Chapter 32
A Dangerous Encounter
(Arushi POV)
Laughter still echoed around our table as we kept teasing Forest about her latest disaster with Auntie Soojin. It was one of those moments where everything felt light and normal.
Until suddenly, the entire cafeteria fell silent.
Napakunot-noo kami. From a loud and chaotic atmosphere, biglang nagkaroon ng eerie quietness.
Then I saw it.
Her.
Professor Haneul just entered the cafeteria, walking towards the counter.
She wasn’t doing anything dramatic—pero putangina, bakit parang slow motion ‘yung lakad niya?!
I swallowed hard.
She was really beautiful. Like, unfair levels of beautiful. And of course, still cold. That usual blank expression on her face made her even more intimidating, pero sa totoo lang, it made her even hotter.
She had less expression, pero she was so fucking sexy.
Her fitted white blouse hugged her body perfectly, accentuating all the right places. The buttons on her chest area looked like they were barely hanging on, and the first few buttons were undone, showing just a hint of her collarbones and cleavage.
Her black slacks? Shit, sino nag-design nun? It fit her so well that it perfectly highlighted her curves, especially her ass.
My eyes trailed down, taking in everything.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath.
And then, she walked past us.
We all followed her movement, our heads subtly turning in sync as if possessed. Nobody at our table dared to speak.
Then suddenly—
She caught me staring.
I froze.
For a second, I swore the corner of her lips twitched—parang gusto niyang mag-smirk.
Napalunok ulit ako. Did she just smirk at me?!
"Tangina," Raegan whispered.
Min-Jae swallowed hard. "Why is she built like that?"
Forest coughed. "Bro, parang gusto ko siyang ipagdasal."
Citrine was grinning. "Troney, kinain ka ng sistema, ‘noh?"
Hindi ako makasagot. Hindi ako makagalaw. Naglo-loading pa rin ang utak ko.
And then…
I felt something under the table.
A very familiar sensation.
I looked down.
Putangina.
MY LITTLE BUDDY WAS REACTING.
Napatitig ako sa slacks ko, and to my absolute horror, there was already a bulge.
A VERY OBVIOUS BULGE.
My entire system went into panic mode.
"FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!" I mentally screamed.
Nagmadali akong kumuha ng bag at tinakpan ‘yung harapan ko. My hands gripped the strap tightly, my knuckles turning white.
I mentally slapped myself.
What the fuck, Arushi?!
This was NOT the time nor place!
I clenched my jaw, trying my best to think of the most unsexy things possible.
Melted chocolate.
Expired milk.
Raegan singing karaoke at 3 AM.
Wala. Hindi pa rin nawawala.
"Bro, are you okay?" Raegan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine!" I blurted out way too quickly.
Citrine leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "Wait… bakit hawak mo ‘yung bag mo nang ganyan?"
GODDAMN IT.
Min-Jae gasped dramatically. "OH MY GOD. TRONEY."
"Shut up!" I whisper-yelled.
Forest, who was still recovering from her own embarrassment earlier, took one look at me—then at my position.
And her eyes widened.
"No. Fucking. Way."
Citrine, Raegan, and Min-Jae all followed her gaze.
And then—
"PUTANGINA, TRONEY?!"
They all gasped.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I hissed, tightening my grip on my bag.
Min-Jae dramatically fanned herself. "Girl, I know she’s hot, pero ikaw na ba ang bagong pinakamalibog sa grupo?!"
Citrine was dying from laughter. "Troney, ikaw pala talaga ang susunod kay Forest!"
Raegan just smirked. "Damn. Professor Haneul, you're powerful."
Forest, who was now grinning like the devil, leaned in. "Troney, hindi ka na pwedeng mag-deny. You fucking want her."
I groaned, slumping forward against the table, my face burning.
"Shut. Up. All. Of. You."
But of course, these demons wouldn’t let it go.
Min-Jae smirked. "Ano, Troney? Ready ka na bang maging disipulo ni Forest?"
Citrine wiggled her eyebrows. "Hindi na virgin utak mo, twin . Tanggapin mo na ‘yan."
Raegan grinned. "‘Yung pangarap mong maging top student, napalitan na ng pangarap na maka-top ni Professor Haneul."
"GAGO NIYO!"
At that exact moment—
A shadow loomed over our table.
I knew. I fucking knew.
I slowly lifted my gaze.
And there she was.
Professor Haneul.
Her usual blank expression was on her face. Pero putangina, parang mas lalo siyang naging nakakatakot ngayon.
My friends immediately shut up.
I gulped. "P-Professor."
Her gaze flickered down at the bag I was desperately clutching.
