Whispers of forbidden desire

The early morning sun cast long, golden rays over the quiet town of Pinebrook, illuminating the sprawling campus of Brightstone High School. Students hustled through the parking lot, their backpacks bouncing and chatter filling the air—a mix of excitement and nerves. For some, today was just another day; for others, it was the beginning of a new chapter.

Inside the school, the halls buzzed with energy. Lockers clanged open and shut, teachers prepared their classrooms, and a sense of anticipation lingered in the air like the smell of freshly baked bread from the cafeteria. Among the chatter, a figure moved quietly, clutching a crumpled piece of paper—perhaps a note, perhaps a secret—unaware that today would change everything.

After everyone settled in their classes , in Class K2 among the classes of the senior high schoolers, was oddly quiet that day. The students sat in their usual positions, all their chairs occupied—except for one. Sitting alone on a corner seat next to a young girl named Samantha there was an empty chair. The scene was filled with chatter, but the silence around her was poignant.

"Where is your friend Isabel?" Samantha's teacher, Madam Joyce, asked in a lethargic tone,as she addresses the class. Just as Samantha was about to respond, Isabel suddenly appeared at the doorway, panting heavily from rushing in. She was out of breath, her hands on her knees as she caught her breath.

One of the student pointed at her. "There she is," she said, and the entire classroom turned to gaze at Isabel. She straightened up, walked confidently over, and took her seat, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Samantha leaned over and whispered softly, “ your beloved mom is leaving today." Isabel looked at her in surprise. "Which mom are you talking about?" she whispered back. Madam Joyce, who was preparing her materials, spoke up again.

"Isabel and Samantha, it's my turn to speak now. Quiet, please!" she demanded,She then continued, "As many of you know, I am moving to France to teach English. I probably won't return anytime soon, so a new teacher from Santa Joseph High School will be taking over for both English and literature.”

A student eagerly raised their hand, questioning, "Will the new teacher be male or female?" The entire class erupted into whispers and giggles, curious about the identity of the upcoming instructor. Madam Joyce looked at them sternly, raising her hand for silence.

"Now, be quiet," she commanded. "And you girls in this classroom need to change. You all seem very emotional lately," she said, laughing softly as the students giggled along. "The new teacher is much older than I am—more mature."

The students nodded with apathy. "What the hell that’s boring ," Samantha muttered softly, filling the moment with boredom . They all started asking questions, sharing thoughts, and saying their goodbyes to Madam Joyce, who had been with them for some time.

After Madam Joyce’s departure, she carefully organized her books and asked Isabel to help her carry them. As they made their way down the corridor, Isabel looked up at Madam Joyce, her brow furrowing with concern. She hesitated for a moment before asking softly, “Is it really necessary for you to go to France?”

Madam Joyce nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, it’s necessary. Don’t you see? It’s a great opportunity," she said as they continued walking.

“Couldn’t you stay with us?” Isabel pleaded gently. “We love you so much, and we want you to keep teaching us.”

Madam Joyce smiled warmly, understanding her feelings. Upon arriving at her office, Isabel began helping madam Joyce pack her belongings,madam Joyce then looked at her with a paternal gaze and said, “When you grow up...”

Before Madam Joyce could finish, Isabel interrupted confidently. “I’m a grown up already ” she said with a proud smile.

Madam Joyce chuckled softly. “Not quite yet. You’re only eighteen . But when you become independent and mature enough to seize a better opportunity, remember: you must leave behind what is comfortingly familiar for the sake of something greater, no matter how tempting the familiar may seem."

Isabel gazed at her teacher, smiling. “That’s a wise advice,” she said softly.

Madam Joyce nodded with a gentle smile. “Indeed it is.”

Later, Isabel assisted Madam Joyce in loading her luggage into her car. Before leaving, Madam Joyce looked at her fondly and said, “Be a good girl. Remember, you’re the best student I’ve ever had,” she added with a warm smile. Isabel responded eagerly, “Yes, Madam!”

“Should you face any difficulty—be it a question about school or advice—you know where to find me,” Madam Joyce said kindly. With that, she waved goodbye as her car started and disappeared into the distance.

Isabel watched her teacher’s car until it was out of sight, a faint smile lingering on her face. Only then did she turn back toward the school, her heart filled with a mixture of nostalgia and hope for what lays next.

