied.

Maya, standing beside Katrin, smiled shyly. "I-I usually order something cheap. Because... because I have to save money."

"In that case, I recommend chicken soup," Katrin said, patting Maya’s shoulder gently. "It’s cheap, but filling."

Lydia listened to all those suggestions patiently. Her eyes moved from one food to another, observing every detail—color, texture, aroma. Finally, she pointed toward the spicy fried noodles Mira had recommended.

"I’ll try the spicy fried noodles," she said, smiling. "It looks interesting."

Mira immediately jumped for joy. "YAY! You chose the fried noodles! Mira promises you won’t be disappointed!"

Mrs. Sari smiled, then started preparing Lydia’s order. CLINK! She placed the fried noodles on a plate, adding a few slices of red chili on top.

"Here you go, Ma’am," Mrs. Sari said, handing the plate to Lydia.

Lydia received the plate with skilled hands—not too stiff, not too casual. "Thank you."

After all the students ordered their respective foods, they gathered back near the door. Lydia looked around, searching for an empty seat.

"Where do we sit?" Lydia asked.

Mira immediately shook her head quickly. "Oh, we don’t eat here, Ma’am."

Lydia blinked. "Not here? Then where?"

"In the classroom!" Mira answered enthusiastically. "We always eat in the classroom!"

Lydia grew more confused. "Why not just eat in the cafeteria? Isn’t it more comfortable?"

Iris stepped forward, a mysterious smile on her face. "We don’t have a place here, Ma’am."

"Don’t have a place?" Lydia frowned. "What do you mean?"

Ella, seeing Lydia still confused, immediately explained in a calm voice. "Here’s the thing, Ms. Lydia. We often come to the cafeteria together. Nine people, sometimes more. There’s no table big enough to hold all of us. The tables here are only big enough for four or six people. So... we decided to eat in the classroom instead. There we can eat together, without having to split up to different tables."

Lydia listened carefully. Her eyes moved from Ella’s face to the faces of the other students, observing their expressions. There was something in their eyes—something like sadness, but also togetherness. They didn’t eat in the cafeteria because they didn’t want to, but because they weren’t allowed. They didn’t have a place here.

HAAAH... Lydia let out a soft sigh. She saw the gloomy faces of all of them—Mira, who was usually cheerful, now looking down, Rin, who was usually firm, now silent, Ella, who was usually calm, now looking a little sad.

Lydia clapped her hands softly. CLAP! "Alright."

All the students lifted their heads, looking at Lydia with confusion.

"I’ll treat you all," Lydia said, her smile wide. "You’ve been kind to me. This is a sign of my gratitude."

Ella immediately shook her head quickly. "No, Ma’am! We should be the ones treating you! We’re the ones who invited you here! We’re the ones who should apologize for asking those strange questions earlier! We should be the ones paying!"

Lydia shook her head gently. "It’s not right to let my students treat me. I’m the teacher, you’re the students. It’s only proper that I treat you."

Ella opened her mouth to argue, but Lydia raised her hand. "No buts. I’ve already decided. You can’t refuse."

Ella fell silent, her mouth still open. She looked at her friends, seeking support, but they all just smiled and shrugged. Finally, Ella gave in and nodded slowly.

"Alright, Ma’am. Thank you."

Mira immediately jumped for joy. "THANK YOU, MS. LYDIA! Mira will eat a lot!"

Rin smiled, a little embarrassed. "Thank you, Ma’am. I... I didn’t expect that."

Iris smiled mysteriously. "Thank you, Ma’am. You’re really interesting."

"I also thank you," Sera said.

"Thank you, Ma’am," Rina said.

"Me too," Luna added softly.

"Thank you," Nora said.

"Thank you, Ms. Lydia," Liliana said.

"Th-thank you," Aria said, her eyes sparkling.

"THANK YOU, MA’AM!" Irene exclaimed, hopping around.

"Thanks, Ma’am," Katrin said.

"Thank you, Ma’am," Maya said softly. ℯℯ𝑙.

Lydia smiled seeing their reactions. "You’re welcome. Now, let’s go back to the classroom before our food gets cold."

They all hurried back to the classroom, carrying their respective trays carefully. TAP... TAP... TAP... Their footsteps echoed in the corridor that was starting to empty because most students were still in the cafeteria.

In Class IX-9

CREAK! The classroom door opened slowly. Mira entered first with a tray in her hands, followed by the others.

