TAINTED HEARTS (ENGLISH)

TAINTED HEARTS 05

(TH) Chapter 05

Since I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a flight attendant. So when I got a chance to study, I took tourism at the school near home. Now, I didn’t expect that I would be able to study in this kind of school.

The school policy was good and not strict. My academic history that was recorded at my old school would not go to waste. That meant even if I stopped before I could graduate from my former school, I could graduate with Latin honors from the school I transferred to.

I have never ridden an airplane. But whenever I see the aircraft in the sky, I feel like I want to fly and reach them. I dreamed of flying around the world and exploring new places. It was my dream to take my family abroad and let them experience the things that I wanted them to experience.

“Le puedo ayudar en algo?”

I smiled while holding a book for the language that I was studying. I was reading while going to my first class. My hand was even moving as I acted the proper gestures along with the words.

“Le puedo—”

“You’re studying while walking?”

I froze in my steps and turned to the man who walked beside me. He was at my side and peeking at the book I was holding. I hurriedly and forcefully closed the book in my hand when I realized who the man was. He was too close so I also stepped away.

I avoided him for almost two weeks. Even if we just looked at each other in class, I held myself back. If I could just not lift my face to the board, I would. Looking into his eyes was dangerous, I knew he was because his stares could make my heart flip. That was dangerous for me. He might not care about his work, but I did. I cared so much about my studies. My plan here was to study and not fall in love.

“Good . . . good morning, sir.”

I slightly bowed to avoid my face. I wanted to slap my face too for stammering in front of him. If I were not spacing out, I would not stutter. It seemed like he was amused at what I did. I heard his soft laugh. I swallowed when I saw his feet coming closer. Maybe he came here right after showering because the smell of his perfume pierced my nose.

“Hey,” he said in a hoarse and low voice.

I stepped back once and swallowed again. I held back my breath when he also bent down and caught my eyes. My lips parted along with the escape of a faint gasp when I noticed his eyes were on my lips. Slowly, he came closer. My eyes widened when I felt one of his arms brush the side of my waist.

“W-what? W-wait . . .” I stopped him in the middle of the loud pounding of my chest.

What was he planning? Was he going to kiss me? I got even more nervous at that thought. My hands were raised and my grip on the book tightened. I was about to push him away because I thought he was going to grab me by the waist. But before I could do that, I looked to the side and saw that he was reaching for the doorknob.

“Sorry, but can you move? You’re in the way.”

He was grinning while looking sideways at me. Our eyes met. I blushed deeply. Our faces were only a few inches away when he stopped getting closer because he had already reached the door handle. Because I was too busy reading, I didn’t notice that I was already in front of the classroom door.

I took a deep breath and tried to straighten up my back when I realized that I looked like a fool in front of him. I held him on the chest and slightly pushed so that I could move away. Also, so I could step aside from the door and give him space.

He turned the doorknob without removing the grin on his face even while he slowly stepped inside. It was as if his lips and eyes were teasing me because of my misunderstanding.

When he went in, I didn’t follow right away. I shut my eyes tightly because of the embarrassment and wanted to smack myself. I brushed my hair with my fingers and then took a deep breath before opening my eyes. I calmed myself first before following inside.

The students inside didn’t notice me entering because their attention was already at the front where Sir Lennox was. I quietly sat at the back where I had no seatmate. I didn’t like the feeling of being surrounded by classmates who didn’t talk to me.

On my first day, I wondered why they weren’t friendly. I just realized a few days ago that they were choosing the group where they thought they belonged or where the group was convenient for them. I dressed simply. On the first day, I just wore a plain shirt, jeans, and sneakers. While they looked like they were going to a party. Full of accessories. Even now that we were already in uniform, I could still see the differences between them and me.

Their things were expensive: luxury bags and makeup. Gadgets and expensive things that range in price from thousands to millions. I also heard them talking about business, investments, and shares. Their conversations circled around numbers of money that poor people like me couldn’t imagine. In other words, they were expensive people. On the other hand, I was the lowest of the lowest.

At first, I wanted to have friends among them, and I often smiled at them even without getting a smile back. But when I saw their lifestyle, I distanced myself on my own. I couldn’t keep up with them. Aside from not having the money to copy them, I also had no intention of spending that much just for things that would get old over time.

Good thing that in other subjects, I met those whose lives were not far from mine. Like me, they were overwhelmed by this school. Even if we seemed different, we still chose to study here because of the good facilities and the credibility of the school.

