The classroom buzzed with low murmurs as students shuffled around, settling into their seats.
The sound of shuffling books, whispered conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter filled the air.
"Hey, Helen," Dom's voice broke through the noise, smooth and confident, a casual grin plastered across his face.
I glanced up at him, my expression unreadable. "Hey,"
I responded quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You know, we're partners for the group tutorial this session,"
he said, raising his full black brows slightly as he observed me.
It was then that I really noticed him,
the smoothness of his skin, the sharp angle of his nose, and the way a dimple crept into his cheek when he smiled.
I had always heard people talking about him, the effortless charm, the way girls practically melted around him. And in that moment, I understood the hype.
"Yeah, Selena mentioned it,"
I replied, turning slightly to look at my best friend.
Selena, however, seemed to have momentarily forgotten how to breathe.
She was staring at Dom, eyes wide, lips slightly parted, like she had just seen the most magnificent creature on earth.
I nudged her gently, snapping her out of her trance. She quickly turned to me, her face burning with embarrassment as she shot me a sharp look.
"Yeah, so I'm fully booked this semester," Dom continued, as he smiles acknowledging Selena's obvious reaction. "I'd like to know when you'd be available?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. "For what exactly?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
Was this some kind of backhanded way of implying I needed help? Did he think I was struggling academically and needed saving?.
Dom blinked, confused.
His smile faltered slightly.
"Uh… I don't get what's happening here," he said, tilting his head.
I could tell he knew. He was just enjoying my reaction. I was about to fire back when Selena suddenly cut in, her voice unnaturally sweet and high-pitched.
"You know, she'll get back to you on this," she said, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.
I turned to her, eyes widening. "What did you just do?" I whispered harshly.
She set her phone down and leaned in, lowering her voice. "Helen, are you trying to fail this session?"
My body tensed at her words. "Fail?" I scoffed, my voice rising slightly. Like anyone could really fail in this school
"What do you mean?"
Selena's expression softened slightly.
"Have you checked your results recently? You really should look at what you got in the last test," she said, with genuine concern in her voice.
Her words hit me like a slap. I had been struggling lately, I knew that. But was it really that bad?
"Since you seem to know so much about me, why don't you just tell me?" I snapped, my voice higher than I intended.
Selena flinched, taken aback. She opened her mouth to say something,
but before she could respond, the teacher walked into the classroom.
"Good morning, class," Miss Bella voice rang out as she turned to scribble on the board. The Impact of English on Other Languages.
She faced us again. "In our last class, we discussed The Role of English as a Lingua Franca. Who can give me a brief summary?"
Silence.
I racked my brain, trying to recall anything from the last class. Nothing. My thoughts swirled, but no clear memory surfaced.
"Helen," Miss Bella called out suddenly.
My heart pounded. I swallowed hard.
"I… I don't think I was in the last class, ma'am," I mumbled.
Miss Bella gives me a skeptical look.
"Are you sure, Helen? Or is this the new excuse students use these days?"
Laughter erupted across the room. My face burned.
From the back, Sabrina and her friends giggled loudly, their whispers not-so-subtle. One of them muttered, "She's lying, Ma'am"
My stomach twisted. I glanced at Dan,
his head buried in his book,
pretending not to notice.
Miss Anna hushed the class, then asked again, "Who else can summarize?"
Dom raised his hand.
I exhaled deeply as the attention shifts away from me.
"Ma'am," Dom began smoothly,
"You explained that English has become the dominant global language, meaning people from different countries use it to communicate when they don't share a native language. It's widely used in business, politics, science, technology, and entertainment."
He made it sound so effortless.
I sank into my seat, my mind still reeling. Even if I had missed the last class, I could have read ahead. I should have known that.
I turned to Selena. She was right, I needed the tutoring.
She, however, wasn't looking at me. I hesitated, then whispered, "Selena?"
No response.
Great. I had some apologizing to do.
After class, I turned to Selena. "I'm sorry, Sel. You were right," I admitted, my tone softer.
If looks could kill, I'd be dead.
"Earlier?" she scoffed. "Helen, you've been acting off for weeks. I try to understand, but I'm the one getting all the backlash."
I sighed. She was right. But the words to fix it wouldn't come out.
Selena shook her head, packing up her books. "Whatever, Helen."
I watched her walk away, feeling awful.
I was spinning the lock on my locker when I heard a voice behind me, deep, familiar, and laced with that smooth confidence that always made my stomach flip.
"Hel."
I turned around, already smiling before I even fully registered his face.
Dan.
He leaned casually against the lockers, his arms crossed, looking at me like he had all the time in the world. His dark eyes skimmed over me, slow and deliberate, before settling on mine with a knowing smirk.
"You look sexy today," he murmured, stepping closer. I watch as His eyes hungers and his fingers grazed my waist lightly, the touch barely there but enough to send a warm shiver up my spine.
A blush crept up my cheeks. I hated and loved how easily he could do that to me.
How he could make me forget everything else.
"You should come over to my place one of these days," he continued, his voice dipping lower, thick with something unspoken.
My heart stuttered at his words, but I hesitated, suddenly aware of the curious eyes lingering around us.
The last time we had been seen together like this was three weeks ago, before our massive fight.
People noticed. People talked.
And I knew, I can feel Sabrina watching, she's around somewhere.
I shifted, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "I have class," I say flirting, tilting my head "You wanna come ahead? Maybe sit with me like old times?"
For a second, something unreadable flickered across his face, nostalgia, maybe? But just as quickly, it was gone.
"I have to sit with the boys," he said smoothly, his smirk returning as he got the hint.
His hand squeezed mine briefly before letting go.
"But you know what? I'll pick you up later. We'll have all the time you want."
Then, right there in the crowded hallway, in front of everyone, he leaned in towards me, closing any gaps between us
As he holds me tightly and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.
The reaction was immediate.
I can hear the Gasps. The Whispers.
I didn't even have to look, I knew.
Sabrina and her little group were watching.
My lips curled into a smirk. Karma.
Back in class, Selena had left a seat open for me.
I slid in beside her, but she didn't say a word. She kept her eyes glued to her phone, scrolling with unnecessary focus.
I sighed. "Sel..."
She still didn't look up.
I pouted, tilting my head dramatically. "Please? I know I've been off. You know I have just been going through a lot. I'm really sorry."
Finally, she glanced at me, her expression softening. She let out a long, exaggerated sigh.
"That doesn't mean I get disrespected." She pauses then looks at me softly,
"Anyways, Your puppy eyes always do the trick," she muttered, shaking her head with a small smile.
I grinned, victorious.
Then, she held up her phone.
The screen displayed a picture, of Dan kissing me in the hallway.
"So?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you guys back together or just what?"
I felt heat rush to my face, but I nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, we are back, this time "
She stared at me for a moment, then asked the question I knew was coming.
"And how about Sabrina?"
I shrugged, leaning back in my chair. "Honestly, I don't care. She knows her place now."
Selena narrowed her eyes. "You sure she's going to give Dan up just like that?"
I waved a hand dismissively.
"Please. He can't resist me. I have this effect on him. You wouldn't get it."
Selena groaned, shaking her head.
"Hell naw, I refuse to get it."
I burst into laughter. She did too, shaking her head like she couldn't believe me.