Chapter 48
Pagkatapos ng mainit na moment namin ni Celest—ni Professor Haneul—halos hindi ako makapaniwala na kaya ko pang maglakad straight. It’s like my whole soul got rearranged.
Ngayon, andito na ako sa lecture room. Parang wala lang. Chill. Cool. Composed kunwari.
But deep inside? Chaotic.
Sobrang chaotic.
Raegan’s sitting beside me, staring at me with this weird-ass face like she’s trying to read my mind.
I blinked at her and smiled. “Huh? What do you mean?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Ewan, pero parang ang saya saya mo. Like... radiant ka, Arushi.”
Forest suddenly butted in from the back, her voice full of teasing energy. “Kaya nga eh! Baka naka-score ‘to kay Margarette kagabi ‘no?” She smirked like the devil.
BAM.
I slapped her forehead lightly. “Siraulo ka ba?” I rolled my eyes. “Ang dumi talaga ng utak mo.”
Raegan and Forest burst into laughter, and I tried to keep my expression calm, but girl, my ears were burning. Tangina, if only they knew who I really scored with. It wasn’t Margarette.
It was Celest.
C-E-L-E-S-T. The faceless girl. The demon. The professor.
Suddenly, Citrine appeared behind me like a damn ghost, her arms crossed and that mischievous twin-smirk on her face.
Her teasing tone hit me like a truck.
She leaned over, raising her eyebrows. “Nagiging addict ka na ata sa sex, ah? Hmm? May energy ka pa?”
Forest laughed again. “Addict? She’s already hooked. Baka naka-subscription na siya!”
I mentally slapped myself.
Oh my God.
They weren’t wrong.
Because kahit itinatanggi ko, totoo naman.
I was addicted.
Not to sex. But to her.
To Celest.
Sa presence niya. Sa touch niya. Sa way she moans my name, and how she stares at me like she owns me—because, honestly? She does.
Before I could answer, the door suddenly opened.
Pak.
Silence.
Professor Haneul walked in like a queen. Dignified. Composed. Deadly beautiful.
She wore her usual black slacks and white blouse combo, but it was the aura that hit me the hardest. That familiar, cold, almost inhuman energy that made everyone sit straight instantly.
Even the air changed. Parang lumamig bigla. Everyone went quiet.
And there I was, staring at her like a puppy who just saw their master.
God.
She’s so beautiful.
And I’m so whipped.
She walked to the front, her heels clicking on the floor, eyes scanning the room like a general assessing her soldiers. Her expression was strict, unreadable, serious as always.
But then… she glanced at me.
A split-second.
One small glance.
And she smiled.
A tiny, subtle curve of her lips. Barely noticeable kung hindi mo siya kilala.
Pero kilala ko na siya ngayon.
Alam ko na.
It was a smile meant for me.
My heart did a full cartwheel inside my chest. I had to look away. Tangina, my ears turned red again. My hand subtly touched my chest—calm down, you fool.
She faced the whiteboard and started the lecture, her voice clear and authoritative.
Everyone scribbled on their pads, trying to keep up. Ako? I was writing… pero my eyes kept drifting to her.
The way she moved. The way her hand held the marker. The slight tilt of her head when she thought. The little details that no one else seemed to notice—but I did. Because now, I know her skin, her scent, her breath. I know her secrets.
My knees felt weak. My thighs, sore.
And still, I wanted her again.
Addict nga ako.
As she taught, she never looked at me again.
No more smiles. No more glances.
Back to being Professor Haneul.
But that only made it harder. The way she could switch—from demon to teacher, from lover to professor—made her even more powerful. Even more irresistible.
Raegan leaned close again and whispered, “Okay, legit ha, parang may glow ka today.”
I almost choked.
Forest giggled. “Oh? Defensive! Iba na talaga.”
Then Citrine, from the back again, muttered, “Troney, you're smiling habang tinititigan mo si Professor. Girl... wag mo sabihing—”
Because baka she’s listening.
And I know her ears are sharp.
I tried to focus. To breathe. To calm down.
