Chapter 11
The ride to the bar took nearly twenty minutes, and when Kairi arrived, Ella was just stepping out—along with someone Kairi didn't expect.
Miss Herrera.
The two were laughing together, tila wala ng pakialam sa paligid nila. Habang nagtatawanan, napansin ni Ella si Kairi.
"Kaiiii!" sigaw ni Ella at naglakad papunta kay Kairi. She clearly wasn't walking straight Nang malapit na siya kay Kairi, natisod siya sa sarili niyang paa. At mabilis naman siyang sinalo ni Kairi.
"Ella, careful!" Kairi scolded, trying to keep her cousin upright. "You're drunk again."
Ella pouted na parang nagtatampo. "Ako lang? Bakit ako lang sinisita mo?" She turned dramatically to Miss Herrera and pointed. "Si Gianna rin, oh!"
At the mention of her name, Kairi finally took a proper look at her teacher.
Miss Herrera was wearing a tight black dress that hugged her curves, the fabric clinging to her in ways Kairi knew she shouldn't be staring at.
The thin straps exposed her shoulders, and the dress ended mid-thigh, revealing her long, smooth legs.
Her hair was slightly tousled, at hindi maipagkakaila na hindi ito dahil sa pagod kundi dahil sa kung paano siya gumalaw buong gabi.
The usually composed and elegant Miss Herrera looked different—loosened, effortless, and somehow more. .. real.
Kairi swallowed.
Napansin ni Miss Herrera ang pagtitig ni Kairi kaya mabilis siyang lumingon sa ibang direction. Napatigil lang si Kairi nang biglang nagsalita ang pinsan.
"Oh, ano? Wala ka ng masabi?" Ella laughed, tila masyado siyang naaaliw.
"Oops, teka lang," Ella continued, nudging Miss Herrera. "You shouldn't scold your teacher pala!"
Ella burst into laughter, and Miss Herrera chuckled along, her voice was light and airy. It was unlike the usual composed, confident tone she had in school.
Hindi ito kagaya noong birthday ni Ella. Dahil nakita niya lang kung paano uminom si Miss Herrera nang hindi lasing. This time, she's witnessing her clearly drunk teacher.
Napailing na lang si Kairi at napabuntong-hininga habang pinapanood ang dalawa. "How did you two get so drunk?"
Inalalayan ni Kairi ang dalawa at lumipat sa gilid ng kalsada habang nag-bo-book ng ride. Habang naka-focus siya sa phone niya, biglang lumapit si Ella at nakisilip.
"Nasaan na ang ride natin?" tanong ni Ella.
"Hintay lang," Kairi informed patiently.
Nilapit pa ni Ella ang mukha sa phone at doon na niya naamoy si Kairi.
"Wait..." Ella narrowed her eyes at Kairi. "Alam ko 'tong amoy na 'to. Lasing ka rin, 'no?"
Kairi rolled her eyes. "No, Ella. Ikaw ang lasing."
Magsasalita pa sana si Ella pero sakto namang dumating ang sasakyan.
"Get inside," utos ni Kairi.
Tinulungan ni Kairi ang pinsan sa backseat. At nang si Miss Herrera na ang susunod na papasok, sinubukan niyang alalayan ito pero biglang tinaas ni Miss Herrera ang kamay. Nakaangat ang index finger niya, as if telling Kairi to wait.
Kairi arched her brow, watching in amusement as Miss Herrera attempted to walk straight on her own. She took careful, measured steps before settling herself beside Ella. Her chin was slightly raised as if proving a point.
Kairi shook her head, a small smirk playing on her lips.
"Pride mo ba 'yan, Miss o gusto mo lang akong iwasan?" she muttered before sliding into the front seat.
Tahimik ang buong biyahe. Pagsilip ni Kairi sa likod, tulog na ang dalawa.
Nang makarating sila kina Ella, ginising niya ito at inalalayan papasok. Tinulungan naman siya ng mommy ni Ella at nagpasalamat ito kay Kairi.
Pagbalik niya sa sasakyan, umupo siya sa likod, this time sa tabi ni Miss Herrera na hanggang ngayon ay mahimbing pa rin ang tulog. She took a quick glance at her teacher. Sa ilalim ng madilim na ilaw sa loob ng sasakyan, mas lalo niyang napansin kung gaano kaganda si Miss Herrera.
She looked peaceful when she was asleep.
Nang makarating sila sa harap ng apartment complex ni Miss Herrera, marahang ginising ni Kairi ang guro.
"Miss, we're here."
Miss Herrera stirred, blinking groggily. "Already?"
Kairi helped her sit up, then guided her out of the car. "Dahan-dahan lang, Miss."