Kai, who was sitting at the teacher’s desk writing the daily report, lifted his head. SCRATCH... SCRATCH... His pen stopped moving. He saw his students entering with their respective trays, and Lydia behind them.

"Did you come from the cafeteria?" Kai asked, although he already knew the answer.

"Yes, Sir!" Mira answered enthusiastically. "We ate with Ms. Lydia! Ms. Lydia treated us!"

Kai blinked, slightly surprised. He looked at Lydia. "Ms. Lydia, you didn’t have to—"

"It was my decision," Lydia cut in, smiling. "Don’t worry, Mr. Kai."

Kai nodded slowly, then returned to his report. SCRATCH... SCRATCH...

Mira walked to her desk, followed by the others. One by one, they returned to their respective seats. Rin sat firmly, immediately opening her lunch box. Iris sat casually, placing her tray on the desk carefully. Sera sat with her back straight, checking her food. Rina sat calmly, immediately picking up her spoon. Luna sat in the corner, staring at her food with half-closed eyes. Liliana sat gracefully, starting to eat slowly. Aria sat restlessly, but she started eating. Irene sat enthusiastically, immediately devouring her food. Katrin sat beside Maya, smiling. Maya sat calmly, starting to eat slowly.

But there was one student who didn’t go straight to her desk. Nora. The girl with long white hair walked past the desks, heading to the corner of the room where Fay sat alone. Fay was still hugging her doll, her eyes staring blankly at the wall.

Nora stopped in front of Fay’s desk. TAP! She placed a cream-filled bun on Fay’s desk—a bun she had bought before going to the cafeteria, because she knew Fay wouldn’t join them. The bun was golden brown with white cream that looked soft inside.

"This is for you," Nora said softly, her voice not too loud, not too soft. Just enough for Fay.

Fay lifted her head slowly. Her empty eyes looked at the bun on the desk, then at Nora. No words came out of her mouth. But slowly, she nodded slightly.

Nora nodded back. "Eat a lot."

Fay nodded again. Her small hands reached for the bun carefully, like she was holding something very precious.

Nora turned and walked back to her desk. No other words came out of her mouth. No smile. Just comfortable silence.

Lydia, seeing that interaction, walked toward Kai. She stopped beside the teacher’s desk, her eyes still looking toward Fay.

"Mr. Kai," Lydia said softly, her voice almost a whisper. "Who is that girl? The one in the corner?"

Kai lifted his head from the report, his eyes following Lydia’s gaze toward Fay. HAAAH... He let out a soft sigh. "Her name is Fay. Fay Winter."

"What happened to her?" Lydia asked, her eyes not blinking.

Kai was silent for a moment, trying to find the right words. "I don’t know the details. I don’t know what happened to her before I came to this school. But... she’s a good kid. She’s just... different. She doesn’t talk much. She always hugs that doll. Sometimes she laughs to herself, sometimes she cries for no reason. But she’s not dangerous. She just needs time."

Lydia listened carefully. Her eyes were still fixed on Fay, who was now holding the cream bun in her hands, staring at it with an empty gaze.

"I want to get closer to her," Lydia said suddenly.

SCRATCH! Kai stopped writing. His pen stopped moving on the paper. He looked at Lydia, his eyes widening slightly. "What?"

Lydia turned toward Kai, her smile still on her face. "I want to get closer to Fay. She’s interesting. There’s something about her that makes me curious."

Kai fell silent. His heart beat faster. "That woman is dangerous." Fay’s words echoed in his mind. But he tried to brush it off. No, that’s just a bad feeling. Lydia is a good person. She just wants to help.

"Oh," Kai finally said, forcing a smile. "Of course. Fay is indeed... interesting."

SCRATCH... SCRATCH... Kai returned to writing his report, although his hands trembled slightly. In his heart, he tried to convince himself. Lydia is a good person. All my suspicions are just bad feelings. There’s nothing to worry about.

Lydia smiled, then walked back to her desk. Along the way, her eyes still occasionally glanced toward Fay, who was now slowly eating the cream bun.

In the corner of the room, Fay lifted her head for a moment. Her eyes met Lydia’s. For a moment, there was something in Fay’s eyes—something like fear, or maybe a warning. But then her eyes returned to empty, and she went back to enjoying her bun.

HAAAH... Kai let out a soft sigh, trying to calm his still-beating heart.