Chapter 29
The hallway buzzed with after-class chatter, pero halos walang naririnig si Kairi. Her steps were steady, pero halatang pilit—her fingers kept twitching like she was holding something back. Zoe and Maya were walking with her, the weight of Miss Herrera's class hanging over their shoulders.
Zoe was the first to break the silence habang paakyat sila sa next building.
"Okay, seriously," she said, nudging Kairi's side with a knowing grin. "Ano na namang ginawa mo?"
Napataas ang kilay ni Kairi. "What makes you think I did anything?"
Zoe scoffed. "Come on, I thought chill na kayo. Pero let's be real, we know it isn't. That was brutal, Kai. You were getting grilled like you committed a crime."
Kairi let out a dry laugh, one hand running through her hair. "Might or might not have done something to piss her off."
"Now, lalo akong na-curious. But damn," Zoe went on. "Iyong huli niyang tanong? That was personal. As in, borderline emotional damage levels."
Maya leaned in, biting into a chocolate bar she pulled from her bag. "Not gonna lie? That whole intensity? Kind of a turn-on."
Napatigil si Zoe sa paglalakad para tingnan si Maya. "What the actual hell, Maya? We could get a low grade and that's your takeaway?"
Maya just grinned, unapologetic. "I'm just saying..."
Kairi groaned, tilting her head back. "Well, shit."
Then bell rang in the distance, the echo of it bouncing off the walls. They turned a corner and continued toward their next class.
The sun was starting to set, giving everything a warm afternoon glow. Sa campus grounds, may mga students pa rin—some stretched out sa grass, others tambay sa benches, scrolling on their phones or chatting lazily.
Kairi, Zoe, and Maya ended up on a shaded bench under a big tree. The air was cooler now, the branches swaying gently above them.
Their last class had been canceled—may sakit daw ang teacher nila at walang available na substitute. Small blessings.
Zoe twisted open a bottle of iced tea, took a long sip, then nudged Kairi with her knee.
"Alright, wala ng distractions," she started, nudging Kairi's knee with hers. "Spill. Ano ba talagang nangyari? Bakit ka pinag-initan kanina?"
Kairi leaned back against the bench, the wood creaking slightly. She tilted her head up, watching the light shift through the leaves. "Last night," she muttered. "We were in the car. It...didn't go well."
Agad na umayos ng upo si Maya. "Oh? Juicy. Go on."
Kairi sighed, letting the words come out slowly.
"We dropped Miss Herrera off," she began, her tone steady. "And ako iyong nag-drive. Ella was with us, pretending to be asleep in the back."
Tahimik lang na nakinig sina Maya at Zoe.
"I was polite. Civil. Wala akong sinabi na anything. I just drove. Pero siya? She was..." Kairi hesitated, searching for the right word. "Irritated. Cold. Like may nagawa akong masama by existing."
She shook her head. "I respected the boundary she set. I didn't even look at her more than necessary. Pero I guess even that wasn't enough."
Zoe let out a long whistle. "Damn. Kaya pala all-out attack mode siya kanina."
Maya grinned, tilting her head. "She's still mad. But also, lowkey, is it just me or does she kinda—"
"Don't," sabay na pagpigil nina Kairi at Zoe.
Maya held up both hands. "Okay, okay. I was just thinking out loud."
Bago pa makapagsalita ang kahit isa sa kanila, may biglang lumapit sa pwesto nila. Pag-angat nila ng tingin, nandoon na si Sir John, their research teacher, holding a folder and a stack of papers.
"Oh good, nandito kayo," he said, flipping through the folder. "I just wanted to update you about the final defense on Monday."
Kairi straightened. "Tungkol po saan, Sir?"
"One of the panelists had to go on leave," he explained. "Personal reasons."
Maya squinted. "So Sir, sino po ang papalit?"
Sir John smiled, like he was delivering good news. "Miss Herrera, your literature teacher."
There was a full second of complete silence.
Kairi's stomach dropped.
Zoe's brows slowly lifted.
Maya blinked. "Wait, what?"