But the scent of wood sage and sea salt was stuck in my brain. The sound of her humming. The heat of her body. Her voice saying, “You’re mine, Arushi.”
I bit my lip.
This was bad.
I was officially doomed.
But even while I sat there, surrounded by my friends’ teasing and under her cold, composed gaze—I knew one thing:
I didn’t regret it.
I’d let her consume me over and over again.
Because if she’s a demon, then maybe I’m already damned.
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Pagkatapos ng klase, I stood up from my chair slowly.
Raegan and Forest were waiting na sa may pinto ng lecture room, pero ako?
I took a second to glance back at her—si Professor Haneul.
She was gathering her stuff on the desk, neat as always, calm and collected.
God, she’s so damn composed kahit na kanina lang we were—
I bit my lower lip. Arushi, stop.
I was about to approach her when suddenly, like a whisper sa utak ko, narinig ko ‘yung voice niya. “No need to help me, Arushi. Go to your friends, I’m fine.”
Napangiti ako. She’s using that ability again, yung telepathic-whatever thing. She’s really not human. Pero mahal ko siya. Even if she’s a succubus or demon or whatever, she's mine. And I’m hers.
So I just gave her a small smile, a silent goodbye, and turned to my friends. We walked down the hall, pababa papuntang cafeteria.
I laughed a bit but didn’t say anything. They have no idea. If only they knew kung ano yung pinagdaanan ko these past days. If only they saw what I saw in my dreams… and in real life.
Pagdating namin sa cafeteria, we found a spot near the window. Maaliwalas, tahimik, and perfect para makakain nang maayos. Umorder kami agad.
Raegan got chicken teriyaki, Forest had pasta, ako? Fried rice with tapa. Comfort food, dude. After the things I’ve been doing lately, I need comfort.
While waiting for the food, napatingin ako sa labas. Bright pa rin kahit almost lunchtime na. Pero in my chest, something’s heavy. Hindi ko ma-explain.
I turned to her. “Of what?”
I rolled my eyes. “Can you not?”
Raegan chimed in, “Shi, come on. Don’t play innocent. We all know Margarette’s into you. And honestly, bagay kayo eh.”
Forest laughed. “Halata naman, shi. We were there, remember? The phone call? The background sounds? The moaning?”
I choked on my water. “PUTA—Forest!”
I smiled a little, trying not to look too obvious. “Maybe I just… had a long sleep. That’s all.”
They were laughing and teasing pero deep down, I felt… light. I wasn’t even mad. I feel good. Because I know the reason why I’m smiling. It’s not just the sex. It’s Celest. The way she looked at me kanina sa class—even for just a second—sobrang powerful na ‘yun for me.
Then Raegan leaned in again. “Baka gusto mong sumama sa bar tonight? Celebrate that new energy? Ang daming hot girls doon, Arushi. You’ll love it.”
I rolled my eyes so hard. “Ulol, I’m not like you guys okay? I’m good. I don’t need that.”
Raegan raised an eyebrow. “Oh wow. Stick to one ka na pala ngayon?”
I looked down at my food, stirring the rice with my spoon. “Maybe I am,” I said quietly.
Tahimik sila for a second. I think they felt that shift. Na I’m serious. Hindi ako nakikipaglokohan lang.
I just nodded.
Then, for once, Raegan didn’t tease. “Sana totoo yang taong ‘yan, Arushi. And hindi ka lang pinaglalaruan.”
I smiled but shook my head. “Secret.”
That made me laugh. “Okay, okay. Noted. My little army.”
We continued eating, but in my head? I was still hearing her voice. Celest’s voice. Her warnings. Her promises. Her moans. Her love.
After we finished our lunch, I stood up and stretched. “I’ll go muna. May bibilhin lang ako sa labas.”
I nodded but I knew I won’t go. My place is not with strangers. It’s with her.
As I stepped out of the cafeteria, I checked my phone. No message, pero ramdam ko na she’s there… somewhere. Watching.
“Celest…” I whispered to myself. “I’m yours. Only yours.”
And I meant it.
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