Episode 17

As we walked out of the gallery, the cool evening air hit me like a breath of fresh air, but it didn’t do much to ease the swirling thoughts in my mind. The sight of Ms. Celeste with that guy kept replaying in my head, like a loop I couldn’t escape from. Who was he? Was he important? Did it mean something? And why did it bother me so much?

Michael walked beside me, his pace slow and easy, but there was an unspoken tension between us now, a distance I hadn’t expected. We didn’t speak much as we made our way down the sidewalk, the soft click of our footsteps the only sound breaking the silence.

When we reached my car, I turned to him, trying to muster a smile, though it felt forced. "Thanks for the night, Michael. It was nice catching up."

He looked at me, his brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t push it. "Yeah, of course. Just... let me know if you want to meet up again soon. I’m always around."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding, but the words didn’t come out as naturally as I’d hoped. "I will. Thanks."

Michael gave me one last smile before he turned to leave, and I watched him walk away

"Who’s that? Your boyfriend?" I heard a voice ask, and I froze.

When I turned around, my eyes widened in surprise—it was Ms. Celeste. She was standing there, looking at me with an intrigued expression.

Wait, what? My mind raced, unsure of how to respond. Was she asking about Michael? Or was it something else? The last thing I expected was for her to approach me, especially after what I had seen earlier.

"Uh, no. He's just a friend," I managed to say, my voice feeling small and vulnerable. I hadn’t anticipated this encounter, and it caught me off guard.

Ms. Celeste raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on her lips. "A friend, huh?" she repeated, her tone laced with skepticism.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure despite the discomfort spreading through me. "Yeah, just a friend," I repeated, feeling like the explanation was lacking but hoping it would be enough.

"Wh...what about you? Where’s your boyfriend?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Ms. Celeste raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "My boyfriend?" she repeated, looking amused. "I don’t have one. Not that it’s any of your business."

I felt my face heat up, realizing how awkward the situation was. Why did I ask that? I thought to myself, mentally kicking myself for the sudden question. The silence between us lingered for a moment, and I wasn’t sure how to move forward from here.

Ms. Celeste didn’t seem to be bothered by the awkwardness, though. She stood there, her gaze steady and unreadable. After a beat, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing just a fraction as if considering something.

"Did you really think the person I was with inside was my boyfriend? He was my brother," she said, her tone surprisingly calm.

I felt a wave of embarrassment rush over me. Her brother? That made so much more sense now. I was just so caught off guard earlier.

"I’m really sorry for assuming," I said, trying to clear up the awkwardness. "I didn’t mean to jump to conclusions."

Ms. Celeste chuckled lightly, her smile still on her lips. "It’s fine. I have to admit, I found it amusing. You seemed quite invested in the idea of me having a boyfriend."

I couldn’t help but feel a bit sheepish, my cheeks flushing even more from her teasing. "I guess I was just surprised, you know? You always seem so... put together, and I never really thought about your personal life."

Her expression softened slightly as she studied me for a moment. "Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it?" she said, her voice taking on a more thoughtful tone. "People tend to make assumptions about others without knowing the full picture. It’s easy to project an image based on what you see, but there’s always more beneath the surface."

I nodded, absorbing her words. There was something almost philosophical about how she said it, and I found myself thinking more deeply about my own assumptions, especially about people like her.

"Yeah, I guess you’re right," I replied quietly, feeling a sense of realization settling in.

"Take me home, I didn’t bring my car today," she suddenly said, catching me off guard again.

I blinked, surprised by her sudden request. Wait, she wants me to drive her?

"Uh, sure," I said, still processing her request. "No problem. Hop in."

Ms. Celeste gave a small, almost mysterious smile as she walked around to the passenger side of my car and slid into the seat. I followed suit, getting in and starting the engine, the car humming to life as I navigated the quiet streets.

The air between us was still a little thick with unspoken words, but her earlier remarks had lingered in my mind. I tried to focus on driving, the rhythm of the road helping me clear my thoughts. But the weight of her presence next to me, her calm, composed aura, seemed to pull at my attention every now and then.

"Where do you live?" I asked, trying to make conversation as we drove.

"Not far," she replied. "Just take the next left."

I did as instructed, the streetlights casting their soft glow over the road as I made the turn.

We finally arrived at her condo, and she got out of the car without even saying thank you. Wow, how rude, I thought, a bit annoyed by her lack of appreciation. But then again, she was always like that—straightforward, no pleasantries.

After that, I left and headed home.

---

Celeste pov.

My brother suddenly called, and I answered the phone. "Oh?"

"Hey, your car was here," he said, sounding a bit confused.

"Just bring it here," I replied quickly, not wanting to waste time on the conversation. I hung up before he could say anything else.

Honestly, I didn’t bring my car today. I just wanted to get a ride from Alexis. It was easier that way, and maybe a little bit manipulative, but who cares?

---

Back to my pov.

After I dropped off Ms. Celeste at her condo, I got home and couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. Her unexpected request and her brief and unappreciative presence had left me feeling slightly annoyed. I knew she wasn’t the most personable person, but her lack of basic courtesy stung a bit.

I took a hot shower, trying to wash off the residual irritation. As the water cascaded over me, I thought back to our conversation. Her words about assumptions and seeing beneath the surface stuck with me. It was almost philosophical, and it made me reflect on my own assumptions, especially about her.

After I finished my shower, I grabbed my phone and saw a message from Professor Sungit. Curious, I opened it.

"Thank you, Ms. Cruz," the message read.

I blinked at the screen, a little surprised. Wow, she actually thanked me? That was unexpected, especially coming from someone like her.

I couldn’t help but smile at the message. It was such a small thing, but it felt… different, coming from her.

As I glanced at the mirror, I caught my reflection—smiling like an idiot. What the... I quickly shook my head, trying to snap out of it.

Get a grip, Alexis. It’s just a thank you.

---

The next morning, I woke up feeling oddly lighthearted, as if Ms. Celeste's unexpected "thank you" had lingered in my mind longer than it should have. I shook my head, trying to focus on the day ahead, but the memory of her composed expression and cryptic words kept resurfacing.

Why did she even thank me? It was such a minor thing, yet it felt strangely significant coming from her.

I grabbed my bag and headed to campus, determined to push her out of my thoughts. Classes went by in a blur, and by lunchtime, I was eating alone.

I wasn’t with Jenna again, and Lila was too busy lately—I hardly got to hang out with her anymore. Maybe she’s forgotten about me, I thought jokingly.

As I absentmindedly glanced to my left, I saw Professor Sungit ordering food at the cafeteria.

The sight of Professor Sungit at the cafeteria caught my eye, and I found myself observing her for a moment. There was something about her that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, a subtle mystery that always seemed to linger in her eyes. But this time, her behavior seemed different. She looked… happy, almost relaxed. Her usual stern demeanor was somewhat softened, and there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

Seeing her like this made me curious, and I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to suddenly put her in such a good mood.

Or maybe it’s because of me? I chuckled at the thought. Wow, assuming much? As if that’s even true.

I shook my head, frustrated with myself. Ugh, why do I keep thinking like this? Do I… like her? The idea made my stomach twist, and I couldn’t decide if it was excitement or pure embarrassment.

;))

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