The class ended with me avoiding Sir Lennox’s gaze. Because we often met eyes, I couldn’t sit still. I kept bowing my head or using a book to cover my face. At the first sound of the bell, they already rushed out. Most had gone and because I was at the very back, I was also the last to be left.

While arranging my things, I glanced at sir. He was erasing what he had written on the board. While his back was turned, I hurried and almost dropped my things. I planned to go out together with Abigail’s group who seemed to be deliberately slowing down.

“Ms. Peña Vega.” I closed my eyes tightly when he called my name.

I was already near the door, just a few steps away. Abigail’s group was already outside when he called me. I bit my lower lip tightly. When I exhaled, I turned to him. Our eyes quickly met.

“Why, sir?”

I was holding one strap of the old backpack I was wearing. I didn’t use the expensive bag that came from Mr. Andromeda anymore. Whenever I saw the brand, I felt like it didn’t suit me. I replaced it with a small backpack; just enough to fit the important things I needed. The few books I carried were held tightly in one arm.

He smirked as menacingly mysterious eyes were directed at me. I suddenly stepped back because of the way he was staring. I was afraid that he would touch me and continue what he intended to do to me inside his office.

“You are avoiding me.” His words were not a question. He noticed.

Even if it was late, I shook my head. I avoided his eyes.

“No, sir. I’m not . . .”

“Xena,” he called me again by my name.

“Yes, sir?” My eyes were down.

“You are avoiding me, right?”

I shook my head slowly.

“No, sir . . .”

“Why are you avoiding me? Do you know who I am?”

I nodded. My head was still bowed.

“Yes, sir. You are my professor—”

“Ms. Peña Vega.”

He called me firmly. Even if I didn’t look at him, it was obvious his jaw was clenched. I tried to step back once again.

“Xena!”

I jumped and lifted my eyes when he slammed some papers he was holding loudly on the desk. I couldn’t avoid him anymore, my startled eyes went directly to him.

“S . . . sir?”

I was right that his jaws were clenching. He talked through closed teeth.

“Who are you talking to on the floor? Look at me whenever I’m talking to you! Do you understand?”

I quickly nodded because of the way he spoke. No matter what, he was still my teacher. My grade in one of my subjects depended on him. His eyes were dark even as I nodded.

“Do you know me? Do you know who I am?” he repeated.

“You are my professor in one of my subjects, sir.”

“Is that it?”

I just looked at him. I was confused. Why did he need to call me? Yell at me? And ask me this? For a moment I just stared at him. He also stared at my eyes as if reading what was inside. After a while, he let out a breath.

“It’s raining. Come with me. I’ll drive you home.”

My lips parted to complain. I just couldn’t speak because he had already taken his bag and quickly passed me.

“Don’t just stand there and follow me quickly.”

With my shoulders down, I just followed until I got into his car. I was still hesitant at first, I was only forced to enter when I caught his dark stare.

I directed the way to the house. The rain almost stopped when we arrived in front of the gate. From the gate, our house and the car could be seen. I turned to him only to see that his grip on the steering wheel was tight while looking at our house.

“I’ll get off here . . . ah . . . ” I didn’t know how to say goodbye. “Thank you for bringing me home.”

I caught his attention. He removed one hand from the wheel, leaned his elbow on it, and rested his chin on his fist. He looked at my face. I was unbuckling my seatbelt.

“I don’t know how you did that. You’re plain and not even that beautiful.”

“Sir?” I asked with furrowed brows. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was mockery in his voice.

“Living a good life, huh? That old geezer even gave you a . . . car?” I didn’t hear the last word he said.

“What, sir?” I asked in confusion.

He looked at me and stared.

“Maybe because you’re fresh and young? This is bad because you made me curious now about how long you last in the cowgirl position.”

“What are you talking about?”

I wasn’t rich but I wasn’t stupid. I didn’t understand what he was saying. Why and for what his words were. I didn’t know and the only thing I knew was he wanted to imply something lewd.

He quickly shook his head and withdrew the expression earlier. He messed up his hair while raising both hands.

“Chill. I was just kidding.” He grinned.

My brows were already furrowed and my grip on the car door tightened. Joke? Didn’t he know s****l harassment even as a joke?

“By the way, nice house and car,” he commented without losing his grin.

I stared at him and he did the same. I just turned my eyes away first because I had to get off.

“Thanks again,” I said quickly without looking and immediately got off, slamming the car door shut.

He also quickly sped off the car right after I turned my back. I followed the back of the car with my eyes, it was fast and as if he was angry while driving. I let out a deep breath to calm myself. I shrugged as I entered the house.