Chapter 33
It was past noon when Kairi, Zoe, and Maya settled into a corner table sa labas ng isang maliit na café malapit sa campus. Instead of going sa cafeteria, they decided to eat here—partly for a change of scenery, partly dahil punong-puno na ang cafeteria sa dami ng mga estudyanteng stress sa finals.
Zoe stretched her legs under the table, sunglasses pushed up on her head. "God, I can't deal with that crowd today. Dalawang beses naapakan ang paa ko."
Maya snorted. "Dikit ka kasi nang dikit sa trays. Akala mo buffet iyong line."
Zoe rolled her eyes. "Excuse me for being hungry and hopeful."
As the two continued bickering and laughing, Kairi sat in silence, one hand loosely wrapped around an insulated bottle na nakapatong sa table. Kanina pa siya nakatitig dito. No expression. No reaction. Parang wala lang, pero obvious na it was taking up space in her head.
Napansin agad ni Maya.
She elbowed Zoe, subtly nodding toward Kairi. "Look."
Zoe glanced over. "Hmm?"
"Si Kairi oh. Kanina pa nakatitig diyan sa bottle."
She followed Maya's gaze, then leaned over to snatch the bottle from Kairi's hand. "What's this?"
Kairi didn't resist. "Tea."
"Tea?" Zoe turned the bottle in her hand. "Since when do you drink tea?"
"She doesn't," sabat ni Maya, leaning forward. "You hate anything that tastes like boiled leaves kaya."
Kairi shrugged. "I don't know. Gusto ko lang i-try."
Zoe gave her a look. "You don't try stuff like this unless someone makes you."
Kairi didn't answer, gaze dropping to her lap.
Zoe opened the lid and took a cautious sniff. "Ugh. Smells like tea tea."
"I know," Kairi muttered. "It's bad."
Zoe laughed then snapped the lid shut. "You don't say."
She handed it back, but bago pa man maabot ni Kairi, a voice called out from behind them.
"Ah, students outside school grounds. Should I be concerned?"
Sabay-sabay silang napalingon.
It was him again. The one with the too-friendly grin. The one who brought Miss Herrera coffee like he was auditioning for something. At sa tabi niya, si Miss Herrera. Kasama pa nila iyong isang teacher from the English department.
Zoe leaned back in her seat, unfazed. "We're not breaking any rules, sir. Supporting local businesses lang po."
"Very noble," natatawang sagot ng guro. "Gia—Miss Gianna's idea, actually."
At doon lumipat ang tingin ng lahat.
Kairi met Miss Herrera's eyes. Saglit lang. But enough to make the air feel heavier.
Walang ngiti. Walang 'hi'. Just...that.
Then Miss Herrera looked away at sumunod na sa mga kasamang guro papunta sa isang table not too far from theirs.
Dumating na ang food nila after that, but Kairi barely touched hers.
Zoe and Maya launched into a long discussion about their defense next week—citations at kung anong outfit isusuot nila. Pero si Kairi? Her eyes kept drifting.
Doon pa rin ang tingin niya. Sa table ng mga teacher.
She could see them clearly—especially him. The way he leaned slightly toward Miss Herrera whenever he spoke, how he laughed a little louder than necessary, as if trying too hard.
And Miss Herrera? Calm and polite, but never leaning back. Laging straight posture, laging composed.
And yet, kahit isang tipid na ngiti lang, sapat na para may sumundot sa dibdib ni Kairi. Something worse than the tea.
Something that felt a lot like jealousy.
After class, the building was quieter. The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows sa hallway.
Kairi walked slowly, bottle in hand, mind heavy with static. Ang dami niyang gustong itanong. Ang dami niyang gustong sabihin. But none of them felt safe enough to say aloud.
Sa dulo ng hallway, she spotted them again.
Nakatayo si Miss Herrera sa labas ng classroom, arms crossed, head tilted slightly as she listened to that same teacher again. He was saying something animated—smiling, gesturing. Miss Herrera looked relaxed. Comfortable.
Kairi's steps slowed.
Sir Mark noticed her first. "Ah, Miss Ferrer. Mukhang regular ka na rito sa hallway na ito."
She forced a small smile. "Sir."
He patted her lightly on the shoulder and walked off, humming something under his breath.
Now it was just the two of them.
Miss Herrera didn't move. Nanatili lang siya sa pinto, eyes now on Kairi.
Tahimik lang si Kairi habang lumalapit.
"You're late," Miss Herrera said, pushing the door open.
Kairi stepped inside without a word.
Then door clicked shut behind them. And the sound felt heavier than it should've.
Miss Herrera walked to her desk while Kairi stayed where she was, bottle still in hand.
"You didn't finish it?" tanong ng guro, glancing at her sideways.
"I drank most," Kairi replied.
"That wasn't the deal."
Kairi didn't respond.
Miss Herrera pulled the chair behind her desk and sat down. Her movements were calm, but there was tension in the way her fingers tapped lightly against the surface.
"You're quiet today," she said. "Did the tea break your spirit?"
Still, walang kahit anong salita mula kay Kairi.
"Not even a smirk?" Miss Herrera arched a brow.
Kairi finally looked at her. "I'm tired."
May bahagyang pagbabago sa expression ni Miss Herrera. Not concern—just carefulness.
Miss Herrera's posture straightened, her voice lowering just a bit. "You can sit."
Kairi shook her head slightly.
"I was just returning this," Kairi said, stepping forward to set the bottle down.
"No," Miss Herrera said, firmer now. "Sit down."
Kairi's hand lingered near the bottle, undecided.
"We'll talk about last night."
Napatigil siya.
And after a beat, she slowly pulled out the nearest chair and sat—stiff and guarded. Nakasabit pa rin sa balikat ang bag niya. Her hands, clenched on her lap.
The bottle sat on the desk between them like a loaded question. Parang bigla itong naging sentro ng lahat ng hindi nila masabi.
Miss Herrera didn't speak right away. Tumingin muna siya sa bottle sa pagitan nila, unopened, untouched. The air felt heavier than it had been a second ago.
"I won't pretend nothing happened," she finally said. "And I won't pretend I didn't feel it."
Walang nagbago sa expression ni Kairi. "You're good at pretending though."
That made Miss Herrera flinch—barely.
"I told you it shouldn't happen again," she said, evenly.
"Tapos hinalikan mo ako," Kairi shot back. "Miss, you keep saying shouldn't, but then you do it anyway."
"I know."
"Do you, Miss?"
Napatingin si Miss Herrera sa kanya. "I'm not here to play games with you."
"No," Kairi said bitterly. "You're here to say just enough to keep me quiet, but not enough para maging honest."
"I am being honest."