Episode 14

The rest of the weekend felt like a strange haze, my mind circling the same thoughts over and over. By Sunday evening, I was restless, pacing my room while Jenna worked on a project at the table.

"You're going to wear a hole in the floor," she quipped without looking up.

I stopped mid-step, sighing. "I'm not pacing."

Jenna snorted, finally glancing up. "Right, you're just... walking repeatedly in a straight line." She smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Is this about her again?"

I glared at her half-heartedly. "No."

Jenna's smirk widened. "You're such a bad liar. Look, Alexis, whatever it is, you're overthinking it. She's just a professor, okay? Chill out."

I flopped onto my bed, groaning into my pillow. "You don't get it, Jen. It's not that simple."

Jenna raised an eyebrow. "Then make it simple. Unless you're about to confess some undying love, this doesn't have to be a big deal."

Her words hit a little too close to home, and I stayed silent. Jenna, noticing my lack of response, raised her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll drop it—for now."

---

Monday rolled around faster than I expected, and I found myself back on campus, clutching a coffee I barely remembered buying. The hallways buzzed with activity as students shuffled to their classes, their chatter blending into a dull roar.

I was on my way to my next lecture when I spotted her. Professor Sungit stood by her office door, speaking with another faculty member. She was as composed as ever, her presence commanding yet unassuming.

I slowed my pace, debating whether to greet her. Before I could decide, her gaze flickered in my direction. Our eyes met briefly, and she gave me a small nod.

My heart skipped a beat as I returned the gesture, quickly ducking into the nearest stairwell. What was wrong with me? Why did a simple nod make me feel like this?

---

That afternoon, I found myself in the library, trying to catch up on readings. The quiet atmosphere should have been perfect for focusing, but my thoughts kept wandering.

"Ms. Cruz."

The voice made me jump, and I turned to see her standing a few feet away, holding a stack of books.

"Ma'am!" I said, a little too loudly. A few students nearby glanced at me, and I quickly lowered my voice. "Good afternoon."

She nodded, stepping closer. "Do you mind if I sit here?"

My heart raced as I gestured to the empty seat across from me. "Of course, ma'am."

She set the books down, her movements precise and deliberate. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the silence stretching between us.

Finally, she broke it. "I noticed you seemed distracted earlier. Is something bothering you?"

I froze, scrambling for a response. "Uh, no, ma'am. I'm fine."

She studied me, her gaze piercing. "Are you sure?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yes, ma'am. Just a lot on my mind, I guess."

She seemed to consider my words before giving a small nod. "Very well. But if there's ever anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Her words were simple, yet they carried a weight I couldn't quite explain. I nodded again, unsure of what to say.

For the next hour, we worked in silence, the only sounds coming from the occasional rustle of paper or click of a pen. Despite the lack of conversation, her presence was both calming and unnerving.

When she finally stood to leave, she looked at me one last time. "Take care, Ms. Cruz."

Those words again. They echoed in my mind long after she was gone, leaving me to wonder if they meant more than I dared to believe.

---

Later that evening, I found Jenna lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

"You're back early," she remarked without looking up.

I flopped down beside her, staring at the ceiling. "I think I'm losing my mind."

She glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "What now?"

I hesitated, debating whether to tell her. Finally, I blurted out, "She sat with me in the library."

Jenna's eyes widened. "No way. What happened?"

"Nothing!" I said quickly. "She just asked if she could sit, and we worked in silence. That’s it."

Jenna smirked. "And you're freaking out over that?"

"She also asked if I was okay," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jenna's smirk softened into something more understanding. "Alexis... do you like her?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and unspoken until now. I opened my mouth to deny it, but no words came out.

Jenna sighed, patting my shoulder. "Look, I don't know what’s going on in your head, but you need to figure it out. Because this? This overthinking? It's going to drive you crazy."

She wasn’t wrong. But how could I figure out something I didn’t even fully understand?

The next day, I had no idea how I’d feel when I saw Ms. Celeste again. I didn’t know why, but I had this strange urge to avoid her. It wasn’t like there was anything wrong, but I couldn’t shake the feeling.

As I walked campus, I noticed the usual crowd around Ms. Celeste. People gathered around her, laughing and chatting, seemingly eager to bask in her presence. It was a familiar sight, but today, it grated on my nerves for some reason.

“It’s like the entire campus is obsessed,” I muttered to myself, my steps quickening as I tried to distance myself from the commotion.

"Hey, slow down there," a voice called out from behind me. I turned to see Jenna, struggling to keep pace with my brisk strides.

"What's the hurry?" she asked, falling into step beside me.

I shook my head, trying to brush off the unease. "Just... trying to get to class."

Jenna raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. Sure. You’re not avoiding someone, are you?"

I bit my lip, resisting the urge to snap at her. Instead, I just shrugged. "No one in particular."

She didn't press, but the look on her face said she wasn’t buying it. We continued walking in silence until we reached the building for our next class. As we entered, Jenna headed toward her usual seat, and I took mine near the back, trying to avoid drawing attention to myself.

Throughout the lecture, I found it difficult to focus. My mind kept drifting back to Professor Sungit—her words, her presence. I couldn’t stop replaying that last encounter in the library, the way her eyes had lingered on me. It felt like something more than just teacher-student concern, but what? What exactly was I feeling?

By the end of the day, I was mentally exhausted. I barely noticed the time until my phone buzzed with a message.

I noticed a message from Mark pop up on my phone. Wow, why is he suddenly messaging me? I thought, feeling a bit surprised.

I stared at the message for a second before opening it, trying to figure out what he wanted. I hadn’t heard from him in a while, and it seemed a little out of the blue. What could this be about? I wondered.

:))

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***