Reason 1: I Was Fascinated With Her Tantalizing Smiles (End)

After confirming my seat, I went back to my friends. I don't want to hung around that scary woman anymore.

"Rae, how's your special exams?" Lisa asked as she showed a teasing smile. I rolled my eyes secretly at her.

What really is your character profile, girl? A mature woman who already underwent a relationship or a naughty teen who loves teasing her friends? Please maintain a constant character. I'm getting confused at your actions.

"It's fine, I guess? Though I fell like I would develop a stiff neck. I can't even stretch my arms or wander my eyes around to rest because I'm surrounded by teachers. One small mistake and I feel like they would fail me in the exams. Scary!" I narrated as I acted out a chilled expression.

I then leaned at Jean lovingly, hoping to get some of her comfort.

Lisa is not my mommy anymore! I will have Jean adopt me from the claws of that woman who can't maintain her character profile.

They then laughed at my mischief even though I underwent a very chilling exam.

"In the next Grading Examinations, you should also be absent, Rae. So you can get another special exam," Joana teased. I pouted, which made them laugh even more.

"Huhu, I don't want to experience another hell exam, Joana. Don't jinx it! And I don't want to experience another high fever. I get hallucinations and it's not good for my health," I said.

After that, I exaggeratedly narrated my experience with the fever.

A few days passed and our grades were out. And because I already warned my parents not to expect anything grand with my grades, everything went well. I don't want to be pressured to study in this new school. Back in my old school, I always have to be first, and I'm tired of doing that.

My grades were fine, but my seatmate isn't. She's so scary! And every by-partners activity, I'm always stuck with her! What to do?!

We would not talk to each other, except for when needed in activities. I'm getting bored.

I'm at the end of the row, so she's the only person I can talk to. But with her hostile attitude towards me, I'm now lonely!

We have a free time one day, as our teachers suddenly got an emergency meeting.

My classmates decided to have a little jamming session, especially since Neil brought a guitar. Neil is our resident guitarist, and sometimes, I would consult him with the instrument.

I'm an aspiring musician.

He started plucking the chords for *Moira's Titibo-tibo.

We danced and sung the song as it was very easy to interpret. Everyone was having fun, and those who remained seated swayed to the rhythm of the song.

But when we reached the chorus, a classmate named Yuri did the unspeakable.

She lightly caressed my face.

Yup! She. Caressed. My. Face! My 'only for pinching cheeks' face!

I froze at what she did.

I spent a few seconds just to process what she did.

And it was too late for me to react, so I instantly hid myself in Lisa's back and cried. I cried! For the second time since entering this school!

I'm so embarrassed! That was the first time I've experienced something like that!

And the other Grade 11 STEM-1 students who hung out at our room also saw the event that transpired! So embarrassing!

The next few days became torture for me. I'm always teased by Yuri and our other classmates. And it did not help that I'm a transferee. I can't possibly mingle with our other unfamiliar classmates because I still don't know them! Heck, I don't even know my seatmate!

And that's when I saw her smile.

It was so blinding.

"Hahaha! Don't be like that, Rae. Yuri is a straight girl. She only did that because of the lyrics of the song. You don't have to be so affected. Have you not been touched in the face even once? I think Lisa and Ana are using every chance they can get to pinch your cheeks," Nella, our classmate and the school's Supreme Student Government's Public Information Officer, commented as she cupped her cheeks to rest on her desk.

"It's different, Nel. They were giving proof that I am cute, so I won't be awkward with such display of affection. However, what Yuri did is not the same. She's a beautiful girl, and she freaking gently caressed my face to top that! How can I stay true to my sexual orientation if someone did that?!" I exploded.

Blessie, the ice cold woman that I knew until today, giggled at my answer.

I stared at her in shock.

S-she giggled! T-that's a shock.

And she have deep dimples when she laughs! So she's hiding some sense of cuteness?! This scary seatmate of mine?!

Unconsciously, I blushed as I heard her giggles. My resistance for deep dimples is virtually zero.

I'm easily attracted to dimples so I tried to avoid staring at her, but it was a very wrong move!

When I faced to the side, Yuri's face was a few inches close to mine!

I immediately tried to get away from this creepy woman who doesn't know any better, even if I stumble and fall as I did. I don't even care anymore! The most important thing right now to me is to get away from the sinful girl!

"Hahaha! You're so cute, Rae! But it's fine. We still love you," Blessie said and smiled, revealing her deep dimples. Add that to the fact that the sun rays from the windows coincidentally shined upon her making her look like an angel who descended the earth.

And that's when I knew that I started falling.

~~~

*Moira's "Titibo-Tibo" (transl. Boyish) is a song recorded by Filipino singer Moira Dela Torre for her debut studio album Malaya. It was composed by Libertine Amistoso and it is only interpreted by Moira. The song won at the competition Himig Handog 2017 at the end of November held on ASAP. It was released for digital download and streaming on February 18, 2018, through Star Music. (Wikipedia, 2021)