Be still, my heart

Chapter 4: Mochi

It was a normal day in high school when Sky first saw him.

Her first day as the newly appointed English teacher of Class 3-D fell right in the middle of the second term—the class everyone had warned her about. Troublemakers, they said. The worst in junior high.

Sky had just finished her teaching course, thinking she would be working with children. Small children. Not towering, loud, unpredictable teenagers fueled by hormones and chaos.

Her friend Claudia stood at the front of the noisy classroom, completely unfazed.

“Mochi!” Claudia called over the chatter. “Where are you?”

From behind the second row, a boy with blonde hair suddenly popped up, eyes bright with mischief, a grin already forming.

“Ye—es?” he sang.

Sky blinked.

And just like that, she liked him.

There was something easy about his face—open, good-natured. Handsome, but not in a sharp way. Softer. A rounded face, a clean jaw, a pointed chin resting neatly beneath thin lips. And when he smiled—

It was striking.

Perfect teeth, lips slightly crooked at the corners, playful. His eyes disappeared entirely when the smile widened, turning into crescents.

“This is Ms. Sky,” Claudia announced. “She’ll be your English teacher this semester, so be nice—and help her out.”

The boy snapped to attention and gave an exaggerated bow, feet clicking together.

“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!”

Sky laughed under her breath before she could stop herself. He looked so serious, yet so completely unserious at the same time.

His head turned toward her. Their eyes met.

There was a flicker of something—something familiar—that Sky couldn’t quite place.

Then he smiled again.

Before she could react, he stepped forward, gently took her hand, and bowed over it.

“Hi, Ms. Sky. Welcome to Class 3-D.”

She giggled—actually giggled—until she noticed Claudia watching her. Then she quickly composed herself.

Sky offered the box of mini cupcakes she’d brought. His face lit up even more.

He winked.

Her stomach flipped.

“Alright, quiet down!” he suddenly shouted, slamming his hand on the desk. “Let’s welcome Ms. Sky!”

Like magic, the room settled.

“Hi, Ms. Skyyyy!” the class chorused.

“I’ll leave them to you,” Claudia whispered, already heading out. She smacked the boy lightly on the arm. “No flirting, Mochi. Behave.”

His face twisted into dramatic offense—so exaggerated it made Sky laugh again.

“Thanks,” Sky murmured.

This might actually be fun, she thought. Hopefully.

“Hi, guys!” she greeted.

Mochi returned to his seat—but not his attention.

His gaze stayed on her.

The entire period.

She tried to ignore it. She really did. But every time she moved, spoke, or turned—she felt it.

Then, at some point, their eyes met.

And he didn’t look away.

Not even a little.

It was a look he would give her many times throughout all the years they would know each other.

It always made Sky’s heart beat faster.

After their initial meeting, they grew closer.

“Is that your real name, Mochi?” Sky asked one day, curious.

He turned to her and gave her a mysterious smile. “I know. Cute, huh? Just like me.”

Sky made a gagging face. “Seriously?”

Mochi laughed out loud. “Didn’t know you were naive, Sky!”

“That’s Miss Sky to you!” she retorted. But she laughed with him.

“Felix,” he said suddenly, looking at her with a shy smile. “My real name is Felix.”

Sky grinned at him.

At first, it was friendly banter—back and forth witty comments. Then they started spending more time together. Pretty soon, Sky found herself excited to come to school because she knew she would see him. She took opportunities to talk to him, to be around him, even if only for a few minutes.

She told herself she was just fond of him.

Very fond of him.

She told herself he was just as fond of her too.

But they both knew it was something else.

On graduation day, after what felt like the thousandth hug she had given her students, Sky saw him in the hallway talking to another student.

Their eyes met.

He slowly made his way toward her.

When they stood in front of each other, neither of them spoke.

Then Felix opened his arms, and Sky stepped into them. They held each other in a tight hug.

“I’ll miss you, Sky,” he said softly.

Sky felt a pang of regret in her chest.

“That’s Miss—” she started, then stopped herself. “…Actually, yeah. Just Sky. You’re not my student anymore.”

He gave her a knowing look. “I know. Cool, huh?”

Sky tilted her head. “What?”

Felix suddenly hopped backward with a grin.

“Never mind! I’ll see you later, okay?” he shouted, waving his arms as he walked away.

Sky stood there, confused, watching Felix’s retreating figure.

He turned around and gave her that same lingering look he always gave her and smiled.

For some reason, she felt sad.

Like something important had just ended—

Or maybe never even had the chance to begin.