seis

The next day, I walked into class feeling like I had a giant neon sign over my head that said confused mess. Cassy had spent the entire morning prying about Migs, Wes wouldn’t stop making gagging noises every time he saw me, and worst of all, I couldn’t stop replaying yesterday’s awkward courtyard moment with Ms. Hontiveros in my head.

She saw me with Migs. She heard the teasing. And for some reason, the way she looked at me—just for that split second—stayed with me longer than it should have.

Now, as I slid into my seat, I stole a quick glance toward the front of the classroom. Ms. Hontiveros was already setting up for today’s lesson, her face unreadable as she flipped through her notes. She looked the same as always—composed, elegant, entirely too distracting.

I groaned internally. This was stupid.

“Alice, you good?” Cassy whispered, nudging me.

“Huh?” I blinked. “Yeah. Fine.”

“Cool, ’cause you look like you’re about to have an existential crisis over there.”

I rolled my eyes just as Ms. Hontiveros clapped her hands, signaling the start of class.

“Alright, class,” she said, her voice calm but commanding. “Let’s get started.”

I tried my best to focus. I really did. But it became increasingly difficult when Ms. Hontiveros began calling on students for recitation.

And of course, because the universe had a personal vendetta against me, she called my name.

“Alice,” she said, looking directly at me. “Can you analyze the meaning of this passage?”

I swallowed hard. I had read the text. I knew the answer. But for some reason, my brain decided now was the perfect time to malfunction.

“I—uh—” I scrambled for words, but all I could think about was how her eyes hadn’t left mine.

Her expression was neutral, professional. But there was something in the way she waited—like she was seeing through me, not just at me.

“Take your time,” she said, tilting her head slightly.

That didn’t help. If anything, it made it worse.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Cassy smirking like she was watching a live soap opera. Wes, who had somehow sneaked into the classroom again, was openly grinning.

I needed to get it together.

I cleared my throat. “The passage represents… um…”

Why did she have to be looking at me like that?

“… the internal struggle of the protagonist?” I finally forced out.

Ms. Hontiveros gave a small, approving nod. “Good. Can you elaborate?”

I exhaled slowly, willing my brain to work properly. I managed to piece together a decent answer, and eventually, she moved on to the next student.

But even after the attention had shifted away from me, my heart was still hammering.

I wasn’t sure what was happening between me and Ms. Hontiveros. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I was just overthinking everything.

But one thing was certain: I was not acting normal.

And the worst part?

I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to.

———

Ms. Hontiveros’ POV

I kept my posture composed, my voice steady, my eyes scanning the classroom like I always did. But beneath it all, I was hyperaware of Alice.

The way she hesitated when I called her name. The way her fingers curled slightly against her desk, like she was bracing herself. The way she stumbled over her words, as if something—or someone—had thrown her off course.

She wasn’t usually like this. Alice Guo was quick-witted, sharp, and sometimes too casual when it came to class discussions. But today?

Today, she was different.

And I knew exactly why.

I had overheard her conversation with her friends yesterday. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but when I passed by the courtyard and heard her brother teasing her about Migs, I couldn't help but slow my steps.

"You had the biggest crush on her, and now she’s back. It’s fate!"

Her?

That was what made me pause.

At first, I assumed Migs was a guy. But hearing Wes refer to her in a way that left no room for misinterpretation—that changed everything.

I hadn't thought much about Alice’s personal life before. She was just my student, after all. But that moment lingered in my mind longer than it should have.

Now, as I watched her struggle through recitation, I wondered—was it because of Migs? Was she flustered because she was thinking about her?

Or was it something else?

I pushed the thought away and continued the lesson. But even as the class went on, I felt it—the tension in the air.

Alice avoided my gaze after that. Every time I so much as glanced in her direction, she quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in her notes. Cassy, on the other hand, was watching the entire thing unfold with barely concealed amusement, like she had figured something out before either of us had.

I sighed inwardly. High schoolers.

By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Alice practically bolted from her seat. I didn’t stop her.

Instead, I returned to my desk, neatly arranging my lesson materials. But as the students shuffled out, Cassy and Wes lingered behind.

"Ma'am," Cassy started, voice dripping with mischief. "You’re really good at making Alice nervous, huh?"

I raised an eyebrow. "I would hope my presence encourages all of my students to stay focused."

Wes snorted. "Yeah, but Alice is extra focused. Or, you know, extra something."

I simply gave them a polite smile. "Shouldn’t you two be heading to your next class?"

"Fine, fine," Wes said, rolling his eyes. But just before he walked out, he threw a final remark over his shoulder:

"She totally likes you, Ma’am. Just saying."

I stilled for half a second before I turned back to my desk.

This year is going to be… complicated.

———

I made it halfway down the hall before Cassy caught up with me, grinning like she had just won the lottery.

"Are you good?" she asked, falling into step beside me.

"Perfectly fine," I muttered.

She hummed. "You know, I think Ms. Hontiveros knows."

That made me stop in my tracks. "Knows what?"

"That she makes you nervous. That you, I don’t know, have a thing for her."

I glared at her. "I do not have a thing for her."

Cassy raised an eyebrow. "Mhm. That’s why you were blushing the entire time she was looking at you?"

"That was because—" I paused. I didn’t actually have an excuse.

Cassy smirked. "Right. Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

I groaned, pressing my hands against my face. "This is not happening. I have enough problems already. I don’t need you or Wes making this worse."

Cassy just laughed. "Oh, sweetie. Wes and I live for this."

I scowled. "I hate you."

"You love me."

"Unfortunately."

We made it to our next class, but even as I sat down, my thoughts drifted.

Did Ms. Hontiveros really notice? Did she suspect something? And if she did… what did that even mean?

I shook my head, trying to focus on the lesson in front of me.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

This year was going to be a disaster.

———

Ms. Hontiveros’ POV

The day passed without much trouble, but as I sat in the faculty lounge, I found myself thinking about Alice more than I probably should have.

It wasn’t just the awkwardness in class. It was the way she had bolted, the way Cassy had made that teasing remark, the way Wes had flat-out implied something I wasn’t sure how to process.

I wasn’t blind. I knew when a student had a crush.

I had been a student once, too. I knew how these things worked.

But this?

This was different.

Because if I was honest with myself, there was something about Alice that did catch my attention in a way no other student had.

It wasn’t just that she was bright and sharp, or that she had an attitude that kept things interesting.

It was the way she looked at me when she thought I wouldn’t notice.

I exhaled, setting down my pen.

I had to be careful. Whatever was happening here—it couldn’t happen.

No matter what.