"Yep," Sir John said cheerfully. "Make sure to print another panelist form with her name. Have her sign it by tomorrow, ha?"
"Y-yes, Sir," Kairi managed, her voice tight.
Satisfied, Sir John nodded and walked off, completely unaware he had just dropped a bomb.
Agad na tumayo si Kairi mula sa kinauupuan.
Maya looked up. "Kai, saan ka pupunta?"
"I need to talk to her," Kairi said, already moving.
Zoe stared at her. "Oh? And say what? 'Hi Miss, please don't destroy me in front of the panel'?"
Kairi didn't slow down. "Something like that."
Zoe stood, eyes wide. "Are you insane? Baka lalo lang siyang mainis, magalit."
"She's going to do that either way," Kairi muttered. "Might as well try."
Hindi na nila napigilan pa si Kairi. She was already halfway across the field, her strides purposeful, heart pounding harder with every step.
The corridor outside Miss Herrera's room was almost empty when Kairi arrived. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, foot tapping anxiously habang nakikinig kung matatapos na ba iyong class sa loob.
Twenty long minutes.
Then finally, bumukas na ang pinto at nagsimula ng lumabas ang mga estudyante, chatting and laughing, unaware of the war about to unfold in the quiet aftermath.
Kairi straightened. Waited. At sa gitna ng ingay ng mga estudyante, rinig niya parin ang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso niya.
When the room was finally clear, she stepped forward, knocking once on the open door frame.
Miss Herrera looked up from her desk, clearly not expecting her.
Her gaze sharpened immediately.
"Miss Ferrer," she said, straightening. "What a surprise."
Kairi didn't smile. "Miss, do you have a moment? About the research defense."
Miss Herrera set her pen down, tilting her head. "What about it?"
"I just... I didn't expect you to be part of the panel."
Miss Herrera nodded, cool as ever. "Neither did I. But here we are."
Kairi clenched her fingers at her sides, struggling to keep her tone even. "Miss, I—"
Napalunok si Kairi.
"Miss, I just need to know if you're going to be fair."
May ilang segundong katahimikan. Then, Miss Herrera let out a soft, amused laugh.
"Fair?" pag-uulit niya, stepping around her desk. "Kairi, are you implying I wouldn't be?"
"Miss, that's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?"
Her voice was gentle, almost mocking. Her eyes gleamed with challenge.
"I mean..." Kairi breathed slowly, trying to keep her composure. "I just meant...I hope you'll judge the work itself. Hindi po ako."
Miss Herrera hummed thoughtfully. Then said, "I could ask you the same thing, don't you think?"
Kairi tensed.
Miss Herrera took another step forward, arms crossed now, calm and unreadable. "Because if I remember correctly, you were the one who came into my class acting like I had something to prove to you."
"Miss, hindi naman—"
"Really?" she cut in, voice low. "Then why does it bother you so much that I'm on your panel?"
Kairi didn't answer. Couldn't.
The silence was deafening. Aircon lang ang naririnig.
Miss Herrera watched her, studying her.
"If you did your work properly, you shouldn't have anything to worry about," she said at last. Then added, with a deceptively sweet smile, "Unless you're afraid I'll see through it. The way I always do."
Kairi's hands trembled at her sides.
"Miss, I just want to make sure na magiging fair kayo," she said again, voice tighter now.
Hindi nawala ang ngiti ng guro. "Then present well. Convince me."
That was it. That was all Kairi was going to get. No comfort, no softness. Just the game.
Kairi stepped back.
"Fine," she said, voice steady now. "I will."
Miss Herrera held her gaze, the challenge unspoken but loud.
"Good."
Kairi turned at naglakad papunta sa pinto. She was almost out when—
"Oh, and Kairi?"
She paused, not turning back.
Miss Herrera's voice was light, teasing. But beneath it was something sharp.
"Try not to take too long answering my questions this time."
Kairi inhaled sharply. Pero hindi siya tumingin. Hindi siya bumalik.
She walked out, fists clenched, chest tight.