Chapter 16
Kairi walked down the sidewalk, feeling the cool night breeze against her skin.
Nasa school pa rin siya at kalalabas lang from the library, pero pauwi na rin siya.
The whole day, iniwasan niya sina Maya at Zoe—hindi siya sumama sa lunch, hindi rin siya masyadong nakipag-usap during classes, hindi rin sumama pauwi kahit na hindi niya pinuntahan si Miss Herrera.
Instead, nagtagal siya sa library, pretending to do some reading.
Pero kahit anong gawin niya, hindi mawala sa isip niya ang isang bagay—o isang tao.
Sighing, she glanced up. She was near the school gate when she heard a car behind her. She ignored it at first. Pero nang bumagal ito, matching her pace, she finally turned her head.
The familiar car rolled down its window.
"Miss?" Kairi blinked in surprise.
Miss Herrera tilted her head. "Where are you going?"
"Home," maikling sagot ni Kairi.
Tiningnan lang siya ni Miss Herrera, studying her. She took a sigh.
"Get in. Ihahatid na kita," Miss Herrera said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
This time, Kairi was hesitant. "Miss—"
Miss Herrera raised an eyebrow. "Or gusto mong maghintay nang matagal for your ride?"
Alam niyang may point si Miss Herrera, but still.
Kairi bit her lip.
Miss Herrera waited patiently, her expression unreadable.
And finally, with a small sigh, Kairi walked to the other side, opened the door, and got inside.
The ride was slow and suffocating. Wala ni isa sa kanila ang nagsalita, the silence stretching between them like an invisible wall. Kairi kept her gaze fixed outside, watching the dimly lit streets pass by in a blur.
Miss Herrera, gripping the steering wheel, finally spoke, her voice was calm yet firm.
"Why didn't you come?" Miss Herrera asked nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa daan. "I waited."
Kairi swallowed the lump in her throat. Na-gui-guilty siya sa ginawa niyang pag-iwas sa lahat buong araw—lalo na kay Miss Herrera—yet here they were, forced into the same space.
Tumikhim si Kairi bago sumagot. "I was at the library."
Miss Herrera let out a quiet sigh before asking.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She shook her head slightly, her fingers tightening on the wheel. "Hinintay kita, Kairi."
Kairi pressed her lips together. There was something in Miss Herrera's voice—disappointment, maybe even a hint of frustration—that made her feel worse.
Pero hindi na siya nagsalita pa, hindi niya alam kung anong dapat sabihin. Wala siyang excuse. She just didn't want to see her—because seeing Miss Herrera, knowing that she had broken their little deal, had put a crack in something fragile within Kairi.
Miss Herrera studied her for a moment, then turned her eyes back on the road. Tahimik na ulit sa loob, but this time, it was heavier.
After a few minutes, Miss Herrera pulled the car to the side of the road. Saglit na napatingin si Kairi sa direction ng guro.
"Are you okay, Kairi?" Miss Herrera asked.
Tumango lang si Kairi, pero hindi pa rin tinitingnan sa mga mata ang guro.
"Alam kong may something," Miss Herrera said, turning to face her. "Kairi—" she hesitated, then continued, "Is this about the deal?"
"What deal?" tanong ni Kairi kahit alam niya kung anong tinutukoy ng guro.
Miss Herrera raised a brow, unimpressed. "Really?"
At nagkibit-balikat lang si Kairi.
Napasandal sa kinauupuan si Miss Herrera, crossing her arms. "Fine. Let's start now. Ask me anything."
Kairi turned to her, meeting her teacher's gaze. She opened her mouth but hesitated.
"Wala, Miss," Kairi said, looking away. "Nakalimutan ko na."
Miss Herrera frowned, studying her, as if trying to read her mind. Mukha wala na talagang balak magtanong ang estudyante niya. Then she took a deep breath and put the car in drive.
"Okay," she murmured. "Then, I'll start."
And with that, she drove off.
A few minutes later, they arrived at a secluded spot—somewhere unfamiliar to Kairi.
Nasa mataas na lugar sila, a hill overlooking the city, with a long set of stairs leading to a small, open space.
There was a single bench facing the view.
The sky was deep indigo, the city lights stretching far beyond them like stars scattered across the earth. It was breathtaking.
Hininto ni Miss Herrera ang sasakyan at bumaba na. Wala na ring nagawa si Kairi, following Miss Herrera as she climbed the stairs. Pagdating sa taas, Miss Herrera sat down on the bench, patting the empty space beside her.
Kairi hesitated for a second before sitting.
"One," Miss Herrera started, resting her elbows on her knees. "This is my go-to place. Dito ako pumupunta kapag gusto kong mapag-isa, whenever I need to destress."
Kairi nodded, her eyes trailing across the twinkling lights below. It was beautiful—peaceful, even.
A moment passed. Tumingin si Miss Herrera kay Kairi at pinagmasdan ito. Still, walang kahit anong salita mula sa kanya. Walang mga tanong. Nothing.
