My Ten-Year Crush by Olivia Spring
Chapter Thirty-Six
I’d called Mum to check Dad was at home. He was. Which meant it was time to face the music. I was going to tell him everything. And hand in my notice. It was the only way.
I knew he loved me and wanted to protect me in his own way, but it was too much. I had to strike out on my own, properly. Live my life away from his shadow.
Yes, handing in my notice without a job lined up and going to Vietnam was a risk. It was huge for someone like me. But I believed in myself. I was a good teacher. Dedicated, loyal and hardworking. There were other jobs and a whole new world out there, and I wanted to enjoy it as soon as possible.
If I handed in my notice now, there might be a chance of leaving by half term in October, but if I waited too long, he’d probably make me stay until Christmas or even January. It was now or never.
Worst-case scenario, even if things didn’t work out in Vietnam and I had to come back to the UK, I could always do supply teaching. I was confident that I’d be okay, though. By that time I’d have some overseas teaching experience under my belt, so my CV would be even stronger.
Speaking of which, I had to believe that I would find a job quickly in Vietnam too. Mike said he had contacts there and I was pretty resourceful myself. Even if something hadn’t come up by the time I’d served my notice, I’d have time on my hands. Maybe I could just go anyway. Surely it would work in my favour being based over there because I’d be ready to start immediately.
And even if things didn’t take off as quickly as I hoped, I had savings. Although it wasn’t as much as I’d planned, it’d be enough to keep me going for a while. Like Mike said, I had options. I could find another job, but as Hanh reminded me, Mike wouldn’t be so easy to replace.
I checked my watch. It was one-thirty. If Mike was teaching today, he’d be about to start another lesson soon, so it’d be better to text rather than call. I couldn’t wait to tell him the news! But first, I needed to get this over and done with.
‘Hello, Dad,’ I said as he opened the door.
‘Isabella,’ he said flatly. He was still angry. I had to go through with it, though, regardless.
We walked into the living room and sat down at opposite ends of the sofa.
‘I’ll keep this short.’ I took a deep breath. My heart thundered against my chest, but the quicker I said the words, hopefully the better I’d feel. ‘I need to hand in my notice. I’ve been studying the PEFLITC course over the past month and I’ve passed. In fact, I got the highest mark: a Pass A.’
Which reminded me, I still needed to talk to Mike about my grade. Hopefully there’d be time for that later. First things first.
‘I want to go and teach English as a second language. Mike has been doing this for years and he’s leaving to go to Vietnam…’ I paused, reading Dad’s face. He was grinding his jaw. But I’d started, so I needed to finish. ‘He’s got an amazing job over there and he’s asked me to go with him. And I’m going to say yes.’
‘You’ll do no such thing!’
‘I am and I will,’ I said firmly. ‘I’m going.’
‘Teaching abroad is for kids. That’s something you do after university. You’re an established teacher. You need to stay at the school, with me. It’s not safe to fly all that way.’
‘Dad,’ I said calmly, resting my hand on his. I knew he was worried about me, but I couldn’t let his fears ruin my chance for happiness. ‘I know you want to keep me safe, but you’re suffocating me. You can’t keep wrapping me up in cotton wool. I’m a grown woman. You have to trust and believe that I’ll be okay. If you really love me, you have to let me live my life. Even if it means I’ll be away from you.’
‘That boy’s no good for you, Bella. He’s not responsible. You’ve got a good job. I know you’re upset about the promotion, but something will come up in the future. You just need to—’
‘No! I’ve made up my mind. I hope you can accept my decision and be happy for me. But if you can’t, it’s too bad. I’m leaving anyway.’
I’d been upset about the promotion. For a long time. But now I thought about it, I was glad Dad hadn’t given me the job. It wasn’t really what I wanted. I wanted to do something I felt passionate about, but still have time to live and enjoy myself. To feel free. Not be given more responsibility.
‘I just want what’s best for you, Bella. I can’t believe you’re choosing that boy over me.’
‘It’s not about choosing you or Mike.’ I shook my head. ‘It’s about choosing me for a change. Going after what I want. What I think will make me happy.’
I also owed it to my pupils to follow my dreams. I thought about Mandy, who’d come to me the week before the end of term. The girl who’d wanted to go to college but her parents didn’t want her to. How much she seemed to struggle with deciding what route to pursue. But she was thirteen, so that was completely understandable. I was more than twice her age, so I should know better than to let my father dictate my future.
I’d started the course to prove to Dad that I was capable of doing more, but really it had shown me that, as well as being capable, I had to follow my own path. Even if it meant disappointing him.
In life, there would always be naysayers, doubters or people who wanted to hold me back. Whether it was through their desire to protect, like Dad, or for more malicious reasons. But I couldn’t let anyone, not even my father, rule over me anymore. I needed to step out of the shadow of his expectations. Step out of my comfort zone and do what felt right, for me.
‘Anyway, you can’t just resign like this. I need it in writing.’
I picked my phone out of my bag. If he needed it in writing, I’d email him right now. I touched the screen and there were two missed calls and several messages from Melody.
I clicked on the text icon. Maybe she had some questions about the flat. The first message was marked URGENT and of course was in CAPS.
Melody
URGENT! URGENT! URGENT!
GET YOUR ARSE TO THE SCHOOL RIGHT NOW!
Melody
MIKE IS LEAVING TONIGHT. He changed his flight. I repeat: MIKE IS LEAVING TONIGHT.
What? My stomach sank. Why? I skimmed to the next text.
Melody
He said he hadn’t heard from you, so there was no point in hanging around in London.
Melody
I THINK HE’S TEACHING UNTIL FOUR. THEN GOING STRAIGHT TO THE AIRPORT. GO! GO! GO!
Oh no! I hated knowing that Mike thought I didn’t want to see him. That I wasn’t serious. Nothing was further from the truth.
There was no time to lose. I had to go and tell him. Right now.