"Miss, headache miss.."

It was in the middle of a social studies class and I was asked to replace my fellow teacher for a while. The students were assigned individually to copy a map of Java island in an atlas book by putting a translucent paper on the atlas book and tracing the map with a pencil. All were supposed to be traced including the longitude and latitude lines. It was, indeed, not an easy task as the atlas book they brought was the small one. However, everyone was sitting and bowing down their heads, focusing on the assignment.

I was sitting on the teacher's seat and filling in the class journal when Jaden came forward. He put his right palm on his forehead while saying, "Miss, headache miss..."

"What happened?" I asked him.

"My head hurt, miss.. Ouchh..," he repeated, still putting his palm on his forehead. He walked here and there not far from me and pressed his palm onto his forehead once in a while. He was frowning, trying to show the pain he felt but failed.

I smiled at him. "Is it because of the assignment? Rest for a while and continue after you feel better, Jade." I suggested while touching his forehead. It was okay, he didn't get any fever and he looked completely fine for me.

Jaden smiled back at me, trying to look for another excuse to mention. His palm was still there and now, he patted his forehead several times.

"Ooowwww.. Don't do that. You're fine, dear. Go to your seat, lean back and rest. Then, continue the assignment when you feel better. Okay?" I rubbed his back and directed him to his way back to his seat.

Jaden walked slowly to his seat, he looked back at me once and tried to, again, show the pain he felt. His seat was at very back of the class. He sat back there and leaned his back.

*****

Fifteen minutes after that I stood up and walked around the class. Everyone was keen on doing the assignment, some were almost done and came to their friends to give a hand. Then, I came to Jaden's seat. He was in his excitement on sharing a story to his seatmate. He didn't notice my presence.

"The car is so good you know.. It's red. It move so fast.. Like this.. " he explained while making a moving car movement with his two hands. His seatmate was looking at him unnerved. Jaden continued, "And I have one more. It's blue....."

I was still there, standing behind Jaden while he was sharing his stories. His seatmate, Leo, eventually knew my presence. He saw my sign to keep on paying attention to Jaden. Few minutes after that, Jaden was done. And Leo pointed his finger to me. Jaden looked back and smiled awkwardly while looking at me standing behind him and smiling annoyingly to him. The three of us laughed together, leaving the rest of the class a big question of what had happened. Jaden... Jaden...

*****

I was, again, sitting on the teacher's seat while Jaden came forward for the second times.

"Miss, headache miss..." he said. He was frowning while standing beside me. His fingers were massaging his forehead and he was still frowning.

"Ouch.. Me too, Jade. My head is aching. Headache..." I copied his way of frowning and massaging.

"Miiisss, headache...." Jaden insisted. He was half laughing while doing it.

"Mee too, Jade. Seee... Headache, Jade." I copied him still. I leaned my back, massaged my forehead and showed my 'pain' to him.

Jaden started to giggle. And then, "I want to go to the toilet, miss.." Jaden asked my permission.

"Hey?!?! Are you having stomachache now??" I shouted at him in surprise.

Jaden was laughing but managed to answer me, "Noo.. Headache miss.. But I want to the toilet. Ya, miss.." Now, he was showing a puppy face to me.

I laughed at him. I rubbed his head and said, "Okay. But get in the class soon, go back to your seat and continue your assignment after that. Alright? You are just fine."

"Okay!" shouted him while rushing to the door.

Kids... No matter how annoying and naughty they are, they will make us laugh and love them more in the end.