veintedós

Risa stood at the front of the room, arms crossed, jaw tight.

The entire office had gone dead silent. No more whispers. No more sneaky glances. No more hushed conversations behind her back.

This was it. No more fucking games.

"Alright," Risa said, her voice slicing through the tension like a blade.

"I know you’re all talking. I know about the bets, the gossip, the absolute fucking circus you guys turned this into."

A few people shifted uncomfortably.

Others suddenly found their coffee cups or keyboards incredibly interesting. And then there was Loren, grinning like she had just won the lottery, looking way too pleased with herself.

Risa exhaled sharply, shoulders squared.

"So here it is—yes, Alice and I have a thing. Yes, it started before she got here. And no, I don’t care what you think about it."

A beat.

Then, chaos.

"PUTANGINA, I WON!" Sam from Marketing screamed, practically leaping out of his chair.

"AY, PWEDE PANG HAHABOL?!—"

"Pucha, sino nanalo sa pool?!"

"Hindi ko expect, pero ang hot!"

"Wait, wait, paano yung 'secret affair' theory natin?" someone called out.

"Baka may hidden engagement na sila!"

"HINDI, BUNTIS SI MA’AM—"

Risa pinched the bridge of her nose so hard it nearly left a dent. "And please, don’t talk about it anymore. You won, guys. Now shut the fuck up."

But of course, Loren—Loren, the absolute menace—was still grinning. "So, like… confirmed na na kayo?"

Risa shot her a sharp look. "Loren."

Loren threw her hands up in mock innocence, still laughing. "Just making sure, ma’am! Anyway, congrats! Love wins!"

As if on cue, the office broke into cheers and applause like this was some kind of fucking wedding reception.

At the back of the room, standing with her arms crossed, Alice looked entirely too smug. She caught Risa’s eye, biting back a smirk. "Well, well. Look at you, finally admitting it."

Risa rolled her eyes, grumbling, "Shut up."

Alice leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a murmur. "Make me."

Risa didn’t dignify that with a response, but her ears burned as she turned back toward here desk.

The office wasn’t ever going to shut up about this.

Risa had barely sat down after her earth-shattering confession when someone in the crowd had the fucking audacity to ask—

"So, how do you meet Alice, Ms. Hontiveros? Or should we say… Ma’am Navarro?"

The entire room oohed in unison.

Alice fucking grinned.

Risa sighed, rubbing her temples. "Why are you people like this?"

"Come on, Ma’am!" someone called out. "We need the origin story!"

"Yeah!" another voice chimed in. "Was it love at first sight? Or did she seduce you in a dark alley?"

"Dark alley?" Alice snorted, crossing her arms. "You guys have some wild imaginations."

"Just answer the question!" Loren urged, practically vibrating with excitement.

Risa turned to Alice, unimpressed. "You see what you’ve done?"

Alice smirked, tilting her head. "What? They’re just curious."

Risa exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down her face. She could shut this down right now. She should shut this down right now. But against her better judgment, she answered.

"She was my student."

The room erupted again, even louder than before.

"PUTANGINA, MAS NAGING JUICY!"

"So you did seduce her!" Loren accused, pointing dramatically at Alice like she was some kind of villain in a telenovela.

"No, she did not—"

"Risa, be honest," Alice teased, resting her chin in her palm. "Didn’t you think I was cute from the start?"

Risa clenched her jaw. "I am not answering that."

Loren gasped like she had just witnessed history in the making. "THAT’S A YES—"

"Aha!" Sam shouted. "Sino may hawak sa 'Risa liked Alice first' bet? Magbayad na!"

"Grabe, Ma’am, student pa lang siya, may crush ka na?" someone teased from the back.

"Ma’am, pa'no po naging kayo? Love story please!"

"Na-fall ba kayo sa pagsagot niya sa recitation?"

"Or sa uniform niya?"

"Or sa late-night tutoring sessions?"

Alice laughed, shaking her head. "You guys really have no chill."

"OH MY GOD, WAIT—" Loren suddenly gasped, pointing at Alice. "ANO TALAGA PALA YUNG SAGOT SA 'I'M THE DESSERT YOU'LL BE EATING LATER, MA'AM'?! TOTOHANAN PALA YUN?!?"

The room collectively lost their minds.

Risa nearly choked. "WHAT—"

"PUTANGINA, KASAMA BA YUN SA BETS?!"

"THAT WAS REAL?!"

"NA-REVEAL YUNG MYSTERY QUOTE!"

"Guys, guys, pakasalan na 'yan!"

Risa shot Alice the sharpest glare yet. "Alice."

Alice, who had the fucking audacity to smirk, just shrugged. "Oops."

"Oops?!" Risa hissed.

"Sorry, Ma’am," Alice said, voice dripping with mock innocence. "Didn’t mean to expose your preferences."

"OH MY GOD, ALICE!"

Loren wheezed. "Hindi ko na kaya. Guys, I'm fucking dead. This is the best day ever."

"Ma’am, huwag kayo magalit," someone said, barely containing their laughter. "Alam naman naming very professional kayo… sa office."

That did it.

Risa grabbed the nearest object—a folder—and chucked it at Loren, who yelped before dodging.

"Alright, alright, meeting’s over!" Risa barked. "Everyone, back to work!"

Nobody moved.

"NOW!"

The office scrambled like a bomb had gone off. People grabbed their coffee, their papers, each other—whatever they needed to look busy—and bolted.

Loren was the last to leave, laughing the entire way out. "We love a scandal, Ma’am! Best workplace ever!"

Risa groaned, slumping into her chair, feeling an oncoming headache.

A moment later, Alice strolled over, leaning down with a smirk. "So… you thought I was cute?"

Risa didn’t even look at her. "Get out of my office, Guo."

Alice only grinned wider. "Make me."

Risa groaned, dragging her hands down her face.

Alice smirked, voice teasing. "Didn’t you say no more games? Or was that just for them?"

Risa picked up her stapler.

Alice bolted.

Risa groaned.

This was going to be hell.