Chapter 4
The school day was drawing to a close, the halls emptying as students headed home. Kairi lingered in the hallway, her mind on Miss Herrera. She had noticed the growing bond between them and felt something stirring inside her – something she wasn't ready to share with anyone just yet.
"Kai, tara na! Uwi na tayo," tawag ni Maya mula sa dulo ng hallway, snapping Kairi out of her thoughts.
"Sunod na lang ako, Maya. May kukunin lang ako sa classroom." Kairi replied. It was just an excuse para mag-stay pa.
Tiningnan siya nang matagal ni Maya pero hinayaan na lang din siya nito. "Okay, see you tomorrow!"
Kairi watched her friends leave before heading towards Miss Herrera's classroom. Hindi niya alam kung bakit doon siya dinala ng mga paa niya pero hindi na niya nagawa pang umalis. Sumilip siya sa loob at nakita si Miss Herrera na nag-o-organize ng papers sa desk.
Kumatok sa door Kairi bago nagsalita. "Miss Herrera?"
Miss Herrera looked up, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Kairi, come in! What brings you here?"
Habang papalapit si Kairi sa desk ng guro, nakaramdaman siya ng magkahalong excitement at kaba. "Hmm napadaan lang. Do you need any help, Miss Herrera?"
"Thanks, Kairi. I'm just sorting through these papers. You're welcome to stay if you want," Miss Herrera said bago ibinalik ang tingin sa mga paper sa desk.
Natuwa si Kairi sa narinig pero hindi nito ipinahalata. Umupo siya sa student's desk sa harap ng table ni Miss Herrera. She felt the need to stay with her teacher although it's not really need. She just wanted to.
"So, Miss, do you always stay this late?" tanong ni Kairi, hindi kasi siya mapakali na ang tahimik sa classroom.
Miss Herrera laughed softly. "Hindi naman palagi, just often enough. There's always something to prepare or grade."
Kairi nodded, watching Miss Herrera as she worked. "Hmm hindi ka ba napapagod?"
Napatingin si Miss Herrera dahil sa tanong ng estudyante. "Sometimes, but I love teaching. It's worth it when I see my students understanding and engaging with the material."
Kairi smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her. "You're really passionate about it. It shows."
Miss Herrera gave her a grateful look. "Thank you, Kairi. That means a lot."
Ngumiti lang si Kairi bilang tugon. Hindi alam kung anong sunod na sasabihin.
Napansin ni Miss Herrera ang pagiging tahimik ni Kairi kaya itinigil niya muna ang ginagawa at nag-focus sa estudyante sa harapan. "What about you? Why are you staying this late?"
Hindi in-expect ni Kairi ang tanong mula sa guro kaya hindi agad siya nakasagot. Hindi rin maka-isip ng isasagot. "Uhh...nothing?"
Tumaas ang kilay ni Miss Herrera. "Nothing? I think there's something there." Napaisip siya sa sagot ni Kairi at hindi mapigilang mag-alala, "Everything alright, Kairi?"
"Y-yeah. I just don't feel like going home yet," sagot ni Kairi which is partly true. Ayaw niya pang umuwi kasi mas gusto niyang makasama pa si Miss Herrera.
"Why is that? May problema ba sa bahay niyo?" Miss Herrera asked, leaning forwards on her desk. She couldn't help but worry about her student.
This time, ang mga kilay naman ni Kairi ang napataas. Iba yata ang pagkakaintindi ng guro sa kanya. "Wala, Miss Herrera. Don't think too much of it."
Tinitigan ni Miss Herrera si Kairi. Tinitingnan ang mata kung nagsasabi ba siya ng totoo. Hindi niya mapigilang mag-alala dahil baka may problema pala ito, specifically sa bahay nila. Mukha namang nagsasabi ito ng totoo kaya tumango na lang siya.
"So, do you have any plans for the weekend?" tanong ni Kairi pero maiba na ang topic.
Miss Herrera leaned back in her chair, thinking. "Actually, balak kong i-visit ang family ko. Ilang oras lang din naman ang layo kaya I try to see them when I can."
Kairi nodded, intrigued. "That sounds nice. Do you have any siblings?"
"Yes, I have two younger siblings, babae at lalaki. Nasa high school pa," Miss Herrera answered.
"Panganay ka pala, Miss. Ka-age ko ba sila?" tanong ni Kairi, hoping na hindi niya ka-age for some reasons. "Curious lang," pahabol niya.
Miss Herrera laughed. "No, they're younger than you. Kasisimula lang nila sa high school. How about you, Kairi? May mga kapatid ka ba?"
Kairi hesitated for a moment. Hindi siya sanay na mag-share about such personal matters but said, "Yeah, may ate ako. She's in college now, studying computer engineering."
Miss Herrera's eyes lit up with interest. "That's great. Do you get along well?"
Kairi shrugged. "Mostly. Busy siya sa studies niya pero we're close. She's always been supportive."
Miss Herrera smiled warmly. "It's good to have family support."
Nagpatuloy lang ang pag-uusap ng dalawa hanggang matapos si Miss Herrera sa ginagawa.
Sinamahan lang ni Kairi ang guro hanggang sa teachers' office at umuwi na rin ito.
Late ng nakauwi si Kairi which she hates the most pero wala siyang pinagsisisihan as long as it was late hours spent with Miss Herrera.
The next day, during lunch break, sa cafeteria kumain sila Kairi kasama ang mga kaibigan. Abalang abala silang nagkukwentuhan tungkol sa mga gossip sa school nang mapatingin si Kairi sa kabilang side ng cafeteria.
Mag-isang nakaupo si Miss Herrera sa isang corner table.
Nagbabasa ito ng libro habang kumakain. Biglang nakaramdam si Kairi ng urge na lapitan siya, para ituloy ang usapan nila kahapon.
Pero nagdalawang-isip siya. Mukha namang nag-e-enjoy si Miss Herrera sa binabasa.
Ayaw niya ring maging usapan ng ibang students, baka isiping lumalapit siya sa teacher para lang magkaroon ng mataas na grades.
Maya nudged her. "Uy, Kairi, nasaan ka na?"
Kairi blinked, inalis na rin ang mga tingin kay Miss Herrera. "Oh, yeah. I zoned out for a moment. What were you saying?"
Zoe smirked knowingly. "I think alam ko na or rather sino ang tinitingnan mo."
Tiningnan ni Kairi nang masama si Zoe. "Shut up, Zoe. It's not like that."
Sa kanilang tatlo, si Zoe ang pinakamahilig at magaling mang-asar. Usually, si Maya ang inaasar nito pero lately, siya na ang target. Ang masama pa, pati si Maya, inaasar na siya.
Maya raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Sure, Kairi. So, are you going to join us for the party this weekend or what?"
Wala ng nagawa pa si Kairi kung hindi ang ibalik ang attention sa mga kaibigan at inalis muna sa isip si Miss Herrera. They spent the rest of lunch discussing outfits and activities for the party, but Kairi couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted within her.