Episode:6
1032 Words
LETS CONTINUE:
The tension in the classroom was thicker than three-day-old cafeteria pudding.
Alex had just begun scribbling equations on the board—chalk squeaking like a horror soundtrack—when he noticed it. A suspicious flurry of whispered arguments in the back row. Two heads bobbing, eyes narrowed, fingers waving like tiny windmills.
He turned around, casually at first, pretending to scan the class. But his eyes zoomed in like a hawk on prey.
What are they arguing about now? he wondered, an eyebrow arching with mild amusement. Secret boyband gossip? Which K-drama is supreme? Or... is it about me?
Before he could get a single word in, Riya—glowing with the desperate need for attention like a human disco ball—shot her hand up so fast she nearly launched into orbit.
"Sir!" she called out, voice oozing fake innocence.
Alex sighed internally. Here we go...
"Yes, Riya?" he asked, tone clipped but polite.
The entire class fell silent like popcorn kernels that finally stopped popping.
Riya tilted her head dramatically, smirking like a soap opera villain. "Sarah and Pinky have been talking since the beginning of class. It's distracting, sir."
!!!
Sarah's face drained of color. Her soul attempted to abandon her body. Meanwhile, Pinky’s eyebrows launched into full arch mode, and her fists clenched like she was about to Hulk out.
"You got a problem, Riya?!" Pinky exploded, standing up so fast her chair skidded backwards. "If you want to fight, just say it to my face instead of tattling like a three-year-old!"
Sarah, now bright red and flustered, tried to pull Pinky back down. "Pinky, please! Let it go, let it gooooo ," she whispered, trying to channel Elsa but without the ice powers or success.
Alex, finally DONE with the drama, slammed the chalk onto the tray. BAM.
"Enough!" he said in a tone so serious even the walls stood straighter. "If you three want to fight, do it outside. Not in my class."
The room froze. You could hear the collective gasp of 30 shocked lungs inhaling at once.
The girls went dead quiet. Pinky crossed her arms with a huff. Riya sat down, still smirking. Sarah slunk back into her seat like a melting snowman.
Alex went back to the board, resuming his quadratic warfare, though now with slightly more annoyed scribbling.
After what felt like 74 years (but was actually 45 minutes), he finally turned back to the class. "If anyone has questions, now’s the time. If you’re too scared to ask here, come find me in the staff room after class."
And with that mic-drop moment, he walked out, leaving behind a cloud of chalk dust and unresolved teenage tension.
But the drama was not over. Oh no, the universe was just getting warmed up.
As soon as class ended, Pinky stormed over to Riya, eyes blazing like twin suns.
"Why did you do that back there?! Seriously!" she demanded.
Riya stood up, flipping her hair like she was in a shampoo ad. "Oh please. You two were disrupting. I just helped maintain order."
"Order?! You mean your craving for attention?" Pinky shot back.
Sarah rushed in again, waving her arms like a frantic peace negotiator. "Guys, please! It’s over! Let's just—"
WHACK.
Riya shoved Sarah.
Intentionally.
Sarah stumbled—arms flailing—then hit the corner of the bench with a sickening thud. Blood began trickling from her forehead.
The classroom fell into stunned silence.
Sarah's knees gave way. She trembled, eyes wide with pain and confusion. Pinky screamed, "SARAH!" then snapped.
SLAP.
Pinky landed a solid one across Riya’s cheek. Even the fluorescent lights above flickered in shock.
Just then, a student bolted to get help.
Moments later, Alex appeared at the door—eyes locking instantly on Sarah’s bleeding head. Time froze.
His face went pale. "What happened?" he barked.
"Riya did it!" someone shouted.
Alex looked at Riya—one glance. Cold. Sharp. Deadly. Riya flinched.
Without saying a word, he rushed over and scooped Sarah into his arms, bridal-style.
"I can walk, sir," Sarah whispered, dazed.
"I didn’t ask," he said, voice low and firm.
— In the hospital —
Alex paced the hallway like a caged tiger. Pinky sat nearby, silently praying, her hands clenched tight.
"Please be okay, please be okay," she murmured.
But Alex? His thoughts were fire and thunder.
How DARE she touch my Sarah… That arrogant brat. I swear if she—
When Sarah finally emerged, a bandage across her forehead and stitches hidden beneath, both Alex and Pinky sprang up like anxious jack-in-the-boxes.
"You okay?" Pinky asked, gripping her hand.
"I’m okay," Sarah whispered, offering a tired smile.
"I’m driving you home," Alex declared.
Pinky objected, "It’s alright, I’ll take her—"
"No," Alex said firmly. "I’m taking her."
They got in the car—Pinky and Sarah in the back, Alex in front. Pinky was dropped off first.
Now it was just Sarah and Alex.
The silence was THICK. You could butter toast with it.
Sarah, feeling the awkwardness crawl up her spine like a squirrel on espresso, finally muttered, "Thanks for the ride, sir."
"It’s nothing," Alex replied, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
Silence.
Then…
"Why did you even fight?" he asked suddenly, eyes locked on her through the mirror again.
"I wasn’t fighting!" Sarah exclaimed. "I was just trying to stop them. I’m not even that brave—I would never start a fight!"
"But you do hate Riya," Alex added, almost teasing.
Sarah huffed, folding her arms. "Of course I do! She’s always picking on me and Pinky and acting like she owns the school. Ugh! So annoying!"
She stopped herself mid-rant, realizing she was venting to her teacher. The Bus Guy.
Alex chuckled softly, a warm sound that made her insides flutter like microwave popcorn.
"You’re cute when you complain," he murmured, just low enough that she almost doubted she heard it right.
Her brain short-circuited.
Silence again.
Alex dropped her off, watching her until she disappeared inside.
Then he drove off, but his thoughts were still with her.
No one touches my Sarah.
- Writer