Pagkatayo ni Miss Herrera, agad siyang tumingin kay Kairi at sinabing, "Thank you, Kairi. Pwede ka ng umalis. The driver's waiting."
Ngumiti lang si Kairi, saka bumalik sa sasakyan. Pero sa halip na sumakay, kinausap niya ang driver at sinabing wala ng kailangan ihatid.
"What did you do?" Miss Herrera squinted at Kairi when she got back.
Kairi didn't answer. Instead, she pushed the gate open, motioning Miss Herrera inside.
The teacher sighed, shaking her head. "Seriously, Miss Ferrer. I can go home on my own."
"Sure, Miss," Kairi said nang nagpipigil ng ngiti.
Nagsimula ng maglakad si Miss Herrera papunta sa unit niya. Si Kairi naman ay tahimik lang na nakasunod kay Miss Herrera at nakahanda kung sakaling ma-outbalance ang guro.
Pagkarating sa tapat ng unit, hindi agad sila nakapasok. Miss Herrera was struggling with finding the keyhole, even after a few tries. Kairi offered to help, pero hindi siya pinansin ni Miss Herrera.
It took her three more attempts before the doorknob finally unlocked.
Pagpasok ni Miss Herrera, napansin niyang hindi gumalaw si Kairi. "Ano pang ginagawa mo diyan?"
"So, you're letting me in?" Kairi asked, smiling widely. She never really thought of getting inside her teacher's place, but it sure did make her feel somewhat special.
Miss Herrera turned away, setting her bag down. Then, with a smirk, she faced Kairi again. "Isn't this what you wanted?"
"Huh?"
Miss Herrera stepped closer to Kairi. "I know na gusto mong makapasok sa apartment ko, with just the two of us. Like how you've always wanted to be alone with me...in my classroom."
Kairi tensed. Has she been caught?
She let out a nervous chuckle. "Miss, you're assuming too much."
Kairi walked and sat on the sofa, hoping to calm her nerves.
Miss Herrera followed her. She plopped down beside Kairi, the dizziness making her lose balance. Kairi instinctively reached out, but Miss Herrera steadied herself, then turned to her with raised brows.
"Kairi...know you're curious about your teacher's life outside school," Miss Herrera murmured, leaning in. "I know you want me to let you in."
Again, a thought that hasn't crossed Kairi's mind yet. But she decided to play along.
"I wasn't really planning on it, Miss," Kairi said, mirroring Miss Herrera's movement.
Kairi leaned in as well.
"Pero ngayong nandito na ako..." Kairi trailed off, eyes locked on Miss Herrera's. "Maybe you're right."
Then, they were inches apart. They could feel each other's breath.
Kairi smelled the alcohol, pero mas nanunuot sa ilong niya ang bahagyang amoy ng sigarilyo kay Miss Herrera.
It was different—she usually hated it, pero kay Miss Herrera, it smelled.
.. interesting. It was intoxicating in a way she didn't mind.
Kairi was leaning even closer when—
"You're dangerous, Kairi," Miss Herrera whispered before pulling away.
Miss Herrera gathered every will and self-control she had left over the alcohol in her system. What was that? What did she just do? Is it alcohol or something else? Either way, kailangan na niya munang lumayo kay Kairi.
Tumayo si Miss Herrera at naglakad papunta sa kwarto niya. Pagkabalik, may dala na siyang unan at kumot para kay Kairi.
"Dito ka na matulog. Diyan sa sofa."
Kairi nodded, smiling. "Thank you, Miss."
Kinuha ni Kairi ang bitbit ni Miss Herrera. Aasarin pa sana ang guro about sleeping on the bed together like last time at Ella's pero ayaw na niyang maalala at pag-usapan iyon. It wasn't really memorable, except for the fact that her teacher was sleeping beside her.
"Not how you planned, huh?" Miss Herrera teased.
"Miss, it really wasn't," Kairi said, laughing.
"Whatever," Miss Herrera dismissed before going back to her room.
Kairi settled on the sofa, but after a while, napansin niyang hindi na lumabas si Miss Herrera. She waited—until she couldn't.
Tumayo siya at dahan-dahang binuksan ang pinto ng kwarto ni Miss Herrera. Pagkasilip niya, nakita niyang nakatulog na ang guro.
Lumapit si Kairi sa kama. She carefully pulled the blanket over Miss Herrera's body, making sure she wouldn't get cold. Then, she leaned in—just close enough to take in the soft rise and fall of her teacher's breathing.
She let out a small smile.
Then, in the quiet of the room, she whispered.
"Miss Herrera..." Kairi started. "You say I'm dangerous, but you're the real danger I can't escape, yet...the one I crave."