Chapter 25
The rain came without warning.
Miss Herrera stood by the building's entrance, arms crossed over her chest, watching as students and faculty hurried past, all trying to shield themselves from the downpour. May mga may dalang payong, jacket, bag—kahit ano na pwedeng ipangtakip sa sarili.
Pero siya? Wala lang. She wasn't in a rush.
She should be. It had been a long day, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders. Pero heto siya, nakatayo pa rin, staring at the rain like it held all the answers she refused to say out loud.
She didn't mind walking in it.
Minsan kasi, may kung anong pakiramdam kapag nababasa sa ulan. Iyong lamig, discomfort—raw, honest, walang tinatago.
So she stepped forward.
Only to be stopped.
A shadow loomed over her, and suddenly, hindi na bumagsak sa kanya ang ulan.
She blinked, looking at her side.
Kairi, holding an umbrella over both of them.
One hand was tucked casually into the pocket of her jacket, while the other gripped the handle of the umbrella. Walang bahid ng pag-aalinlangan sa mukha.
"Miss," Kairi said, voice calm, steady. "Pupunta kayo sa parking lot?"
Miss Herrera blinked, caught off guard.
"Yes," she finally answered, clearing her throat. "But I don't mind the rain."
Kairi tilted her head slightly, as if considering that. Then, without missing a beat, she shifted the umbrella just enough para siguradong sakop silang dalawa.
"I'll walk with you," Kairi replied, as if that was the only thing that mattered.
And that was that. Tahimik silang naglakad.
The distance between them was careful, calculated. Kairi held the umbrella high enough to cover them both pero hindi siya gumalaw para paliitin ang space sa pagitan nila. Everything about her was deliberate. Wala masyadong paggalaw, walang extra na tingin.
And that's what unsettled Miss Herrera the most.
The last time they were this close—walking together—things were different. Kairi wasn't like this. Kairi was intense—her emotions were always too much, too obvious. But now? Now, there was almost nothing.
They reached the car too soon. The moment Miss Herrera stopped beside it, she turned, ready to just say thanks and leave—pero napatigil siya.
Kairi stood there, an umbrella still hovering over them, waiting.
Miss Herrera hesitated. Then, before she could stop herself, she spoke.
"Do you need a ride?"
Kairi blinked, caught off guard for the first time. Nagbaba ng tingin sa ulan, then back at her. A pause. A beat too long.
Then, she nodded. "Okay."
Miss Herrera unlocked the car.
Tahimik lang si Kairi habang tinitiklop ang payong, careful na hindi matuluan ang upuan. She placed it near her feet, settling into the passenger seat.
She should say something.
She wanted to. Pero anong sasabihin niya?
Kasi noon, si Kairi iyong laging may sinasabi. Si Kairi iyong laging may tanong, laging nagpo-provoke, laging nagpipilit ng sagot.
Pero ngayon, tahimik lang siya. Nakatingin sa bintana, watching the rain slide down the glass. Walang kahit anong expression.
Miss Herrera swallowed. Eventually, she uttered the first words.
"You've been doing well in class lately."
Kairi didn't take long to respond. "I need to."
Simple. Direct. Miss Herrera nodded, keeping her eyes on the road.
"How are your other subjects?"
"Okay naman, Miss."
"You've been participating more. I noticed."
Another pause. Then, "I have to make up for my midterms."
Every response was short. Direct. No unnecessary elaboration.
Miss Herrera exhaled softly, her grip on the wheel loosening just a little. "Are you planning to take entrance exams soon?"
"Yeah," Kairi said, her tone level. "I've been reviewing."
Kairi answered everything, pero wala iyong usual push, wala iyong dating energy na parang gusto niyang iparamdam na she was always reaching for something more.
This wasn't the same Kairi who used to sit too close. This wasn't the same Kairi who used to challenge, used to demand—who used to make Miss Herrera feel like she was balancing on the edge of something dangerous.
Another soft exhale from Miss Herrera.
She focused on the road as the city lights flickered past them. The sound of rain filled the spaces between their words.
And still, Kairi didn't ask her anything.
The rain had softened by the time Miss Herrera pulled up in front of the familiar house. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Kairi was already reaching for the door handle.
May part kay Miss Herrera na gustong magsalita—to say something, to stretch this moment. And before she could think about it, gumalaw ang kamay niya.
Her fingers wrapped around Kairi's wrist.
"Kairi."
Kairi stopped.
The air in the car shifted—heavy, tense. Kairi's body stiffened for just a second. Then, slowly, she turned her head, meeting Miss Herrera's eyes.
And there it was.
A brief flicker of something in Kairi's gaze.
Something startled. Something raw.
It was quick—so quick na akala ni Miss Herrera ay imagination niya lang iyon. Pero kilala niya si Kairi.
For a second, just a second, Kairi wasn't composed.
Nakita iyon ni Miss Herrera. Naramdaman niya. She still had an effect on Kairi. That realization hit her harder than she expected.
Kairi swallowed, her expression unreadable again. Slowly, she pulled her wrist away—carefully, deliberately.
Miss Herrera let her go.
"Goodnight, Miss," Kairi said, voice calm, steady.
Miss Herrera opened her mouth, then closed it.
"Goodnight," she finally managed.
Kairi stepped out without another word. The door shut behind her, and Miss Herrera watched as she disappeared inside the house.
She didn't drive away immediately. Her fingers lingered on the steering wheel. Her mind raced. Doubt crept in.
Was Kairi really unaffected?
Or was she just pretending to be?
Pagkapasok pa lang ni Miss Herrera sa apartment, she let out a long breath—one she hadn't realized she had been holding.
The door clicked shut behind her, the sound echoing in the quiet space.
Hindi man lang niya inabot ang switch ng ilaw.
Instead, she let her bag slip from her shoulder, bumagsak lang kung saan, at dahan-dahang bumagsak ang katawan niya sa sofa.
Napapikit siya, pressing her fingers against her temples. Kaninang umaga pa nandito itong tension sa balikat niya, but now it was worse—worse because she knew exactly why.
She reached down, unbuckling her heels and slipping them off, stretching her toes against the cold floor, seeking relief. At least physically. Pero sa loob? Sa loob niya, everything was still too tight.
Her mind kept circling back. Replaying every second of that car ride.
That look in Kairi's eyes. That hesitation. That tiny, fleeting moment where Kairi wasn't composed.
And she hated how much she liked it.
Miss Herrera clenched her jaw, shaking her head. No.
This was exactly what she wanted to avoid.
Kairi was fine. Moving on. She was fine. Moving on.
So why the hell was she thinking about this?
She leaned back, staring at the ceiling, the silence of her apartment pressing in around her. Wala man lang ingay kung hindi ang sariling paghinga niya—uneven, restless.
Without giving herself time to overthink, she grabbed her phone and dialed.
Two rings lang, sumagot na si Ella.
"Heyyy, what's the tea?" Ella's voice was playful, teasing.
Miss Herrera exhaled. "Are you up for drinks?"
A pause. Then a chuckle. "Ikaw? Initiating a night out? It's Wednesday. Oh my gosh, Gianna. This is new."
"I just need to get out," Miss Herrera admitted, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Another pause, this time more serious. "That bad, huh?"
She didn't answer.
"Alright," Ella finally said. "Usual place?"
"Yeah," she said. "I'll see you there."