Whenever Oswald caught sight of one of his students, a new form of temptation would arise and never leave his mental space. He couldn't resist such a handsome figure roaming around on campus. Rafael, an eighteen-year-old twelfth-grader, had become quite an athlete. The Bolivian student impressed the P.E. teacher for quite some time. He managed to perform well with various sports that were generally required for physical education. The young man had the right looks as well. His long black hair had grown as long as a woman's. His slim physique and overall healthy lifestyle was an excellent addition to his persona. His youthful demeanor, coupled with his good looks, became a major attraction for the girl in his life.
The same could be said for Oswald himself. The P.E. teacher knew that he had to be careful. At thirty-six years of age, he remained single and he wouldn't exactly take any chances when forming a relationship with one of his own students. But, of course, with someone like Rafael, it would be pointless to just ignore his temptation altogether. This would have been just a minor annoyance, but Oswald's impure thoughts lasted ever since the start of the new year. Now, even in the middle of May, his appetite never diminished. He almost felt like cursing at Rafael just for being such a handsome young man. Despite the interior tension, he continued on with his current occupation without even informing Rafael of his conflict.
* * *
Friday had arrived. Unusually high temperatures had settled in the city of Diamond Bar, as well as everywhere else in Southern California. The infamous Santa Ana Winds made a comeback after a two-week absence. Hot and dry winds from the desert rushed through the entire basin, causing many people to experience some unfortunate allergies. Oswald didn't mind the current climate at all. He could at least tolerate the low humidity. He knew that Rafael would feel the same, seeing as how the winds didn't affect him during sixth period. Oswald did notice something else, however. Rafael didn't appear to be in a gleeful mood. The young Latino had a dejected look on his face even as he performed outside with his classmates. Oswald's curiosity reached its peak. He needed to know what kept someone like Rafael in a state of gloom.
As soon as the class ended, Oswald ordered his students to return to the locker room. It took them only a couple of minutes to exit the blacktop. Everyone would already be on their way home, seeing as how the weekend had now officially begun.
Oswald waited until everyone left the locker room. Several minutes later, he found Rafael sitting alone and staring at his closed locker. He had already changed from his P.E. clothes to his own casual attire. His black tank top and blue jeans almost made Oswald shiver. This would usually happen whenever he caught sight of Rafael in his normal clothes.
After taking a deep breath, Oswald stepped closer and asked, "Are you all right?"
Rafael immediately looked up to see his P.E. teacher standing several feet away from him. "I'm sure I'll be okay as soon as I get home."
"What happened?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"I always care about the mental state of my students."
Oswald took a seat beside him. "So what's going on? Are there any issues arising at home?"
Rafael shook his head. "It's about my girlfriend. She broke up with me yesterday."
"I'm really sorry to hear about that."
"It just came out of nowhere. She said it wouldn't work out between us. She was no longer interested in me anymore. And the most fucked up thing is, just a few hours ago, I saw her kissing another guy."
"Well, that was quick."
Rafael sighed. "She already forgot about me and bounced back. I almost feel sick."
Oswald knew what this meant. With Rafael on the rebound, this would have been a good moment to make his move. But Oswald decided not to. He knew that he had to stay professional and focus on what was more important.
He patted Rafael on his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be able to bounce back as well. There are plenty of other girls out there who are looking for a guy like you."
Rafael had a little smile on his face before it disappeared within seconds. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Look, you're still young. You'll find that special someone."
"That's what I like about you. You're always show a lot of support."
"That's what I'm made for."
Rafael smiled again, and this time, it stayed on his face. "Yeah, you're a great guy."
Oswald nodded. "You'll be okay. Trust me."
"Don't worry. I trust you."
Oswald stood up. "Well, I hope you have a good weekend."
"Thanks a lot."
Oswald left his student alone in the locker room and returned to his office. He expected to find the entire building empty as soon as he finished with his own work. For the next ten minutes, he read through several documents while playing some music on his boombox at a low volume. He wasn't the type of guy to listen to classical music, though he did find a select few compositions that he would enjoy when he had work to do. Right now, Jean Sibelius's Violin Concerto had been the one to help him sustain a good mood. The mystical sound of the violin, as well as the ethereal melodies played by the orchestra, helped him have a good time in the office. It seemed like the right way to conclude today's work.
* * *
After reading the last page, he put the documents away and turned off his boombox. He was ready to go home and enjoy some solitude after a head day's work. He left his office after turning off the lights. He checked to make sure that the locker room remained unoccupied. He expected to see a completely empty area. To his surprise, he found Rafael still sitting on the bench. And this time, it seemed like he had a look of neediness on his face.
Oswald asked, "Why are you still here?"
As soon as he caught sight of his coach, Rafael stood up and stepped closer. "I didn't leave...because I wanted to see you again."
"What do you want to talk about?"
