Chapter 43
The silence in the apartment felt different now. Hindi mabigat. Hindi rin awkward—just settled. Like something had shifted quietly into place.
Kairi was curled up sa sofa, phone in hand, swiping mindlessly. Pero kahit anong scroll niya, wala siyang naiintindihan. The words blurred. Ads, posts, even memes—parang static na lang lahat.
She sighed, tossing her phone lightly beside her. Tuloy pa rin iyong tunog ng shower from the bathroom—soft and steady—and even that felt distracting.
She didn't want to think about it. About Miss Herrera in the shower.
About the way her mouth had moved—slow, certain—against hers.
About the soft pressure of hands on her waist. But her body hadn't gotten the memo.
Her lips still tingled, a quiet reminder.
And her skin, even now, felt marked—like something of that touch had stayed behind.
Focus.
But then—tumigil iyong shower.
She froze.
A few seconds later, the bathroom door opened.
Agad siyang napatingin at doon siya natigilan.
Miss Herrera walked out like it was nothing, towel wrapped around her chest, another in her hands as she dried her hair. Her skin was flushed from the heat. Damp strands clung to her neck. Parang hindi siya nagmamadali. She looked too casual.
Kairi's throat went dry.
Her gaze dropped before she could control it—gosh. Legs, collarbone, droplets slowly sliding down her shoulder like they belonged there. Parang lahat ng sensory input ng katawan niya ay biglang nagising.
Then—dark eyes met hers.
Shit.
Kairi looked away so fast. Napakagat siya sa loob ng pisngi, hoping she wasn't turning red.
A soft laugh echoed from across the room. Amused. Relaxed.
"Not very subtle, Ferrer," Miss Herrera said, her tone teasing as she walked toward her room like nothing happened.
Kairi clenched her jaw.
"Miss, please," she muttered under her breath, staring hard sa pader as if it could save her from embarrassment.
Bago pumasok si Miss Herrera, she turned slightly, mischief in her eyes. "Relax. I've already seen you staring."
Kairi made a strangled sound of protest, but Miss Herrera was already inside, the door closing softly behind her.
Minutes passed. Kairi tried to breathe. Tumingin ulit siya sa phone pero wala na talagang sense lahat. Her thoughts were a mess, but before she could fully regroup—
"Kairi."
She sat up a little. "Yes?"
"Come here."
"Hmm?" Kairi frowned, confused. "Why?"
"Why not?" came the effortless reply.
Kairi stood up slowly, unsure. She walked towards the door, hovering by the bedroom doorway.
"Miss, what are you doing?" Kairi asked.
Miss Herrera's voice carried that teasing tone again. "You can sleep on the sofa. No problem with me. You seemed very attached to it last time."
Kairi blinked. "Uhh..."
She opened her mouth, pero walang lumabas na comeback. Her brain was too busy buffering.
She stepped inside slowly, heart thudding. Pagpasok niya, naamoy agad niya iyong scent ng lavender and something warmer—like skin after a shower. Miss Herrera was already sitting on the bed, changed into a loose shirt and soft cotton shorts.
Tahimik lang si Miss Herrera. Then she patted the space beside her.
"Come on. You're not scared, are you?"
"I'm not scared..." Kairi mumbled, but her voice was small. Her feet moved before she could think twice. She sat down carefully, back straight, avoiding Miss Herrera's gaze.
Miss Herrera chuckled under her breath. "Unbelievable. You're suddenly shy."
"I'm not," she grumbled. "Just...pacing myself."
"Right."
They shifted quietly, both of them settling in on the bed. Kairi eventually lay on her side, naturally facing Miss Herrera. Meanwhile, Miss Herrera stretched out comfortably on her back, one arm resting above her head.
The silence settled between them, softer this time. Parang pinapakalma muna ang atmosphere.
Kairi stared at the ceiling for a bit, then back to the woman beside her. Miss Herrera was so close. Breathing slowly. Calm. Kalmado rin ang mukha. Walang tension.
"Miss..."
"Hmm?"
"Do you...think about stuff like this?"
She quietly asked na halos pabulong na.
Miss Herrera didn't open her eyes, but her lips curved faintly. "Stuff like what?"
Kairi traced a small line on the blanket. "Iyong ganito. Nights like this. Letting someone in. Or...letting me in."
