Chapter 46
Evening settled heavy in the neighborhood, iyong klase ng katahimikan na napuputol lang ng malayong tahol ng aso at ang hum ng dumadaang tricycle.
Miss Herrera sat in the driver's seat, hands resting on the steering wheel though the engine was off.
The glow of the streetlamp outside only barely reached her car, leaving most of the inside in shadow.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the gate a few meters ahead. A familiar gate. Familiar house.
She told herself she shouldn't be here. That it was reckless, unnecessary. Wala naman talagang dahilan para tumigil. Pero heto siya, hindi makaalis.
Then, biglang bumukas ang gate.
Kairi stepped out, carrying a small bag of trash in one hand. Her hair was loose at nakapatong lang sa balikat ang manipis na sweater. She walked lazily to the bin, tossed the bag inside, then instead of heading back, she crouched by the gate, arms resting loosely on her knees, staring at nothing.
A smile tugged at Miss Herrera's lips before she could stop it. Ridiculous. She shouldn't find this amusing. Pero the sight of Kairi like that—squatting on the ground like a restless kid—was...unexpectedly endearing.
But then, napahinto si Kairi. Her head tilted slightly, eyes narrowing toward the street.
Diretso sa kotse.
Miss Herrera froze, instinctively sinking lower against her seat as if that would help. Madilim naman sa loob, pero halata sa paraan ng pag-squint ni Kairi na nakilala siya.
Standing up, Kairi looked again. Then again. And with that familiar determination, naglakad siya papunta sa kotse.
"Oh, no," Miss Herrera muttered under her breath.
Kairi bent down, trying to peek through the tinted window, shifting angles like it was a game. Then came the first knock. Light. Testing.
Nothing.
She knocked again. This time, mas malakas. "Miss?"
Miss Herrera closed her eyes briefly. Of course. She wouldn't give up.
On the third knock, she gave in, pressing the button at dahan-dahang bumaba ang bintana ng sasakyan.
Kairi bent lower, her elbow resting on the edge, smirk already tugging her lips. "So...stalking your students now, Miss Herrera?"
Her teacher arched a brow, forcing calm into her voice. "I could ask the same. What were you doing out there in the dark? Looking suspicious."
Kairi rolled her eyes, pero lalo lang lumapad ang ngiti. "Taking the trash out. Being a good daughter, you know. Unlike someone hiding in her car like a criminal."
"I wasn't hiding," Miss Herrera countered evenly. "I was just—" She paused, realizing she had nothing ready. "Passing by."
Kairi leaned in closer, strands of hair brushing the frame, her eyes glinting. "Passing by nang nakapatay ang engine? Sure, Miss."
Miss Herrera's lips twitched. "You're too nosy for your own good."
"Maybe." Kairi tilted her head, studying her teacher carefully. "Want to come inside?"
Her tone was light, teasing, pero may kung ano sa tingin niya—searching Miss Herrera's face carefully.
"No," Miss Herrera said quickly, almost too quickly. "It's late. You should—"
"My parents aren't home," Kairi cut in, her voice low, as if that explained everything. "Wala rin si ate. Just me."
Miss Herrera gave her a long look, firm but careful. "That's exactly why I shouldn't."
Kairi's smirk softened, more coaxing. "Miss, come on. Kahit saglit lang. Anong gagawin mo rito? Umupo lang diyan all night pretending you're not watching?"
Miss Herrera's silence betrayed her. And Kairi's grin turned triumphant.
"See?" she said, tapping lightly on the car door. "You're curious. Aminin mo na, Miss."
"I am not—"
"You are."
Kairi leaned even closer, her chin now resting on the window frame, her voice lowering until it was a whisper just near Miss Herrera's face. "Come on, Miss. You'll just keep worrying about me if you stay out here anyway."
Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Miss Herrera, knowing na talo na siya. "Five minutes," she warned.
Kairi's grin widened. "Ten."
"Five."
"Fine," Kairi relented, pushing herself upright. "Come on, park closer."
Pagkapasok nila sa gate, Kairi led the way, tossing a quick glance over her shoulder habang si Miss Herrera naman ay nakasunod lang. Their footsteps crunched softly against the concrete path, steady sa tahimik na paligid.
Pagdating sa pinto, Kairi pushed it open.
A wash of warm yellow light welcomed them, revealing a neat, modern living area—soft gray sofas, a glass-topped coffee table, and a small rug pulling everything together.
Maayos, curated, pero may traces pa rin ng buhay—a stack of magazines on the side table, sneakers half-hidden sa shoe rack, framed family photos neatly lined on the wall.
Kairi spread her arms with mock grandeur. "Welcome to our humble home. Not as big as your hacienda, of course."
That earned a low, genuine laugh from Miss Herrera. "You'll never let that go, will you?"
"Well, you've got the posture. The stare."
Kairi kicked off her slippers by the door, turning with a grin. "You're practically begging to be imagined with horses and land titles."
