Chapter 12
Miss Herrera slowly opened her eyes, immediately regretting it as a sharp pain throbbed in her temples. She groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. Her body felt heavy, her throat dry.
"Ugh, how much did I drink?" she muttered, trying to recall the events of the previous night.
She sat up slowly, blinking as she looked around her dimly lit room. Her mind was hazy, but she knew she had been drinking—hard. The last thing she remembered was sitting at the bar, her fingers wrapped around a glass of something strong. At hindi niya pa rin maalala kung paano siya nakauwi.
Sinubukan niyang tumayo, pero mas lalo lang niyang naramdaman ang pagkahilo. She scanned her nightstand, hoping to see painkillers, but there was nothing. Great.
Dragging herself out of bed, she shuffled towards her bathroom. She opened her medicine cabinet—walang gamot para sa sakit ng ulo. She frowned. Moving to the kitchen, she rummaged through the cupboards—still nothing.
Napabuntong hininga na lang siya out of frustration. At dahil wala siyang nahanap para sa sakit ng ulo niya, kumuha na lang siya ng glass, filling it with cold water from the fridge. Leaning against the counter, she took a long sip, hoping it would ease her discomfort.
Then the front door opened. Dahil sa gulat sa biglang pagbukas ng pinto at sa nakitang pumasok, napasinghot siya sa iniinom na tubig at agad na nabulunan. She coughed, spilling some on the dress she was still wearing from last night.
Lakad-takbong lumapit si Kairi kay Miss Herrera and gently patted her back. "Miss, are you okay?"
The unexpected touch and concern jolted Miss Herrera's memory. Like a tidal wave crashing down, bumalik ang alaala ni Miss Herrera from last night—kung paano sila sinundo ni Kairi and how she acted drunk and playful towards her student in her own apartment.
"Fuck..." Miss Herrera cursed under her breath.
At narinig iyon ni Kairi, causing her to raise her brows.
"Grabe, Miss. Marunong pala kayong magmura," Kairi said with a playful smirk on her lips.
Embarrassed, Miss Herrera stepped back, putting some distance between them.
"Kairi, ano pang ginagawa mo rito?" Miss Herrera asked, wiping her mouth.
Kairi didn't answer right away. Instead, nilagay niya ang dalang plastic and paper bags sa counter.
"Nag-order ako ng gamot, pagkain, and coffee. For your hangover, Miss."
Miss Herrera frowned. "Hindi ka na dapat nag-abala pa."
"Well, nandito na ako." Nagkibit-balikat si Kairi at nagsimula ng ilabas ang mga binili mula sa bags. "Magpalit na po muna kayo. I'll prepare the food."
Wala na ring lakas si Miss Herrera para makipag-argue pa kay Kairi kaya bumalik na siya sa kwarto para magpalit.
Habang nagsusuot ng shorts at shirt, napapaisip siya kung tama pa ba ang nangyayari ngayon.
Wala naman silang ginagawang masama pero it felt wrong.
Paano ba sila humantong sa ganitong sitwasyon?
Pagkalabas niya, nakahanda na ang pagkain sa mesa. Si Kairi naman ay nakaupo sa sofa at busy sa phone. At agad din itong lumingon nang makita siya.
"Good morning, Miss Herrera," Kairi greeted at last, smiling.
Nagtaas lang ng kilay si Miss Herrera tsaka naglakad paupo sa dining table.
"Let's eat, Kairi," pag-aya niya kay Kairi.
Sumunod naman si Kairi at nagsimula na silang kumain.
As they ate in silence, Kairi occasionally glanced at her teacher. Finally, she broke the silence.
"Alam niyo, Miss, napansin ko na ang minimalist ng apartment niyo. Wala man lang kalat, even your students' papers."
Indeed, the apartment was neat, almost too clean. The living room had only the essentials—a couch, coffee table, and small shelf with a few books.
Miss Herrera looked around, taking in her neat surroundings. "Nasa kwarto lahat ng mga papel. I'm not yet done checking."
"Napansin ko nga," Kairi said, nodding.
Miss Herrera's brow arched higher. "Napansin? So, you went in my room, Miss Ferrer?"
Napahinto si Kairi sa pagsubo. Shit.
"Uhh..." Kairi was trying to come up with an excuse. "Y-yeah. Hinatid ko po kayo sa room niyo."
Miss Herrera leaned back, crossing her arms. "Ahuh. I don't remember that part."
"Too drunk to remember, Miss Herrera?" pang-aasar ni Kairi bago ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain.
Hindi na nakapagsalita pa si Miss Herrera. She had no comeback. She hated that Kairi had a point.
"So, that's how you get drunk, huh?" Kairi added, taking the opportunity to tease further. "Naaalala niyo pa ba kung anong mga ginawa at sinabi niyo kagabi? Should I remind you about it, Miss?"
"Gusto mo bang bumagsak sa klase ko, Miss Ferrer?" pananakot ni Miss Herrera.
