Chapter 18

Teresa glanced back when someone called her name. She saw a car driving beside her, and a little boy waved from inside. Teresa smiled and waved back.

The car stopped in front of Teresa, and she saw Kenzo get out and open the door. "Get in," he said to Teresa.

"Huh?" Teresa raised an eyebrow.

Kenzo stared at her without saying anything.

"Oh," Teresa muttered as she got into the car. She greeted Kevin, who was already inside.

"Hello, Kevin."

"Sis Tere, why are you walking?" he asked innocently. "Aren't you tired?"

Teresa leaned closer to the little boy and smiled at him. "Walking is healthy," she replied, poking Kevin's tiny nose playfully.

The two of them joked around, with Kevin clearly comfortable around Teresa, and Teresa clearly enjoying spending time with the child. Meanwhile, Kenzo sat quietly in the car, listening to their conversation with a faint smile. He had never seen his little brother so cheerful before.

Kenzo's car stopped in front of Kevin's school. Both Kenzo and Teresa got out to walk Kevin inside.

"Take care of Kevin, okay, ma'am?" Teresa said warmly to Kevin's teacher.

The three of them waved goodbye to Kevin, and then Teresa and Kenzo returned to the car. However, Teresa stood still, not getting into the car.

"What are you doing? Get in," Kenzo said.

Teresa opened the car door and sat beside him. "Are you sure it's okay for me to hitch a ride?" she asked hesitantly.

Kenzo didn't respond, his attention focused on the steering wheel as he maneuvered the car toward their school. The road was packed with traffic that morning, and they were stuck in a long jam.

Teresa glanced at her watch—only ten minutes left before they'd be late. Unfortunately, the school was still a fair distance away since they had to go around Kevin's school.

Teresa's face grew anxious. She looked at Kenzo, who seemed completely calm.

"It's so crowded. We might be late," Teresa said.

Kenzo turned the car at the next intersection, taking a narrow road that only one car could fit through.

"Wait, isn't our school straight ahead?" Teresa asked, confused, since their school was supposed to be straight, not a turn.

As usual, Kenzo said nothing, and the car continued down the small road. Teresa still had no idea where Kenzo was taking her.

"Where are we going?" Teresa asked.

"Just be quiet," Kenzo replied.

Teresa realized something as she looked at the road Kenzo was taking. It was the road behind their school, the same route they used to take to sneak in from the back.

The car stopped in front of a modest house by the roadside. Kenzo instructed Teresa to get out of the car. Teresa saw an old man come out of the house and walk towards Kenzo.

"Oh, Master Kenzo," the man greeted and shook Kenzo's hand. Teresa did the same.

"Mind if I park the car here, Bah?" Kenzo asked the old man.

"Oh yes, of course, Master."

Teresa followed Kenzo toward the back gate of their school, where a ladder was already set up to climb over the fence.

"Why aren't we going through the front?" Teresa asked.

Kenzo simply glanced at the watch on Teresa's wrist. Sure enough, they were already late.

"You go first."

Teresa climbed up the ladder, with Kenzo steadying it. They both jumped over the fence into the school grounds.

"There's no one here," Teresa said, looking around. Luckily, no one was there.

After they landed, Kenzo straightened his clothes and motioned for Teresa to follow him into the school building.

"You two!"

They froze in their tracks when they heard the voice. Turning around, they saw a teacher holding a small stick.

"What are you doing here? Are you dating? How dare you sneak around when classes have already started! GET INSIDE!" he barked.

"Yes, sir," Teresa and Kenzo saluted before walking into the school.

Teresa clutched her chest. "Phew, at least we didn't get punished."

They continued walking toward their classroom. The hallways were deserted since lessons had already begun.

"Teresa?" Yova exclaimed when she saw Teresa enter the classroom with Kenzo.

"Excuse me, ma'am. Sorry we're late; the traffic was terrible," Teresa explained to the physics teacher.

"Alright, take your seats."

The students in the classroom stared at them for arriving late together.

"How did you end up with Kenzo?" Yova asked. "Don't tell me it was a coincidence."

"I was with Kenzo," Teresa whispered shyly.

"Seriously?" Yova whispered back. "Wow, you really are bold!"

Teresa smiled and glanced at Kenzo, realizing that lately, she had been getting closer to him. She watched him with a sweet smile on her face.

"Smiling to yourself, huh?" Yova nudged her.

...

The recess bell rang. Yova invited Teresa to the canteen.

"You go ahead, I have something to take care of."

"Okay, I'll wait for you there."

Teresa noticed that everyone had left the classroom except for her and Kenzo. She pulled out Kenzo's jacket from her bag and the gift she had prepared, smiling as she walked toward his desk.

"Ken—"

"Kenzo."

Teresa stopped in her tracks when she saw Bianca enter and approach Kenzo, handing him a box with a big smile. Kenzo accepted it happily.

Teresa decided against her plan, putting the jacket back into her bag and walking out of the classroom toward the canteen.

At the canteen…

Teresa sat beside Yova, her face showing her bad mood.

"What's wrong?" Yova asked.

"Nothing. Is this mine?" Teresa asked, pointing to the burger on the canteen table.

Yova nodded. Teresa grabbed the burger and took a big bite, clearly venting her frustration on it.

"Poor burger," Yova commented.

"Let it be," Teresa grumbled, taking another aggressive bite.

The people in the canteen suddenly started whispering and pointing in one direction. They seemed to be talking about someone who had just arrived.

"What's going on?" Yova asked, turning around.

"I don't care," Teresa muttered, still upset.

"Tere, you have to see this," Yova said, eyes wide, nudging Teresa.

"What is it?" Teresa turned her head to see what everyone was looking at.

Kenzo was walking into the canteen with Bianca, who was holding his hand. The entire room buzzed with excitement.

'Wow, they look so good together.'

'Couple goals for sure.'

'They're perfect, so handsome and beautiful.'

Teresa grew angrier hearing and seeing the reactions of the people around her. She stood up and left the canteen, passing by Kenzo and Bianca. She briefly stopped to glare at Kenzo before storming off in frustration.

Teresa headed to the front garden and sat under a tree, muttering to herself. "What's wrong with you, Teresa? Kenzo isn't even yours," she scolded herself, pulling out grass from the ground.

"But why do I feel jealous? And what's with that guy? Suddenly, he's being nice to me, but now he's getting close to Bianca. He used to act all cold and distant, but now he's all flirty with the girls. Ugh, why did I have to fall for Kenzo? Teresa, you're such an idiot," she muttered.

"They're not dating, you know," said someone, startling Teresa.

"Huh?" Teresa almost jumped.

"You scared me! Why are you here?" Teresa asked Reno, who had suddenly appeared.

"I've been standing there watching you mumble to yourself while ripping out the grass. You're like a gardener."

Teresa wiped her hands and stood up to face Reno. "So, you heard everything I said?"

"Yeah, you were talking pretty loudly."

"What? Really?" Teresa looked around.

"Relax, it was just me who heard."

Teresa's face fell. She didn't mind if Reno knew, but she was still upset.

"Hey, but how do you know that Kenzo and Bianca aren't dating?"

"I just know," Reno said.

"How do you know?" Teresa asked, curious.

"They're just—"