Miss Herrera shook her head, amused, though her eyes wandered almost on their own. Napansin niya agad ang ayos ng sala—iyong maayos na symmetry ng shelves at iyong ayos ng curtains na sakto lang ang bagsak. Warm. Personal. Private.
Agad itong napansin ni Kairi. "What?"
"Nothing," Miss Herrera said softly, almost caught. "Just...taking it in."
Kairi smirked, offering a playful bow. "Glad to impress." Then, too casually, she added, "Want to see my room?"
That pulled Miss Herrera's brows upward. "That's forward."
Kairi laughed, shrugging. "It's upstairs. You don't have to if ayaw mo."
Miss Herrera hesitated—long enough to know better—then sighed, giving in. "Lead the way."
Kairi's grin widened, halos parang nanalo siya mula sa maliit na laban.
She bounded up the stairs, fingertips brushing lightly against the wooden railing.
Sumunod si Miss Herrera nang mas steady ang hakbang, pero hindi niya maiwasang mapansin ang energy na dala ni Kairi, the kind that seemed to spill into the narrow hallway without effort.
A soft creak escaped the hinges when Kairi pushed the door open, stepping aside para mauna si Miss Herrera pumasok.
The room was tidy, almost meticulous. The bed was made, blanket tucked neatly, pillow perfectly aligned.
Books filled the shelf, more stacked carefully on the desk, reviewers and papers na naka-arrange.
A highlighter lay across an open notebook, as if iniwan lang niya sandali before returning to it.
Miss Herrera's lips curved faintly.
"Exactly what I expected of you," she murmured, walking toward the desk. She trailed her fingers along the edge before leaning closer, habang ini-scan ang mga study material ni Kairi.
Nanatiling nakatayo si Kairi sa doorway, pero mabilis siyang kumilos nang makita kung saan papunta si Miss Herrera. "Wait, wait—don't—"
Pero huli na. Miss Herrera had already touched the chair, pulling it aside slightly to get a better look. In a swift movement, Kairi slid between her and the desk, pressing both hands against the edge like a shield.
Miss Herrera raised a brow. "Protective, aren't we?"
"It's private," Kairi answered firmly. Not sharp. Just...certain.
"Private?" Miss Herrera tilted her head. "Even from your friends?"
Kairi hesitated, teeth catching her lower lip before she finally spoke. "I share materials...pero not these. Magulo ang notes ko. It's...different. Basta, Miss. I like studying alone."
There was a shift in Miss Herrera's expression, her features softening as if she understood more than she should. "That's fair."
She might have stepped back—kung hindi lang nahuli ng mata niya ang isang familiar spine, half-tucked beneath the pile.
Her student's notebook. The one Kairi always carried in her class.
Without thinking, Miss Herrera reached toward it.
Agad na gumalaw si Kairi, her hand darting out. "Miss, no—"
Pero mas mabilis si Miss Herrera. Her fingers brushed the cover just as Kairi leaned in, blocking her path. Bigla, the space between them collapsed into something tighter, closer. Their faces hovered mere inches apart. The air stilled—thick, charged, and waiting.
Kairi's breath hitched, ramdam niya ang biglang pagkalat ng init sa dibdib niya, her pulse stumbling hard against her throat.
For a reckless second, muntik na siyang mag-lean forward na parang may invisible pull na humahatak sa kanya.
Her lips parted slightly, but then panic surged through her chest, sharp and disorienting. Why the hell am I—
Hindi umatras si Miss Herrera. She stepped closer instead, just enough para magdikit ang kanilang balikat. Their eyes locked—steady, unblinking. Kairi's breath faltered, and instinctively she shut her eyes, a small tremor slipping down her spine.
And then—
A sound. Soft, distinct. The crisp flick of a page.
Napadilat si Kairi.
Miss Herrera already had the notebook in her hands, an amused hum escaping her throat as she flipped it open. "So ito ang itinatago mo."
"Miss—!" Kairi lunged forward, desperadong abutin ito. Pero mabilis talaga ang guro. She angled her body away, tumalikod pa nang bahagya na parang teacher na nagtatago ng exam key.
Her laugh came low, teasing, habang binabasa niya ang scribbled notes. "Messy, you said? I've seen worse. Actually—" Her lips tugged into a smirk—"I've graded worse."
"Miss, hindi iyon ang point," Kairi groaned, tugging at her arm. "Please, give it back—"
Pero biglang natigilan si Miss Herrera.
Her finger pressed against a page, eyes narrowing slightly. The smirk faded, replaced by something quieter, heavier.
On that page, isang sketch. Simple lang, but unmistakable. The outline of a woman's profile. Sharp eyes. Loose hair.
Her.
Kairi froze, her hand still suspended midair, inches from the notebook. Heat rushed to her face so fast na nakaramdam siya ng pagkahilo, chest tightening like the world had just narrowed into that one drawing.