Napatigil si Kairi at biglang nakaramdam ng kaba. Alam niyang nagbibiro lang ang guro pero pakiramdam niya, totoo ito.
They continued eating in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, it was oddly natural.
After finishing, Miss Herrera stood up, gathering the plates. "Ako na rito."
"Tulungan na kita, Miss, " pagpupumilit ni Kairi at agad na tumayo.
Pagkakuha niya sa sarili niyang plate, sumunod siya kay Miss Herrera. As Kairi placed the plate in the sink, Miss Herrera turned, and they found themselves face to face, mere inches apart.
They both froze. Miss Herrera was only a few inches taller than Kairi, but the way they stood this close—closer than last night even—it was almost nothing. Kairi's face was tilted slightly upward, her dark eyes locked onto Miss Herrera's.
Miss Herrera swallowed, suddenly aware of the warmth radiating from Kairi.
Mula sa mga mata ni Miss Herrera, bumaba ang tingin ni Kairi sa mga labi ng guro.
There they were again. Those lips.
Hindi na nakapagpigil si Kairi at dahan-dahan siyang lumapit. Just as their lips were about to touch, Miss Herrera stepped back abruptly.
"Fine, wash the dishes," Miss Herrera told Kairi before retreating to the bathroom.
Si Kairi naman ay naiwang nakatulala.
Inside the bathroom, Miss Herrera leaned on the sink, gripping the edge. She could still feel the warmth of Kairi's breath. The way her student looked at her—
She shut her eyes, breathing in deeply. She stared at her reflection, shaking her head.
"Get it together," she warned herself.
She clenched her jaw and composed herself. Pagkalabas niya, patapos na si Kairi sa paghuhugas ng mga plato. Miss Herrera watched her silently, noting her student's every movement.
While Kairi was drying her hands with a towel, she turned around.
"Tapos ka na?" Miss Herrera asked, feigning nonchalance.
Kairi nodded. "Aalis na rin ako, Miss."
Tahimik lang si Miss Herrera, pero nang nasa pinto na si Kairi, she found herself calling out.
"Kairi."
Kairi turned back.
"Thank you," Miss Herrera said softly.
Kairi smiled. "Anytime, Miss."
Then she was gone.
"Kairi Lei, bakit ka ba nagmamadali? It's still early," reklamo ng nanay ni Kairi habang nag-aayos ng bag.
"Para makabili ng fresh na gulay?" alanganing sagot ni Kairi.
It's Sunday, another market day for her mother. It was also the same day she first saw Miss Herrera outside school. And she was hoping to see her teacher there again. After yesterday, she still couldn't get enough of Miss Herrera.
Narinig ni Lara ang sinabi ni Kairi kaya agad siyang lumapit. "Since when ka nagkaroon ng care sa fresh na gulay?"
"Minsan na siyang sumama sa akin sa palengke. Baka nagustuhan," pagdepensa sa kanya ng nanay nila.
"Oh baka naman may gustong balikan doon. Vendor ba, Kai? Anong tinitinda niya?" singit ng father nila.
"Baka fresh veggies, Pa," dagdag na naman ng ate niya.
"What are you, guys, talking about? Kairi scoffed.
Her sister narrowed her eyes. "Teka nga, alam mo naman kung gaano ka-busy sa palengke. And what? Gusto mo pa rin bumalik? Fishy, Kai. Fishy."
"Oo nga," their father again. "Baka bilhin mo lahat ng paninda, ha."
"Geez," Kairi muttered. "Gusto ko lang tumulong kay Mama."
"Hmmm." The two hummed, unconvinced.
"Okay na. Alis na tayo," her mother called, finally saving Kairi.
Pagkarating sa palengke, the crowd was already overwhelming as expected. Kairi tried to focus on helping her mother, pero hindi niya mapigilan ang tumingin-tingin sa paligid. She scanned the area, searching for a familiar face.
Napansin ito ng nanay niya. "Kai, sino bang hinahanap mo?"
"Huh? W-wala, Ma," mabilis na sagot ni Kairi.
"Ahhh, saan ba ang pwesto niya?" her mother teased.
Kairi groaned. "Ma, pati ba naman ikaw?"
Tumawa lang ang nanay niya at nagpatuloy na sa pamimili ng mga gulay.
Then, Kairi saw her. Miss Herrera.
She was talking to someone, smiling. But before Kairi could see who it was, another person blocked her view.
When that person finally moved—
Kairi's heart sank.
It was him. That guy again.
Kairi took a deep breath, forcing herself to look away but failed. Huwag kang mag-assume, Kairi.
Sinabi na niya sa sarili na hindi na niya hahayaan ang emotions niya—ang selos—na kontrolin siya. Pero kahit anong pilit niyang itago, naroon pa rin ang selos.
Then, Miss Herrera looked her way. And their eyes met.
Miss Herrera raised a hand and waved.
Kairi hesitated for a second. Then, she smiled—forced and brief—before looking away.