Chapter 14
Kairi took a deep breath as she walked down the hallway, her fingers wrapped around a store-bought warm cup of coffee. The school was still quiet, only a few students wandering around. She liked mornings like this—calm, peaceful, unhurried.
Nang malapit na siya sa classroom nila, binagalan niya ang paglalakad.
She peeked inside.
Miss Herrera was already there, sitting at her desk, eyes glued to her laptop screen. Kairi could tell her teacher was focused as her brows were slightly furrowed, her fingers lightly tapping on the keyboard.
Tahimik na pumasok si Kairi sa loob at dahan-dahang inilapag ang kape sa table ni Miss Herrera bago niya ito binati.
"Good morning, Miss."
Nag-angat ng tingin si Miss Herrera, tila hindi inaasahan ang ginawa ng estudyante. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Kairi simply smiled and walked to her seat at the back.
Miss Herrera followed her with her eyes before finally asking, "Kairi, what's the coffee for?"
"For you," sagot ni Kairi, na parang hindi big deal ang ginawa.
Miss Herrera raised her brows. "Okay, what for?"
"You," Kairi answered, with a playful tone this time.
Napailing na lang si Miss Herrera. Hindi niya alam kung nagbibiro lang ba si Kairi o kung ano man.
"Thank you," Miss Herrera said before taking a sip. "What about you?"
"I had mine on the way here."
Miss Herrera nodded. Then, without another word, she returned to her laptop.
Samantala, si Kairi naman ay sinimulan na rin ang pag-re-review. She needed to focus, but at the same time, she wanted to give Miss Herrera attention. Hopefully, the coffee was enough.
Inside the cafeteria, Kairi sat with Maya and Zoe, the three of them eating their lunch.
Zoe was the first to break the silence. "Sana lahat may kape sa umaga, ano?" she said, glancing at Kairi with a teasing smirk.
Maya, catching on, nodded. "Tama. Ang saya siguro ng buong araw mo pag may coffee to start your day."
Kairi, sensing where this was going, looked up from her food. "What's this again?"
Zoe, who was beside Kairi, leaned closer. "This morning? Coffee? Miss He—"
Hindi pa natatapos si Zoe ay mabilis ng tinakpan ni Kairi ang bibig ng katabi.
"Shut up, Zoe," bulong niya, sabay lingon sa paligid para siguraduhing walang ibang nakatingin o nakakarinig sa kanila.
Maya raised an eyebrow. "Hmm...Miss H?"
"Seriously?" Kairi gave Maya a sharp look.
Zoe moved Kairi's hand away, laughing. "Right. Miss H."
"Stop it. Ang kulit niyo," Kairi complained, groaning. "Paano kung may makarinig?"
Maya just smirked. "Walang makakarinig, Kai. Pero kung gusto mong tumigil kami..." she trailed off.
"What do you want?" Kairi asked, ready to do whatever it is para manahimik na ang dalawa.
"Coffee," Maya said, clapping silently.
"Fine," Kairi gave in. It shouldn't be hard, it's just coffee.
A smile crept on Kairi's lips, remembering Miss Herrera's expression when she gave her coffee. She surely loved making her teacher speechless.
"Ngumingiti mag-isa," Zoe teased. "Oh, our friend's falling deeper."
Kairi just rolled her eyes, pero hindi na niya napigilan ang ngumiti nang tuluyan. Is Zoe right tho? Yes, she likes Miss Herrera, pero simpleng paghanga lang naman siguro ito 'di ba?
As usual, dumiretso si Kairi sa classroom ni Miss Herrera pagkatapos ng klase. Pero pagbukas niya ng pinto, hindi lang ang guro ang nadatnan niya.
Kasama ni Miss Herrera ang co-teacher niya—Sir Mark. At hindi lang basta nag-uusap. Sir Mark was leaning on Miss Herrera's table, facing her. At masyado itong malapit kay Miss Herrera na nakaupo sa upuan niya.
Napataas ang kilay ni Kairi. Alam niya ang reputation ng lalaking guro.
She's heard rumors about him—masyadong malapit sa ibang teachers, at may bulung-bulungan pa tungkol sa pagiging 'uncomfortably close' nito sa ilang estudyante.
In short, pervert. Kaya may mga student na umiiwas sa kanya pag nakakasalubong siya.
Pero wala namang official report about it.
Napansin ni Miss Herrera ang presensya ni Kairi at agad siyang tinawag. "Kairi? Come in."
Tumingin lang si Sir Mark kay Kairi pero hindi ito lumayo o kahit tumayo man lang. At itong si Kairi naman ay hindi maalis ang tingin sa lalaki na parang ayaw magpatalo sa pakikipagtitigan.
