James took her phone and went back to his desk.
"Show some respect. Even if you have beauty and
brains, I am still your teacher." His voice was full of an
authoritative tone. She lowered her gaze out of embarrassment
and never once met him in the eye again.
From the start of the class until it was over. She never
attempted to look at him. She tried to make herself look busy,
attentively listening to his lectures when in truth, she was only
afraid of being scolded again.
When the bell rang, everyone stood up from their seats.
They were all going their way towards the cafeteria when her
teacher spoke.
"All of you can go now except for you miss Valdez,"
James said. All eyes were on her until they all left except for
Oddette.
Her friend stared at her with concern in her eyes before
mouthing, "I'll wait for you in the canteen."
After that, she made her way out of the classroom and
there were only the two of them left.
"Can you sit down and look at me?" he said in a low
voice, opposite to how he yelled at her earlier.
She rapidly sat on her chair and gradually looked at him.
She can see his facial expression change into something soft.
"Was scrolling on your phone more important than me?"
he asked, to which she frowned. "I've been observing you since
earlier and noticed how engrossed you were with your phone.
Were those messages so important to you despite looking
unhappy?" he added. Emmie lowered her gaze again. "I heard
that you're a Dean's Lister and a scholar at that. Your studies
might be affected by how you're doing," he pointed out, looking
serious.
She flinched in place. He's right. Her current state of
mind might ruin her studies.
"I'm sorry," she uttered.
"Lift your head and say those words again," he
commanded in a firm voice to which she followed.
Upon her eyes meeting his gaze in the middle, she felt a
lump at the pit of her throat and swallowed.
"I'm sorry," she repeated.
The teacher then smiled and looked at her with a loomed
face.
"I also apologize," he said before handing her phone
back.
*****
I'm not sure if James is genuinely concerned about my
well-being or if he was just guilty about what happened before.
However, he's indeed right. Oddie may affect my studies a lot
due to what happened. I have to get myself together.
I let out a deep sigh as I thumbed my locks at the back of
my ear.
I can't afford to lose my scholarship since it helps me a
lot with my expenses plus there's no point in living in the past.
My phone vibrated for a moment. When I checked the
message, it was none other than Oddette.
"Don't skip your food. We're waiting for you."
I immediately made my way towards the cafeteria and
saw my friends gathered into a table. I waved my hands at them
and quickly, they pointed towards the empty seat.
We all engaged into a small conversation as I ate the
food Oddette ordered for me. We were all enjoying ourselves
when I received another text message.
Upon checking who it was, my forehead creased. It came
from an unregistered number