As the sun was setting and it was time for students to head home, Isabel and Samantha were strolling along the street, chatting away about whatever was on their minds. They eventually decided to step into a nearby supermarket to grab some soft drinks before continuing their walk home. As they moved along, Isabel suddenly turned to Samantha and asked, “How’s Steve doing? Are you guys still together?” They kept walking, but Samantha looked a little caught off guard.

“What? didn’t I tell you?” Samantha said, surprised. “I dumped his ass—just like that.” She took a sip from her drink, still upset but trying to act casual. Isabel looked at her, curious. “Come on, tell me what happened,Spill.” Samantha plopped down on a bench right by the street and gestured for Isabel to sit next to her.

“So, that guy is a total asshole,” Samantha started. “He was dating me and some other girl in his class — Can you believe that?” As Isabel was about to say something,Samantha quickly cut her off.

“Don’t even start,” she said as she shook her finger at Isabel. “I already told you this stuff!” Then Isabel got up and gently lifted Samantha from the bench, saying, “Let’s just go home. Honestly, I always felt like Steve wasn’t trustworthy from the beginning.”

They continued walking, and Samantha, softly, admitted, “I know… but he had such an innocent face, you know? Like, I didn’t see the warning signs.”

Isabel nodded with a bit of a smirk. “Mmh, kinda…” Samantha then changed the topic. “By the way, don’t you find this new teacher so boring? Like, he’s just an old guy — even older than Madam Joyce — it’s so damn dull.”

Isabel sighed and responded, “well what’s the big deal about that or of what kind do you want?”. Samantha responded “what I really want is a teacher who’s a dude — someone cool and energetic, still full of life. I want someone handsome, easy to handle heavy voice ... you know by that no one’s going to skip classes”

Isabel burst out laughing. “Girl, you won’t change will you?,” she teased, and they both cracked up together.

As they reached the corner where their neighborhoods split, Isabel said her goodbyes. “Bye, take care!” she told Samantha.

Samantha watched her go and leaned into her own thoughts. Then she suddenly spoke aloud, “Hey, I watched this really passionate movie yesterday — it had everything from A to Z. If you watch it, you’d probably want to rip off your underwear and have someone eat you out,” she said mischievously, grinning. She nudged Isabel playfully, making a cheeky face, and asked, “should I bring it for you to watch?” Isabel teased Samantha “you smell that , Samantha? Someone smells dirty? Don’t you smell it?”she said it while sniffing then covered her nose.

Samantha sniffed the air. “What smell?” she asked.

“I smell someone’s dirty mind “Isabel taunted, laughing.

Samantha finally caught on and gave her the middle finger while laughing. With everyone going their separate ways, Isabel headed home. Her family was quite wealthy — she lived with her dad, Mr. Stewart, a presidential adviser, and her twin brother, Nolan . With Samantha her family were well-off but not crazy rich. Her dad owned a small supermarket near their home and she was the only kid ,she lived with both her parents.

When Isabel got home, she found the house eerily quiet. She headed straight for her twin brother’s room and knocked loudly. “Nolan!” she yelled.

Nolan, in his own world, was in there with headphones on, playing video games. Isabel yanked the headphones off.

“What the hell are you doing? You made me be late for school thinking you’re still in.” she demanded, crossing her arms.

Nolan looked at her, shrugging. “Chill , I just went out to sleep over at my friends’ yesterday. That’s all.”

“Did Dad know you weren’t home yesterday?” Isabel asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Nolan paused his game, frustrated. “Ugh, whatever. Like he cares. All he cares about is money, anyway,” he said dismissively, laughing and continuing his game.

She pushed his chair, causing him to fall back with a grunt. “Fuck you, nerd ,you could have told me,” she said as she turned to leave. Nolan stood up and called after her.

“Relax, I need to cool off anyway,” he said, grabbing his chair.

Sometimes, their dad wouldn’t come back home at all and sometimes he comes home until after two to three days — and in the meantime, their house was run by workers: a driver named Mr. Joe and his wife, who handled the household chores.,who they take care of both Isabel and Nolan,they are more like a family since they’ve been with them since they were young.