Napansin ito ni Miss Herrera kaya mabilis siyang bumaling kay Sir Mark. "I'm sorry, but may gagawin pa kami ng student ko."
Finally, Sir Mark stood up straight, ready to leave. "Hindi ka pa uuwi, Gianna?"
Kairi hated hearing Miss Herrera's name with his voice. Wala man lang Miss o Ma'am.
"No, may tatapusin pa kami," sagot ni Miss Herrera nang walang pag-aalinlangan.
"Next time, then," Sir Perez said before leaving.
Tahimik lang si Kairi habang pinapanood ang pag-alis ng guro. Nang wala na ito, bumaling siya kay Miss Herrera.
"Close yata kayo ni Sir Mark, Miss?"
"We talk from time to time," Miss Herrera simply answered.
Kairi studied her expression for a moment, debating whether to tell her about the rumors or not. Maybe they're just rumors and she shouldn't be judging anyone without any proof.
In the end, Kairi just sighed. "Just... be careful."
Napatingin si Miss Herrera sa sinabi ni Kairi. Pero bago pa siya makapagtanong, inilapag na ni Kairi ang literature book niya sa table ng guro.
"Miss, question. Included ba ito sa exam? Ang haba kasi," tanong niya habang itinuturo ang buong page.
"I'm not telling you," Miss Herrera said, smiling.
Kairi leaned on the desk, resting her elbows. "Hmm any hint?"
Miss Herrera turned to her, only to realize how close they were. Again. Pero hindi siya agad lumayo. Instead, she smirked.
"Ah, is that what the coffee was for, Miss Ferrer?"
Natawa si Kairi sa assumption ng guro.
"Miss, hindi iyon bribe."
Miss Herrera rested her chin on her palm, studying Kairi. "Not a bribe, huh?"
"Hm-mm," Kairi hummed, looking down at her book. "I'll just read this then."
"Ahuh," Miss Herrera muttered.
Kairi looked up, catching her teacher's gaze. But the moment their eyes met, Miss Herrera quickly looked away.
"Balik ka na sa pagre-review," she muttered, flipping another page of her student's book.
Kairi bit her lip to suppress a smile before taking a seat.
An hour had passed, and Kairi was still deep in her book. Napatingin si Miss Herrera sa orasan bago huminga nang malalim.
"Kairi," she called.
"Hmm?"
"Late na. Uwi na tayo."
Kairi blinked, as if coming back to reality, before nodding. She packed her things habang si Miss Herrera naman ay kinuha na rin ang gamit niya.
Habang naglalakad palabas ng building, muling nagsalita si Miss Herrera. "You've been reviewing a lot lately."
Kairi sighed. "Exams start tomorrow, Miss."
"I know," Miss Herrera said, looking at her. "Just don't overdo it."
Kairi smiled a little. "I'll take it easy after the exams."
Miss Herrera sighed. "Just make sure you eat properly and get enough sleep."
"Nag-aalala ka, Miss?" biro ni Kairi.
Miss Herrera gave her a look. "Of course."
"Miss, I'm taking good care of myself," Kairi reassured. "So, stop worrying."
Napatango na lang si Miss Herrera. She'll just take Kairi's words.
Tahimik silang naglakad palabas hanggang sa marating ang parking lot.
"I'll take you home," biglang sabi ni Miss Herrera. "Mahihirapan ka ng sumakay."
"Okay, Miss," mabilis na sagot ni Kairi. Hindi na siya tatanggi pa, gusto niya rin namang makasabay ang guro sa pag-uwi.
Pagpasok nila sa kotse, Miss Herrera started the engine.
"Miss, ngayon ko lang napansin," Kairi started, looking around inside. "Your car's expensive. So, you must be rich."
Miss Herrera smirked. "You're prying into my life again, Kairi."
"Curious lang ako, Miss."
"It's the same thing," Miss Herrera said, shaking her head. "I'm not feeding your curiosity."
Kairi leaned back, thinking. Then she smirked. "How about we make a deal, Miss?"
Miss Herrera raised a brow. "Ano na naman 'yan?"
"If I get less than five mistakes in the literature exam," Kairi started. "You will tell me five things about your personal life."
Miss Herrera gave her a pointed look. "And what do I get from this?"
"It will motivate your student to do well tomorrow," Kairi grinned, trying to sound convincing.
Natatawang napailing si Miss Herrera. "Fine. Whatever, Kairi."
Kairi beamed. "Better keep your words, Miss."
The rest of the ride, Kairi kept throwing questions, but Miss Herrera refused to answer any of them.
Nang makarating sa harap ng bahay nila Kairi, Miss Herrera slowed down.
"We're here," she said.
Kairi smiled. "Thanks for the ride, Miss."
Kairi stepped out, but before heading inside, she watched as Miss Herrera's car drove away.
And without even realizing it, she was still smiling.