Episode:8
798 Words
LETS CONTINUE:
The sun had barely dipped beyond the horizon, painting the sky in watercolor shades of pink and purple — but Sarah's mind? A chaotic rainbow swirl of emotions. As she lay on her bed, clutching her pillow like it held the secrets to the universe, one thought echoed louder than the rest:
"Why was he so nice to me...?"
Alex Sir.
The way he lifted her like a scene out of a K-drama — bridal style, no less — still played on repeat in her head like her favorite Spotify song.
"I told him I could walk... but he didn't even listen... and those eyes... that serious face... ughhhhh!" she groaned, pressing the pillow over her face.
Her cheeks were the color of ripe strawberries by the time her mom's voice echoed up the stairs.
"Sarah! Dinner's ready, come down!"
Still dazed, she slowly rolled off the bed and trudged downstairs. But when she entered the dining room—
SURPRISE!!
Her eyes widened.
— Sitting at the head of the table was a man in a camouflage jacket. Her father.
Back from his camp.
Sarah froze for a millisecond before softly muttering, "Hi, Dad."
He gave her a single glance and a curt nod. The air instantly felt heavier. Like someone had replaced all the oxygen with pure tension. (x_x)
They sat down together, the clinks of cutlery echoing too loudly in the silence.
"How are your studies?" her father asked sharply, not even looking up from his plate.
Sarah gulped. "W-well, dad."
He slammed his spoon down, just slightly. Enough to make her jump.
"Only concentrate on studies. No distractions. If I hear anything other than academics, I'll drop you from that college. Got it?"
Boom. Like a missile straight to the heart.
Sarah nodded silently, staring down at her rice like it had personally offended her.
Her mom immediately jumped in, giving a soft laugh to lighten the mood.
"He says that all the time. Don't worry. Enjoy your college life, dear. You only get these years once."
Sarah tried to smile. "Okay, Mom."
But her appetite had vanished.
That night, upstairs in her room, Sarah sat by the window, legs tucked up to her chest, forehead wrapped in that ridiculous bandage.
Outside, the moon glowed. Peaceful. Serene.
Inside her brain? Absolute CHAOS.
She kept going back and forth like a confused penguin in an ice maze.
"Am I doing something wrong...?"
"Alex sir helped me... He was kind... caring... But what if... what if people misunderstood?"
"My father... if he ever found out..."
Her heart pounded like a drum in a rock concert.
She stood up dramatically, pacing across the room like she was starring in her own dramatic monologue.
**"No. I have to stop. I can’t get involved with him. I’m already an introvert. I barely talk to people. If this continues, people will assume things... Riya will DEFINITELY cause more drama... Dad would explode like a volcano... It’s best to keep my distance."
Decision made.
Tomorrow, she would avoid Alex Sir. Stay focused. Stay safe. No more fluttery feelings. No more weak knees. No more... staring contests through the rearview mirror.
She climbed into bed, pulled the blanket over her head like a turtle retreating into its shell, and whispered to herself:
"Be invisible, Sarah. Be very invisible."
THE NEXT DAY - CLASSROOM MAYHEM
Sarah walked into the class like a spy on a stealth mission. Head down. Mouth zipped. No eye contact. (..ω..)
She took her seat in the last row and buried her nose in her textbook like it was the Bible of Avoiding-Hot-Teachers.
Pinky, beside her, noticed instantly.
"Uh-oh... Operation Ice Queen has begun," Pinky whispered with an eye-roll.
"Shhh! Don’t draw attention," Sarah whispered back, panicking.
Then...
The door opened.
Alex walked in.
Hair freshly gelled. Shirt neatly pressed. Aura: INTENSE.
"Good morning, everyone. Let’s get started."
His eyes scanned the room.
Paused.
Right on Sarah.
Sarah felt it. That internal squeal of "NOPE NOPE NOPE!" rising inside her. But she pretended to be completely absorbed in a graph of a parabola.
He raised an eyebrow.
Strange... she didn’t even look up. Not even a smile...?
Throughout the class, Sarah made zero eye contact. She didn’t ask questions. Didn’t nod. Didn’t even blink, probably.
Meanwhile, Alex was... puzzled. Genuinely confused.
"Is she mad at me? Was it too much yesterday? Did I cross a line...?"
He tried to ignore the twinge of disappointment that settled like a fog over his heart.
He finished the lesson.
"Alright, if anyone has doubts, come to the staff room later," he said, glancing at her.
No response.
She just packed her bag silently. Like a ghost.
He watched her leave.
And all he could think was:
"What happened to... my Sarah?"
- Writer