The next morning, as usual, Samantha was waiting for Isabel and Nolan by the corner that separates their neighborhood, hoping she’d get a ride. When they arrived, they noticed some students sitting in groups, whispering and pointing at something.

“Did someone die or what?” Samantha muttered dramatically, trying to eavesdrop on the whispers.

“Hey, what’s going on here? What is everyone talking about ?” she asked.

Mia, a girl nearby, told her, “It’s that car — people say it belongs to the new teacher. The one who got transferred here from Santa Joseph.”

“Whoa, how can a teacher own such an expensive car?” Samantha asked, eying the black, sleek, expensive-looking vehicle parked on the school car parking.

Mia looked at Samantha with a bit of arrogance. “My aunt’s a teacher. She has a car too. You’re so clueless.”

“What? No way,” Samantha shot back. “Are you saying that old, rusted car outside your house — or some fancy new ride? , Idiot.”

Mia scoffed then as she was about to answer back —Nolan, overhearing, chimed in, “You know what? That car probably costs more than your school fees for the entire decade. Shut up.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever,” she said dismissively, starting to walk away.

Meanwhile, Isabel was just quietly observing the scene, mumbling, “It’s way too expensive. Maybe he was a drug dealer or something and there is no way he’s an old thug as madam Joyce claimed ”

They all laughed and teased each other about the car. Later, Nolan told Samantha and Isabel that he had sent a letter to the principal, asking to be transferred to another class. They just gave him the middle finger as they headed into their classes.

The school suddenly went dead silent. Every student entered in their classes and sat down, about to start their day. The class leaders, or whoever was on duty, began collecting phones and taking them away in the office of the teacher who’s in charge of their class.They also gathered the assignments from the teachers and took them off to the office.

In the K2 class, Alden was the leader of the class , but he didn’t show up. So, the deputy, Isabel, was asked to step in. She quickly collected all the phones, took them first to the teacher’s office,then came back and fetched the math assignment and headed off to deliver to the teacher.

As she was walking down the corridor, it was super quiet—a little too quiet. No students, no teachers . Suddenly, she started hearing footsteps echoing in the hallway, coming her way. Before she could react, she bumped into someone near the end of the hall, right around the corner, and her papers went flying everywhere.

Papers scattered all over the corridor. Isabel froze for a moment, then looked up and saw the person she ran into. Standing there was a young guy, staring at her like he was just as shocked. He looked at her, she looked back, “Are you blind or what? Can’t you see I’m in a rush? Help me pick up those papers and move.”

While she bent down to gather her scattered papers, the guy just kept staring for a beat, then chuckled a little and started helping her pick up everything. After they collected all the papers, he handed them back to her, and she started organizing them properly.

He then said, “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

Isabel looked at him with her bright eyes without saying a word she turned away and left.

The guy watched her go, smiled softly, and muttered, “Tough kids, huh?” Then he took a deep breath and walked off.

Meanwhile, Isabel took those papers to the office, then started heading back to the classroom. When she reached the door, she pushed it open quickly—maybe a little too aggressively. To her surprise, the class was dead silent. Everyone was staring at her. She paused, confused, then looked around and realized: every single eye was on her.

She stood there, suddenly feeling awkward, and asked loudly, “What are you all looking at?”

Suddenly, she glanced toward Samantha, who was signaling her to look ahead. Isabel turned quickly and saw the young guy again—standing just in front of the classroom, smiling at her. His nametag read *Mr. Bennett Morgan*.

Isabel was shocked discovering that the guy was their new teacher. She looked at the name displayed on the board for a while, then turned to look at the guy, who was just smiling the whole time. All the students, especially the girls, were silent and listening carefully to what he was about to say—mainly because he was good-looking, smart, young , and handsome. Mr. Ben then asked Isabel, “So, are you the class leader?”

Just as Isabel was about to answer, the shameless girl Mia cut in loudly, “Not the leader, she’s just the assistant. The boss is sick today, so he didn’t come!” The whole class turned to face Mia, and half of them shouted back, “Shut the fuck up!” Mia looked down, trying to act innocent, even though she was just being annoying and loved to talk back.

Isabel froze for a moment, turned to look at Mia, then looked back at Mr. Ben, who was just observing the class,he then turned back to Isabel and asked, “What’s your name?”