Now, Miss Herrera turned to face her, eyes fully open. "Why would you think I don't?"
"Ewan," Kairi said, brow furrowing. "Parang ang guarded mo palagi. You build walls."
"And you like climbing them?"
"Maybe," Kairi answered with a small smile. "Or breaking them."
Miss Herrera smiled, but her eyes softened. "You're doing both."
They fell silent again. But it wasn't uncomfortable.
Kairi bit the inside of her cheek.
"Miss, okay ka ba sa ganito?" she asked. "I mean...sa akin. Being here."
Miss Herrera's expression stayed calm, voice warm but steady. "I invited you in, didn't I?"
Kairi's chest eased. "Yeah. Pero minsan...you say one thing tapos parang may hesitation."
Miss Herrera tilted her head. "That's not about you. That's about me."
Kairi nodded slowly. "Okay. I just—ayaw ko lang pilitin ito. Or maging one-sided."
"It's not," Miss Herrera said. "And I would've told you if it was."
And they stayed like that. Not touching. Just close enough. Breathing in sync. Letting the silence stretch without fear.
Not rushed.
Not just heat.
But something more rooted. A kind of closeness that wasn't built overnight—but tonight, it was starting to take shape.
And maybe, just maybe—it was something that could stay.
The sky was still heavy with the last remnants of night when Kairi stirred.
The room was dim, only the faintest glow slipping through the curtains. Everything felt muted—slowed down by the quiet hush that only came before dawn. She blinked, adjusting to the low light, before shifting slightly against the warmth beside her.
Miss Herrera lay on her side, one arm tucked beneath the pillow, breathing steady in sleep. Her hair was a little messier now, slightly curled from drying naturally overnight, strands falling over her cheek. She looked softer like this. Unburdened.
Kairi stayed still for a few seconds longer, just...watching. Letting it settle in her chest.
Funny how things changed. She remembered the first time she woke up beside Miss Herrera—months ago, a different place, different moment.
She hadn't even looked back then. She was too focused on keeping her distance, too stubborn about avoiding her, acting like none of it mattered.
Pero ngayon...ngayon, she could take the moment.
Let herself stay, breathe it in, without the panic or guilt gnawing at her ribs.
Her lips curved slightly—something between a smile and a sigh.
Pero alam niyang kailangan na niyang umalis. May pasok pa mamaya. Uniform. Pretend like nothing happened kahit obvious na nagbago na ang lahat.
Kairi moved slowly, peeling herself away from the warmth. Dahan-dahan para hindi magising ang babaeng nasa tabi niya. Her feet touched the cold floor, making her shiver a little, pero hindi siya tumigil. She sat up and reached for her phone on the nightstand.
Pero bago pa siya makatayo nang tuluyan—
"You're leaving already?"
Halos pabulong ang tanong. Groggy, at halatang bagong gising. Miss Herrera hadn't even opened her eyes all the way, pero naka-turn na ang ulo niya toward Kairi.
Kairi turned slightly, shoulders dropping.
"Yeah," Kairi answered, voice softer. "I have to get home. Change. Pretend I'm a functioning student."
Miss Herrera blinked slowly. "Mmm. Okay."
Kairi tilted her head, grinning. "Not gonna stop me?"
That earned a small, sleepy chuckle.
"Why would I stop you?" Miss Herrera's smile was lazy, teasing. "You'll be late. I'm kicking you out of my class if you show up late."
"Harsh," Kairi muttered, half-laughing as she shook her head.
Miss Herrera smirked, her cheek sinking deeper into the pillow. "Fair warning."
There was a beat of silence. Then—
"Message me when you get home," she murmured, eyes already starting to close again.
Kairi blinked. Tumingin siya saglit, then narrowed her eyes playfully. "Miss...I still don't have your number."
Another quiet laugh. Almost a whisper.
"Hopeless," Miss Herrera murmured, smiling faintly. "Maybe I'll give it to you later."
Miss Herrera's breathing started to slow again, her eyes falling shut in full this time, surrendering to sleep with a quiet ease that settled something in Kairi's chest.
She watched her for just a heartbeat more—long enough to let the moment sit, soft and real—then picked up her phone.
With a grin she couldn't hide, Kairi stepped out, letting the early morning calm fall back into place behind her.