Seeing the bucket overflow in that way, the girl let out a laugh but quickly restrained herself from making it audible. The young man decided to lose himself entirely; seeing her lying there made further hesitation pointless. He rushed to one of the two buckets placed outside, shielding the girl's back so she couldn't see.
They both drew water in silence until they finished. Meanwhile, the girl had filled her own bucket, and they moved toward the bathroom area, which combined toilets and a bathing space. The area was connected by a corridor; from there, the doors to the bathrooms and toilets were clearly visible. The first to enter was the bathing area, then came the toilet section.
Rajabu was first, placing his bucket in the bathing section. The girl hurried past to place hers in the toilet section. Each held the door open but suddenly hesitated, staring at one another. The young man felt a strange surge of courage and moved closer to her. The girl froze, unsure whether to enter the bath or do something else.
At that moment, Rajabu had not yet set down his bucket properly. Acting on impulse, he quickly reached to touch her waist. She was wearing only minimal coverage, and he didn't hesitate to handle her boldly. Surprisingly, the girl responded and began moving along the corridor in the dim light, avoiding any overhead illumination.
He slipped a hand beneath her garment and continued touching her until she was fully aroused. Realizing the surroundings were not conducive to prolonged exposure, he withdrew from her mouth and positioned himself over her back. He leaned against the wall near the light switches of the bathroom and toilet, preparing to satisfy his urge immediately rather than wait to finish elsewhere.
Without delay, he moved her slightly to the side, lowered her underwear, and adjusted her hips backward. He then removed his own clothing, exposing himself, and entered her forcefully. The act became a rapid in-and-out motion, ensuring he finished before being interrupted.
Due to the position, which many young couples refer to as "quick-count," he was able to complete swiftly. The fear of being interrupted only pushed him to act faster. Once done, he withdrew quickly and returned his "weapon" inside. He lifted the bucket and replaced the girl's underwear, returning her modesty.
After finishing, he didn't wait but headed to the bathing section, grabbed a bucket, turned on the light, and entered to bathe. The girl took a few seconds to react, opened the toilet door, and placed her bucket inside to bathe. What had just occurred was done in secrecy; neither had touched each other beyond what was necessary. It was as if a mischievous spirit orchestrated the encounter, putting them through the act completely and swiftly.
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By the time the teachers arrived at school, most had already reached. The principal decided to call Manjenje to his office immediately, mainly regarding the incident from the previous day. After realizing he had caused the young man to be disciplined by Frank, it was necessary to question and listen to him to determine possible consequences.
The principal could already sense trouble brewing, considering the young man's family influence. He feared that escalating the matter could tarnish his professional reputation.
Manjenje responded to the summons calmly, aware that Rama was just a street kid. No action by the boy's family could truly affect him unless they escalated the complaint. At the office, he was welcomed by his superior, who explained the situation, including the injury the young man had suffered, up to being disciplined and sent home.
"Manjenje, you are an experienced teacher here, and we have worked with you for many years. You've done your job very well. I regret having to discuss this issue, which started with you—it could become serious. That young man comes from an influential family. Yesterday, his mother came to pick him up along with his guardian. You caused harm to a child from a wealthy family; imagine the consequences if this matter escalates," the principal said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "His mother is furious and has stated she will come to the school demanding a full explanation of her son's injury. If she comes to complain, it could be serious for you and Frank. Perhaps we should ask her not to come and resolve this quietly."
Manjenje looked visibly confused. "So, sir, what do you suggest we do?"
"You will take the role of the disciplinarian, and he will take yours. Temporarily, you will relinquish your disciplinary teaching role and become the academic head, so that if she asks about you, we can say positions were switched. If she doesn't inquire, you continue as usual. This way, we defuse her anger before it escalates. You will retain your rank; we just cannot demote you entirely, as that would undermine your respect and seniority here."
"Alright, if that's the solution."
"This matter stays between you, me, and Gervas. Ensure other teachers do not find out, especially Lily, who is very close to that family. It could be dangerous if word spreads that we mishandled the situation," the principal instructed.
Manjenje nodded, placing his hand on his waist. "Understood. But the young man must learn discipline now. Things like this would not happen if he had respect. Yesterday, I called him, and he ran away—what a mess."
"Regarding his mistake, you have no grounds to accuse him further. If he resists in front of his mother without witnesses, how would it appear? Don't think that confrontation will help; it won't. Stay calm—those with money can turn trivial matters into accusations easily."
Hearing this, Manjenje pressed his hand to his face, suddenly overwhelmed by worry. For the first time, fear crept in after managing many troubles, fearing repercussions from the wealthy family and possible punishment or loss of his position. His authority as a disciplinary head seemed meaningless; only influence or connections could have helped.
Even after hearing the instructions and realizing that his usual ways of defending himself would not work, he decided to follow his superior's orders. He didn't want to risk further disobedience and agreed to everything.
"Alright, let's do it," he said.