Just as she was about to answer, Mia shouted out again loudly, “Her name is Isabel.” The class stared at her again, and Samantha, who was sitting behind Mia, punched her arm and muttered, “Why don’t you get a hold of yourself ? Shut the fuck up.” Mia looked at Samantha, then shot her an attitude.

Mr. Ben was just watching everything with a smile and said to Isabel, “Ms. Isabel, take your seat. By the way, I’ve heard about you from Madam Joyce—you’re among the best students and leads in literature, right?”

As Isabel sat down on her chair, she nodded her head slightly, signaling yes.

He grinned. “Alright. I’ll be your English and literature teacher. Also, I’ll be teaching music, so I need you guys to cooperate—a lot of cooperation. We’re all in this together, got it?,last but not least I’m the teacher in charge of this class.”

The whole class responded as one: “Yes, Mr. Bennett!”

He then said, “Honestly, I don’t think this is even my class—I just came to say hi. Ms.Isabel, follow me ,come with the class attendance, but only if it’s ready.”

She responded softly, “Not yet, I haven’t filled it out. Maybe after the break.”

Mr. Bennett nodded and added as he headed out, “Okay, just bring it to my office when you’re done. The empty room next to the guidance office works fine.”

After he left, the girls started hyping each other up, saying he’s hot, got that fresh look, and even his vibe when he talks ,handsome and seem way younger to be a teacher . Meanwhile, Samantha was watching Mia, then she told her casually , “Hey, watch out ……next time you provoke I’ll pull your fucking tongue out !“

Just as Mia was about to reply, she heard Isabel say , “Shoot!” then she took a deep breath. Samantha turned her way and asked, “What’s your problem? ”

Isabel looked at her and then told her what happened with Mr Ben , “What?! Jesus, he just bent down and started picking the papers that too by your command ?” Samantha whispered.

, “Yeah, exactly. Honestly, it was so tricky to tell if he was a teacher or what, ‘cause today wasn’t a uniform day ,I thought he was a student from other classes.”

Samantha sighed, looking aside, and said, “Bro, you really screwed up. If he goes complaining to the principal, you’re toast, you know? And he’s a new teacher here.”

“What? I didn’t do it on purpose” Isabel whispered softly.

Samantha told her, “Just do this — when you give him the attendance, ask for forgiveness quick-quick, and end it there. No dragging!”

Isabel nodded and said, “Yeah, I was already planning to do that.” So, after break, Isabel took the attendance slip straight to Mr. Ben. She hesitated outside the door of his office, thinking twice about walking in, but then said, “Screw it, I’m going in.” She knocked, hearing Mr. Ben inside saying, “Come in.”

She pushed the door open and stepped in, but froze when she saw the principal and Mr. Ben chatting about something. She was scared stiff because she thought Mr. Ben must’ve already told the principal everything.

Suddenly, Mr. Ben turned and asked, “Ms. Isabel, did you bring the attendance?”

“Yes, sir,” she replied, avoiding eye contact.

Mr. Ben told her, “Just place it on the table and head back to class.”

She quickly put the attendance on the table and rushed out of the office. Later, Mr. Ben entered the K2 classroom ready to teach. Isabel hoped that after the lesson, she would go and ask for forgiveness. But instead, right after class, Mr. Ben collected his teaching stuff, went straight to his office, locked it up, and quietly slipped out .

Isabel didn’t see him leave, but she saw his car disappear down the street like magic. She just turned back to class.Samantha asked, “Hey, did you try to talk to him?”

Isabel looked tired and said, “I’ve been chasing him around trying to catch up — but nada, I didn’t find him... I’m totally drained!”

Samantha said, “So, that’s it till Monday?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Isabel replied, slumping back in her chair, shutting her eyes.

Then Nolan barged into the classroom and headed straight for his sister’s spot. He strutted right up to Samantha and Isabel. Samantha chuckled and said, “Here comes your bro.”

Isabel opened her eyes, looked at Nolan, who was standing stiffly with that wired, ‘what’s up?’ look on his face. She took a deep breath and said, “What’s your problem, man? I told you, at school, don’t tail me.”

Nolan looked at her and said“today is Friday, I won't be returning home?instead, I’ll will be staying overnight at my friend's place….see you on Sunday!”

“Which friend are you talking about ? I don’t even know about your friends,” Isabel shot back, still busy with her stuff.