FUCK.
Then she looked back up, her eyes locking onto mine.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then, she smirked.
And just like that—
I fucking died inside.
___
I suddenly stood up and ran away out of pure embarrassment, ignoring the voices calling my name. My heart was racing—not just from running, but from the heat surging through my body. I couldn't believe what just happened in the cafeteria.
As I turned the corner of the hallway, someone suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me into an empty classroom. The door clicked shut behind me. I blinked, trying to regain my balance, when I saw Margarette standing in front of me, a knowing smirk on her lips.
"Ang bilis mong tumakbo ah," she teased, stepping closer.
I gulped, my mind still in disarray. "Ano ‘to, Margarette? May kailangan ka ba?"
She tilted her head, her eyes scanning me like she knew something I didn’t want to admit. "Arushi… mukhang may iniisip ka kanina sa cafeteria," she said, her voice laced with amusement.
I clenched my jaw and looked away. "Wala akong iniisip, okay?"
She chuckled and took another step closer. "Talaga lang? Ang awkward ng pagtakbo mo kanina. At yung bag mo? Para kang may tinatago," she said, her gaze dropping for a second before meeting my eyes again.
I stiffened. Damn it. She noticed.
"Margarette, I have class. Ano bang kailangan mo?" I tried to change the subject, but she wasn’t having it.
Instead of answering, she suddenly pushed me down onto the couch at the side of the room. My breath hitched as I felt the warmth of her presence so close to me. Her hands rested lightly on the armrests, caging me in place.
"Relax, Costa," she murmured, her lips twitching into a smirk. "Mukhang masyado kang tense lately."
I exhaled sharply. "Ano bang problema mo, ha?"
She leaned in just enough that I could smell the faint vanilla scent of her perfume. "Wala naman. Pero ikaw, parang meron."
My fingers twitched against the couch. I wanted to push her away, to tell her to stop playing whatever game she was playing. But at the same time, my body betrayed me—heat creeping up my neck, my breathing uneven.
"You're messing with me," I muttered.
Margarette just smiled, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Maybe. Pero aminin mo, Arushi, naguguluhan ka sa nararamdaman mo ngayon."
I opened my mouth to deny it, but no words came out. Because she was right. My mind was a mess, my body even more so. I was restless, confused, and worst of all, I couldn’t stop thinking about—
"Ayan na naman yang malalim mong iniisip," Margarette teased, straightening up. "Well, kung gusto mong makalimot sandali, you know where to find me."
She walked towards the door and unlocked it, but before leaving, she glanced over her shoulder with a knowing smirk.
"See you around, Costa."
The door clicked shut behind her.
I exhaled loudly, running a hand through my hair. "Tangina."
I leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. My body was still tense, my mind still racing. And worst of all? I had no idea how I was going to face Professor Haneul after this.
---
Naglalakad ako papunta sa lecture room subject ni Professor Haneul, pero parang ang bigat ng paa ko. Para bang may nagpipigil sa akin pumasok. Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong humarap sa kanya matapos ang lahat ng nangyari kanina—lalo na kay Margarette.
I sighed deeply. Ano pa bang choice ko? Kung hindi ako papasok, baka lalo lang akong magmukhang guilty.
Paglapit ko sa pinto, napansin kong may nakatingin sa akin. Si Raegan at Forest, parehong may malisyosong ngiti sa mukha. Si Citrine naman, ang kakambal kong walang hiya, nakapamulsa at mukhang nagpipigil ng tawa. Ano na naman iniisip ng mga ‘to?
"Wala kayong sasabihin," warning ko sa kanila bago ko binuksan ang pinto.
Pagpasok ko, para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Si Professor Haneul ay naroon na sa harapan, naka-cross arms habang nakatitig sa akin. Hindi ko mabasa ang expression niya—hindi galit, hindi rin amused. Basta… malamig lang. Tulad ng dati.
Mabilis akong umupo sa pwesto ko, iniiwas ang tingin. Sinubukan kong hindi magpahalata, pero ramdam kong nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin.
"Tangina, Troney. Anong nangyari sayo?" bulong ni Forest habang sumisingit sa upuan niya sa tabi ko.
"Shh," sabi ko, hindi siya tiningnan.
Si Raegan naman, halatang gustong tumawa. "Shi, parang kang hinigop ng buhay. Naubusan ka ba ng lakas?"
Hindi ko sila pinansin. Wala akong energy makipagsabayan sa kalokohan nila ngayon.
Si Citrine, na nasa kabilang side ko, siniko ako. "Oi, bakit ka mukhang guilty? Anong ginawa mo?"
