Forbidden Lessons

Chapter 1

Kairi sank into her seat, her long legs stretching out in the aisle of the classroom.

It was the first day of the second semester of her final year in senior high school, and she was already feeling the familiar itch of boredom taking over her.

Her friends, Maya and Zoe, were chatting happily about their holidays, but Kairi's mind was elsewhere, drifting through the dull routine of school life.

Tumingin siya nang bahagya habang bumubukas ang pinto ng classroom at pumasok ang bagong teacher nila.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Kairi. Mas bata ito kaysa sa mga naging guro na nila.

Baka ka-gra-graduate lang. She was bearing modest but confident air.

Tumayo siya sa gitna at kinakabahang ngumiti sa harap ng klase.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Miss Herrera, your new Literature teacher," she began, her voice steady but with a hint of uncertainty.

Miss Herrera scanned the room. Saglitang tumapat ang mga mata niya kay Kairi pero agad din niyang inalis ang tingin sabay sabing, "Let's start with something simple. Can everyone please introduce themselves and tell me your favorite book?"

Isa isa namang nagsitayuan ang students at ibinihagi ang kanilang mga pangalan at paboritong libro. Nang si Kairi naman ang sumunod, siya'y tamad na tumayo.

"Kairi. No favorite book."

Nakangiting tumango si Miss Herrera. Ayaw niyang magpaapekto sa kawalan ng sigla ng isa niyang student. "That's alright, Kairi. Maybe you'll find one in this class."

After the introductions, Miss Herrera began outlining the syllabus for the semester. Kairi's mind started to wander again, her attention switching between the teacher's words and the view outside the window.

Habang nagpapatuloy ang klase, mas madalas namang napapatingin si Kairi kay Miss Herrera.

Ang intriguing ng dating niya – modest, yet with an underlying strength.

Hindi siya kagaya ng ibang mga teacher na parang pagod na sa ilang taon nilang nagtuturo at nakikisalamuha sa mga high schooler.

Miss Herrera? She had a freshness about her, a sense of purpose.

Nang malapit ng matapos ang klase, huminto si Miss Herrera at ngumiti sa mga student. "Alright, before we finish for today, does anyone have any questions about the subject?"

May ilang mga kamay ang tumaas at sinagot naman ni Miss Herrera ang mga tanong tungkol sa assignments at expectations sa klase. Si Zoe naman na may nakakalokong ngiti ang sunod na nagtaas ng kamay.

"Miss Herrera, pwede bang personal question?"

Natawa naman ang mga student. Nag-alinlangan si Miss Herrera pero tumango rin. "Okay, but nothing too personal, ha?"

Lalo namang lumawak ang nakakalokong ngiti ni Zoe. "Miss, ilang taon ka na? Kasi mukhang kasing-edad ka lang namin."

Muli na namang narinig ang tawanan sa klase. Namula nang kaunti si Miss Herrera pero maintained her composure. "I'm 23. Just graduated last year."

May isa na namang student ang nagtanong, "Miss, may boyfriend ka na?"

Miss Herrera shook her head, laughing. "Let's keep it professional, class. No more personal questions, okay?"

Hindi naitago ng mga lalaki sa klase ang tuwa at saya sa kanilang nalaman. Halatang may gusto sa kanilang bagong teacher. Napailing na lang ng ulo si Kairi sa mga ito. It's not like they have a chance with her.

The bell rang – the period has ended. The students gathered their things, and Kairi stood up, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.

Nang dumaan siya sa harap ni Miss Herrera, hindi niya napigilang mapatitig dito.

Ngumiti naman ang teacher niya at sa sandaling iyon, bigla siyang nakaramdam ng curiosity sa kanyang guro.

Sa hallway, sumabay sina Zoe at Maya kay Kairi. "Mukhang okay si Miss Herrera, ano?" Zoe said.

Kairi shrugged, "Yeah, she's alright. At least hindi siya boring."

Habang naglalakad sila papunta sa susunod nilang klase, hindi mapigilan ni Kairi ang magkaroon ng kaunting interest. Pero ipinagsawalang bahala niya ito, knowing na may mga mas mahahalagang bagay pa siyang kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin.

But the thought of Miss Herrera lingered at the back of her mind.

The rest of the day went by in a blur of lectures and assignments, pero napansin ni Kairi na inaabangan niya ang Literature class nang higit sa inaasahan niya. May kung anong kakaiba kay Miss Herrera na nagpa-curious sa kanya, at determinado siyang alamin kung ano iyon.

The next day, habang papasok siya sa Literature class, may kung anong kaba ang naramdaman niya.

Umupo siya sa kanyang upuan sa likod, her usual seat.

Dahil sa tangkad niya, sa likod siya laging umuupo.

Pero the main reason for it is ayaw niyang napapansin ng teachers at pakiramdam niya, malayo ito from her other classmates.

Pagkarating ng teacher nila, nagsimula na ang klase.

"Good morning, everyone. Let's continue where we left off yesterday."

As the lesson began, Kairi leaned forward, her interest fully captured for the first time in a long time.

Sa screen ng projector, nakasulat ang mga discussion points ni Miss Herrera.

She squinted slightly, pretending to focus on the presentation, but her gaze began to wander.

Her eyes shifted towards Miss Herrera herself.

Napansin niya kung paano gumalaw ang kanyang guro habang nagpapaliwanag – calm, fluid, pero may bahagyang awkwardness in which she's trying to hide.

Kairi's gaze trailed to her face, noticing the slight tilt of her head, the curve of her jaw, and how her soft features seemed to brighten under the warm fluorescent lights.

Nang makarating ang tingin niya sa mga labi ni Miss Herrera, napansin niyang parang may bahagyang ngiti roon – more like an amused grin.

Biglang bumalik ang tingin niya sa mga mata ng teacher. And to her surprise, nakatingin na pala sa kanya si Miss Herrera.

Halos hindi nakagalaw si Kairi. Para bang nahuli siya sa akto.

Her heartbeat quickened, and she forced herself to glance away, kunwari'y may hinahanap sa notebook niya.

Pero kahit anong gawin niya, hindi maalis sa isip niya ang saglit na tinginan nilang dalawa.

Their eyes met for just a moment, pero pakiramdam niya, mas matagal pa iyon kaysa dapat.

Something about Miss Herrera wasn't just intriguing – it was unsettling in a way Kairi couldn't explain. And she knew one thing.

Her last semester in senior high school was going to be anything but ordinary.