Nolan looked her over, then said, “Why do my friends matter to you? I just came to tell you, I don’t need your permission...” (pausing) “so don’t worry about it.”

Isabel stayed quiet for a moment, then said, “So, what if dad comes back today?”

“You tell him I went to sleep at my friends’ place,” Nolan casually said, then as he strolled out of the class he said “Bye, sis. Love you, take care.”

Samantha and Isabel just watched him disappear into the distance, like a ghost. Then Samantha turned to Isabel and asked, “So, does he have a girl ?”

Isabel quickly shot her down: “No way! I don’t think so.”

“Or maybe he’s gay or something?” Samantha joked, making a goofy face.

Isabel snapped, “Hell no! God forbid! I just wanna know who his friends are — I don’t see what’s so secret about it.”

“Alright, alright, hold your horses,” Samantha chuckled, teasing her a little.

Later that night, at Isabel’s place, she was in her room, totally into her art. She loved drawing, so her big room was full of her sketches—some done by her. She could also sing, but mostly she just focused on her drawings. As she was sketching away, listening to the music, Mrs. Joe knocked on her door, then walked in. She brought Isabel’s clothes,and put them in the wardrobe. Just as Mrs. Joe was about to leave, Isabel suddenly turned off her music.

“Mrs. Joe,” she asked, “have you seen my bracelet? Did you see it anywhere?”

Mrs. Joe looked at her and said, “You’ve been losing stuffs lately, Isabel. You keep leaving things everywhere after school. I haven’t seen it.”

Isabel looked at her, stood up, and hugged her. “Sorry, I don’t do it on purpose. Don’t be mad at me,” she said softly, with a smile on her face.

Mrs. Joe smiled and hugged her back. “I’m not mad. But you know, one day I might not be here… who’s going to look after your things if I’m not around?” she said softly, Isabel raised her eyes and looked into Mrs joe’s. After a moment of silence, she said , “You won’t die any time soon … by the way my stomach is rumbling—guess I’m hungry. Let’s go eat what you cooked.”

They headed to the dining table. Mrs. Joe, as she served Isabel her favorite food, asked, “Where’s your brother? I haven’t seen him since you left for school.”

Isabel replied, “Oh, he’s not coming back today. He’s staying over at his friend’s.”

Mrs. Joe nodded. “Alright. But if your dad finds out, he might get mad, you know?”

Isabel just shrugged and started eating with her mouth full. “Yeah, I know… but he’s bored here,so let him,” she said quietly.

Mrs. Joe looked at her thoughtfully but didn’t say anything further. After Isabel finished eating, she washed the dishes, said goodnight to Isabel, and went to get some rest in her room with her husband.

Once they were gone, Isabel locked the door, got up, and headed back upstairs. She paused on the staircase, looking around at the big, quiet house. She admired it silently for a moment, then switched off the lights and went to her room. She fell onto her bed, exhausted.

At around 9 AM the next morning, Isabel was still asleep. Suddenly, her phone started ringing. Her eyes fluttered open—she couldn’t fully see out of them—and she groped around to find her phone. When she finally found it, she saw that it was Samantha calling.

Before she even sat up, she answered the call. “Hello,” Isabel said tiredly, voice rough from sleep.

Samantha’s voice was playful. “Hey, sleepyhead. Wake up!”

Isabel sighed. “What’s up, Samantha? It’s too early to be calling on a weekend .”

Samantha quickly responded, “I know, I know. But why don’t you get ready? We’re going to visit Alden, then after that, we’ll go have some fun. I’m on my way to you right now.”

“Wait—why are we visiting Alden?” Isabel asked, surprised.

Samantha cut her off. “We’ll talk about that later. Just get ready.” Then she hung up.

Isabel took a deep breath, got out of bed, and started getting ready. About half an hour later, she was done—she’d taken a quick shower, threw on her bathrobe, and was just brushing her hair when she heard a knock at the door. She called out, “Mrs. Joe, it’s Samantha. Open up!”

Mrs. Joe was in the kitchen. She hurried over, opened the door, and saw Samantha. “Hi, Mrs. Joe,” Samantha greeted with a smile. “Long time no see.”

Mrs. Joe smiled back. “Hey! It’s been a while. How’s school treating you?”