She clicked her tongue, sitting up straight. "Ano ba, Kairi? Don't you have anything to ask me?"
Silence.
"Kairi," she tried again, this time her voice was more insistent. "What's the problem? Where's the curious Kairi who wouldn't stop prying into my life?"
Finally, Kairi turned to look at her teacher, meeting her gaze. There was something unreadable in Kairi's eyes—something distant.
"I'm just...not curious anymore," Kairi lied.
The words tasted bitter the moment they left her lips. Kasi sa totoo lang? She was curious. More than curious. Marami siyang gustong itanong kay Miss Herrera—mga tanong na patulog na bumabagabag sa kanya, questions that begged to be spoken. But she knew better. She wouldn't get any answer.
Napakunot ang noo ni Miss Herrera, not liking what Kairi had said. What did Kairi even mean by that?
Miss Herrera wanted to challenge it, to push for more, but she knew Kairi well enough to know that if she didn't want to talk, she wouldn't. So instead, Miss Herrera held her gaze.
Then—
"Two," Miss Herrera started.
Kairi blinked, caught off guard. Akala niya ay titigil na rin ang guro.
"I've never brought anyone here before," pag-amin ni Miss Herrera. "Not here, not anywhere like this."
Kairi's heart pounded so hard it was almost deafening.
Para bang saglit na nawala ang mundo, leaving only the sound of her own breathing—shallow, uneven.
She didn't know why Miss Herrera's words hit her this way.
Para bang may kung anong humihila sa kanya papalapit, dangerously close to something she shouldn't want.
Was it the way Miss Herrera's eyes locked onto hers—steady, unwavering, as if seeing through her?
Or maybe it was her voice—low, almost a whisper, soft in a way that sent shivers down Kairi's spine, like a secret meant only for her.
Or maybe—fuck—maybe it was the way Miss Herrera's lips curved around those words. Deliberate. The way they parted pulled Kairi's attention like gravity itself.
Whatever it was, it made Kairi feel special.
"Kairi, please say some—"
Miss Herrera didn't get to finish. Because before she could, Kairi moved.
In a heartbeat, Kairi closed the distance, her fingers reaching up, trembling slightly as they brushed against the warmth of Miss Herrera's cheek. And before she could stop herself—before her mind could scream at her about how dangerous, how reckless, how completely stupid this was—she did it.
In a reckless, breathless instant, Kairi pressed her lips against Miss Herrera's.
The warmth of her teacher's lips, the softness—it was intoxicating. Kairi sucked in a breath, her whole body shivering at the contact. It was gentle at first—uncertain, hesitant—but then her heart took over, pushing her forward, drowning in the taste of something she knew she shouldn't crave.
For a second, just a fleeting second, Miss Herrera let herself sink into it. Her eyes fluttered shut, her lips pressing slightly back.
But then—
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Miss Herrera at agad siyang lumayo, her hands pushing Kairi away. Mabilis siyang tumayo mula sa kinauupuan na para bang napaso rito.
"Kairi, what the hell are you doing?" she demanded, voice shaking.
Kairi blinked, the reality of what just happened hit her all at once.
"I—" she stuttered, panic rising in her chest. "Miss, I—"
Miss Herrera took a step back, running her hand through her hair, pushing it back as she exhaled sharply—clearly struggling to process what just happened.
Dahan-dahang tumayo si Kairi, reaching out. "Miss, I—"
"No."
Miss Herrera cut her off before she could even get close.
Then she turned away. Without looking back, without another word, she moved towards the stairs.
"We should go."
Kairi stayed frozen for a second, watching the way Miss Herrera walked—stiff, hurried, like she needed to get out of there as fast as possible.
Napakuyom ang mga kamay ni Kairi, cursing under her breath. What the fuck did I just do?
The car ride home was unbearable. Miss Herrera didn't speak. She didn't look at Kairi.
When they reached Kairi's house, Miss Herrera finally spoke—but her voice was cold.
"Get out."
Kairi hesitated, glancing at her. "Miss, I—"
"Now, Kairi."
Labag man sa loob, binuksan na ni Kairi ang pinto. Pero bago siya lumabas, muli niyang tiningnan si Miss Herrera.
"I'm sorry," Kairi said, almost whispering.
She stepped out and shut the car door. Halos lakad-takbo siyang pumasok sa bahay nila at hindi na lumingon pa.
Pagpasok niya, sinalubong siya ng nanay niya, pero hindi niya nagawang huminto at magsalita.
"Dumating ka na pala—"
Kairi walked straight to her room and locked the door. She collapsed against the wall, sinking to the floor.
Huminga siya nang malalim, her mind spinning. "What is wrong with me?"
Sinuntok niya ang sahig, frustration building inside her. Then, slowly, she leaned her head back against the wall, banging her head. Once. Twice. Over and over.
But no amount of pain could erase the memory of Miss Herrera's lips on hers. She had ruined everything. And there was no taking it back.