Napatingin ako saglit sa kanya at bumalik sa pagsubsob sa armrest ng upuan ko. "Shut up, Citrine."
Before any of them could say more, narinig namin ang boses ni Professor Haneul.
"Settle down," sabi niya, at agad namang tumahimik ang buong klase.
Ramdam ko ang pagdampi ng malamig na hangin mula sa aircon, pero hindi nun naibsan ang init na nararamdaman ko. Hindi ko alam kung guni-guni ko lang, pero parang ang higpit ng tingin ni Professor sa akin.
"Open your books. Page 154," she instructed.
Nagbukas naman kami ng libro, pero ni hindi ko maintindihan ang binabasa ko. Ang utak ko, sabog pa rin sa nangyari kanina. Paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa isip ko ang boses ni Margarette, ang paraan ng paglapit niya, ang mga ginawa niya sa akin—
I shook my head discreetly. Shit, Arushi. Focus.
Pero hindi ko maiwasang mapansin na parang may kakaiba kay Professor Haneul ngayon. Habang nagle-lecture siya, panay ang sulyap niya sa akin.
At hindi lang basta simpleng tingin. May bigat. Para bang may gusto siyang sabihin pero pinipigilan niya ang sarili niya.
Napansin ko ring mas matigas ang tono niya ngayon. Hindi siya sumisigaw, pero mas sharp ang mga salita niya. At kada beses na dumadaan siya sa harap ko, pakiramdam ko ay lalo akong nauupos sa upuan ko.
"Shi, ano bang nangyari?" pabulong na tanong ni Raegan, pilit akong inaasar.
Bago ako makasagot, tinawag ako ni Professor Haneul.
"Miss Arushi Costa," malamig niyang sabi.
Napatigil ang buong klase, napatingin sila sa akin. Puta.
Slowly, tinaas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. "Yes, Professor?"
"Are you paying attention?"
Napalunok ako. "Yes, ma’am."
She arched a brow. "Then explain to the class the relevance of architectural composition in sustainable structures."
Tangina. Wala akong alam.
Bumuka ang bibig ko, pero wala akong masabi.
Tumikhim si Professor. "I see. Perhaps next time, Miss Arushi Costa, you’ll actually listen instead of zoning out."
May narinig akong mahihinang tawa mula sa likod. Si Raegan at Forest.
Papatayin ko talaga kayo mamaya, I thought bitterly.
"Yes, Professor," sagot ko na lang, hindi ko na inatake pa.
She didn’t say anything after that, pero ramdam ko pa rin ang pressure ng tingin niya.
Hanggang sa matapos ang lecture, hindi ako nakahinga nang maayos. Parang buong oras ay nakatali ako sa upuan ko, walang makagalaw, walang makaisip ng matinong bagay.
At nung nag-dismiss siya ng klase, ako ang unang lumabas ng room.
Pero bago pa ako makalayo, narinig ko ang boses niya.
"Miss Costa, a moment."
I froze.
Napatingin ang mga kaklase ko sa akin. Si Raegan, Forest, at Citrine, halatang hindi mapigilan ang malisyosong mga ngiti nila.
"Good luck, shi," bulong ni Raegan bago sila umalis.
Dahan-dahan akong lumingon kay Professor Haneul. She was standing near her desk, arms crossed, looking directly at me.
Mabigat ang hakbang ko papunta sa kanya.
"Professor?"
She didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, she exhaled slowly.
"You’re distracted today," she said, eyes piercing into mine.
I swallowed. "I’m just… thinking, po."
"Thinking?"
"Yes."
She tilted her head slightly. "Is that why you couldn’t answer my question earlier?"
I clenched my fists. "I wasn’t prepared lang po."
There was a beat of silence before she finally spoke again.
"Hmm. Alright. Just don’t let it happen again," she said, but her tone was different. Parang… meron pa siyang gustong sabihin.
"Yes, Professor," I said quietly.
She nodded, pero bago ako makalabas ng pinto, nagsalita siya ulit.
"And Miss Costa?"
I turned back. "Yes?"
Her eyes flickered slightly before she smirked—just a little, barely noticeable.
"Next time, fix your tie before entering my class."
I blinked. "Po?"
"Your uniform," she said, nodding slightly toward my collar.
Napahawak ako sa leeg ko. Fuck. Ang gulo pala ng suot ko.
My face burned in embarrassment.
Without another word, she turned around and started gathering her things. I took that as my cue to leave.
Pagkalabas ko ng room, sumandal ako sa pader at huminga nang malalim.
Tangina.
Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari sakin?
At mas malaking tanong—bakit parang may alam si Professor Haneul na hindi ko alam?
---