“yeah. It’s pretty busy,” Samantha replied as she stepped inside.

Mrs. Joe then headed to the kitchen and said, “I’ll make some breakfast for you two,Isabel’s upstairs.”

Meanwhile, Samantha followed into Isabel’s room, where she saw Isabel brushing her hair. “Do you wash your hair every single day?” Samantha teased.

“No,” Isabel shot back, laughing. Then said”hey did you see my bracelet ?.”

Samantha asked “the light blue one?”

Isabel replied “yeah,I don’t see it i don’t know where did I misplace it”Samantha nodded and said “no I didn’t see it .”

They then started talking about their plans. Isabel asked, “So, why are we going to see Alden? He’s not seriously sick you know ”

Samantha explained, “Well, I wanted us to hang out and have some fun—there’s tons of games and good food. Plus, the place is really close to Alden’s house. And because he’s not feeling well, we’ll go check on him, and then we’ll go to the spot I wanted to take you to.”

As they walked to have their breakfast , Isabel asked, “Hmm, now I get you.”

They had their breakfast , then left. When they were waiting for the bus, Samantha suddenly said, “Oh, I also want to go to the library.”

“Why?” Isabel asked, confused.

“I want to read this book I found,” Samantha explained, shrugging.

Soon, their bus arrived, and they headed over to Alden’s house. When they got there and knocked. Suddenly, Alden opened the door. He looked exhausted—like he was worn out.

He hesitated and said, “My parents…"

Seeing Isabel and Samantha standing there, he paused.

Samantha stepped in. “Your parents? What about them?”

Alden hesitated. “Umm… they’re not home, and I’m surprised you’re here.”

Samantha looked at him. “We heard you’re sick, so we came to visit. Is something wrong?”

Alden responded, “Who, me? .”

Isabel cut in quickly. “Yeah, you look totally fine. Come on, let’s go.”

She grabbed Samantha’s arm to pull her away. But then Alden, stopped them from going and started acting he said, “Hold on. I’ve actually been really sick. Severe headaches—can’t even tell you how bad, don’t you see my eyes.”

Samantha looked at him skeptically. “Your eyes look tired because you just woke up, freak,so are you going to let us in.”

Alden hesitated at the door, still standing there like he was lost in thought. He finally mumbled, “Aah yeah yeah, sure, come in… ummm,” but he was still staring off. Samantha looked at him and was like, “Yo, just get outta the doorway.”

Alden still seemed pretty spaced out, eyes wandering, so Samantha sighed and told him loudly, “Get out of the doorway, dude.”

He finally stepped inside, saying, “Umm okay, okay, but… ummm, there are a lot of guests in here…” His eyes were still somewhere else, completely preoccupied. Samantha responded, “Guests?”

Alden, shrugging, said as he pushed the door open wider, “Yeah, they came just to see me. So, once we leave here, let’s head straight to my room — ‘cause honestly, that’s the best idea right now...”

Samantha cut him off and barged into the house, Alden finished by saying “Yeah, so that’s how it is,” while glaring at Isabel. Isabel looked back at Alden with a questionable stare, both kinda thinking, “What’s going on?” Then she stepped inside.

Suddenly, Samantha exclaimed loudly, “Holy shit!” when she saw six guys sprawled across the floor, wasted, tangled up with each other’s legs and arms. There were bottles of alcohol, other drinks, snack bags, KFC containers — literally everything everywhere. Turns out, they were all students from their class.

Alden told them, “I told you guys, let’s go to my room,” but Isabel and Samantha just stared, dead serious,as they headed in Alden’s room.

Samantha was like, “God! ,do your parents know what you’re doing “

Alden shook his head and said casually, “Umm, what can I say? They came over to cheer me up.”

Samantha chuckled, shook her head, and was like, “Boys, man...” as they walked in His room.

As Nolan—who was playin’ video games in Alden’s room —noticed Isabel, he quickly pulled a blanket over his face then jumped on the bed just as they got in. He’d recognized his sister but was trying to stay hidden. Isabel and Samantha just stared at him not knowing it’s Nolan.Samantha teased “ what was that! ,is he naked or what “

Alden, chillin’, replied, “Nah, he just too tired ,and sleepy — that’s all.” Isabel eyes Nolan suspiciously as she goes around the room , but as she gets closer to where Nolan is, she notices a mole under his ankle—an obvious sign. She pulls up the blanket , after she found out it was Nolan she said in a low voice , “I knew it,” Nolan slowly woke up and sat on the bed “fuck! what are you doing here “while Samantha is just staring at it all in shock.

