Fragile

Flesh Touching, Souls Searching.

Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. Jack Ernest's Apartment

Impossible. That was the first word that came to Jack's thoughts as he stared at the person outside his door. Here he was, thinking that it would be the landlord's daughter coming to collect his dues, but the image that stood against the dark background of the night told him a very resounding "No". For a few moments, Jack was not able to utter a single word, much less open his mouth. Impossible, the word echoed within the corners of Jack's head again as he stared at the sight before him. After a while, he found the will to compose himself and ask why his History teacher stood outside his door, and why at this ungodly hour.

"Miss? How...how did you know where I lived? I'm certain that I have not given you my address...Have you been follo-" Miss Kate Summers quickly cut the confused student off. She stared straight into the eyes of Jack. However, Jack found that he could not bring himself to make eye contact with his teacher; to him the situation was awkward. His thoughts were cut off, again, as the voice of Miss Kate Summers broke the peaceful quiet of the night.

"Jack? Do you...do you think I am creepy? Are you scared of the fact that I know where you reside in? Is it...is it truly that much of a big deal for you? I... I admit that I did follow you, but...but that was last Monday. Look, I am being honest with you here, okay? I was just curious, even more so when you walked the opposite direction from me, so I decided...I decided to walk wherever you walked, and I-"

It was Jack's turn to interrupt. After all, he felt that it was not right to allow a lady to stand outside his door when he was within the confines of his small but comfortable apartment room, or his home, as he preferred to call it.

"Miss, um, I think that we should talk inside...You may come in...", Jack trailed off. He did not take his eyes off his teacher, even for a second, as he watched her walk inside his apartment room. His eyes carefully observed every single inch of Miss Kate Summer's movements, from the way she set her red leather handbag on the desk where he writes, and from the way she sat down on the chair. Jack never dreamed of the day that he would be able to see his teacher up close; in fact, this was too close. He could see everything that she was, everything from the-

Way that she had already changed from her teacher's uniform into a long sleeved dress that hid her pale, thin arms.

The way she fiddled with her hair, which seemed slightly wet, perhaps from taking a shower, with her index finger as her dark, brown eyes stared at the tiled floor of Jack's apartment room.

The way that she was not wearing makeup anymore, allowing Jack to see a very tiny splash of freckles on the area around her nose, telling Jack that she, too, was not perfect, but to Jack she will always be an image that was the definition of the word 'beautiful'.

The way that she, from time to time, looked anxiously at Jack, seemingly waiting for words to come out of his mouth, but alas, Jack found himself rendered speechless.

The way that she licked her lips, from time to time, as if preparing herself to be ki-

"Miss, I apologize if I may have offended you, but, you see...I really have to ask you. For what reason did you follow me? I assume that curiosity is not enough of a reason for you to follow me...Besides, if you wanted to see where I lived, you could have asked me and I would have told you", Jack said as he thought that he was teasing his teacher by saying so. In fact, she was indeed blushing, and due to her pale complexion, her reddening cheeks could be clearly seen.

Jack leaned forward to listen as he watched Miss Kate Summers take a deep breath. Covering her mouth with a white handkerchief, she cleared her throat, and began to speak.

"You're no fair, Jack. Tell me, what am I to you?"

You're the one who isn't fair, barging suddenly in my life, barging outside my door. Tell me, Miss, what am I to you?

"When...when you offered to take me to dinner that one Monday night, how do you think I felt?"

When you gladly accepted my offer, and I was surprised you did, how did you think I felt?

"You were even willing to listen to my story on that day. You didn't even offer me words of comfort, you didn't give me an empty 'I am sorry', and it meant a lot to me. I know this might sound wrong, but I felt as if you really cared about me, and that day, I was really happy."

A student, like me. No one special. Just a student! In fact,not even that good a student. And yet, you bothered telling me about the things that happened in your life. I felt as if you cared about me, too. And that day, you made me really happy.

"Jack, I know you're a student, and I am your teacher, but, ever since that day, I didn't see see you only as a student, but as a...man. I know this sounds like your usual romance dialogue, but believe me, I'm...", Her words were lost in Jack's thoughts.

You're a teacher, but ever since that day, I saw you as a woman.

Tears streamed off the eyes of Miss Summers. She got up from the chair she was sitting on, and she tried to wipe her tears with her handkerchief. "S-sorry, Jack. I'm going to take my leave now..." She reached for the doorknob, but stopped as Jack held gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

Jack tried to console his teacher in any way possible. He was desperate, desperate to see her back in her usual cheerful state. He wanted to hug her tightly in his arms, but he felt that she would only be hurt more if he did. It was true that he could use Miss Summers' confession towards him, but for him, that was not in his nature to do such. He was about to take his hand off his teacher's arm but suddenly she turned and-

Jack suddenly found his teacher's arms wrapped around his neck. He could breathe in her scent, as she pressed her rose-red lips upon his. He was not able to react, due to the shock of such an unexpected action. This...is not right, Jack's heart told him, but it was too late, as he cupped the cheeks of his teacher and responded to her kiss.

It felt so wrong for Jack for his skin to touch, to defile that of hers. What right does he to hold someone worlds away in his arms? Perhaps, it was true that he liked Miss Summers, and his feelings did not go unrequited, but to kiss her... Her, of all the other girls of the same age as him. Her, of all the other students. Out of all the students, he made the mistake of falling for a teacher. It was too late, as the innocent kissing turned into making out. He could taste her as their tongues touched. It was too late, as he listened to the heavy breathing of Miss Summers as she pulled away from him.

Jack thought that it was over, but quickly realized that it was not as Miss Summers started taking off her top. Jack tried to look away, but found out that he could not. She sat on the bed of Jack. However, even as he could see her exposed flesh, he felt no lustful desire towards her. The reason for that was because he could see the scar that spanned from the top to the bottom of Miss Summers' back. It was true that he did not mind the scar, but it made him feel angry at himself for thinking of doing such lewd acts with the person that now sat in front of him, on his bed.

"Jack? Do you find it ugly?'

Jack did not reply. Instead, he reached out his right hand and traced the long scar with his fingers slowly. His History teacher flinched.

"Sorry", Jack apologized. "I know it's a scar, but does it still hurt?", Jack asked Miss Summers. She shook her head, and she put her dress back on.

Miss Summers looked at Jack in the eyes again. This time, he stared right into them, lost in the brown landscape. "Jack, you know what will happen to us right? If we got found out?"

Jack looked away. Of course I would know. "It's not like...I'm planning to tell," Jack replied to his teacher's question. For a moment, both student and teacher sat on the bed, not speaking to each other. After a few minutes passed, Miss Summers checked the gold watch on her wrist and looked at Jack. "I guess this is goodbye, then..."

Jack placed his hand on his teacher's, and she responded by holding his tightly. "If-if you like, you can sleep here. I mean, it's late at night already..."

His teacher smiled at him, and immediately slumped on his bed. She turned her head towards him, and jokingly asked him. "Are you telling me to sleep with you? Wasn't kissing enough?"

Jack let out a humorless laugh and went on to turn the light switch off. After doing so, he laid down beside his teacher on his bed, but he made sure to turn away from her, so that he would not be tempted to do things he will surely regret.

"Good night, Miss", Jack said to the person whom he did not expect to be lying beside him on his bed.

No matter what, she's my teacher, and I am the student.

We are lost, where do we go next?

The wind rustled the leaves outside the apartment, and the stars in the sky did their usual job of providing a little bit of light to the huge canvas of black, night sky.