“Wow,” she blurted out, “so these are your friends you don’t even wanna introduce us to? Gross.”

Alden whispers nervously, “Shit!”

Nolan, trying to stay low, turns around and tells Samantha, “Hey, Saman—chill, seriously.” He grabs his sister's hand and leads her out of the room . Isabel watches silently, not saying anything.

Once inside, Nolan reassures her, “Yo, don’t worry about me — I’m good. Sorry I didn’t say anything earlier, but they’re my friends. I hang out with them, no big deal.”

Isabel stays quiet, then finally says, “You had an atrial septal defect (ASD),

” Nolan cuts her off quickly, “Yeah, but I had surgery almost a year ago. I’m fine now.”

She takes a breath and says, “I know, but you still gotta be careful with what you do,no bad ,dangerous ,or silly stuff ?”

Nolan looks at her and says, “ You’re so overprotective… and it’s making me feel uncomfortable.”

She responds, “Okay… sorry, I’m sorry. I’m just worried.”

Nolan smiles and says, “Well, why don’t we just go see my doctor on Sunday? It’s been a year — let’s get checked again.”

She nods in agreement, “Yeah, that’s a good idea.” They finish talking, and after a little while, Samantha and Isabel start to leave. Nolan and Alden walk them to the door.

Before they go, Isabel turns back and says jokingly, “Hey, get back home on time or you’ll be sleepin’ outside tonight, huh?” Nolan just shakes his head and waves, “Bye, Izzy. Take care.”

Alden, smiling wide, adds, “Bye, Isabel! See ya around.” They leave, and Nolan watches Alden with a small annoyed glare.

“Yo, why you smiling at my sister like she’s your girl?”Nolan said, playfully criticizing.

Alden immediately drops his grin, then teased back, “what’s with you,are you going to marry her” he muttered as he walked inside.

After Samantha and Isabel left, they decided to head straight to the place they had been meaning to visit—all to enjoy some fun and games. They spent the afternoon immersed in all kinds of activities, laughing and competing, their spirits high. As evening approached, they made their way to the library, their haven for quiet escape and discovery.

Once inside, Samantha reached for a novel centered on love and romance, its pages beckoning with stories of hearts intertwined. Meanwhile, Isabel chose an animated story, a colorful set of pages full of vibrant characters and magical adventures. They settled into a quiet corner, opening their books and losing themselves in their worlds.

As they read, Isabel’s eyes drifted from her book to the table beside them—her gaze settling on a young man seated nearby. He was sitting with his back straight, his head barely turned, so she caught just a glimpse of his profile. The guy was deep in his book, headphones snug over his ears, completely immersed. Isabel found herself stealing glances, her curiosity piqued. She wondered and said“He must be handsome “

Samantha, sitting beside her, noticed Isabel’s sidelong looks she turned and looked the back view of the young man cause it’s all they could see, smirked softly. She whispered, “yeah,He must be good-looking.”

Isabel nodded, still watching. Samantha added “And he’s reading a book like that… headphones on, showing off,” she chuckled softly, “seems like he’s got money too”she added eyes twinkling.

Suddenly, Isabel couldn’t help but smile more broadly. She watched as the young man appeared to chuckle quietly, maybe even in amusement with whatever he was reading. Curious, Isabel leaned closer and whispered again, “I think he heard us,” her voice barely audible.

Samantha looked at her, eyebrows raised. “No way. He’s wearing headphones—you can’t be sure.”

Just then, Samantha quietly got up and slid past the young man, deliberately positioning herself to see his face. As she did, she caught a glimpse of him directly—his face was familiar, strikingly so. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Mr. Ben?” she whispered under her breath.

Mr. Ben glanced at her for a moment before saying, "Ooh, it’s you!"

"Yeah, yeah, it’s me, Samantha," she replied as she settled in, having been sitting where Mr. Ben had just been. Mr. Ben smiled and said, "Ms. Samantha, you’re the one who was gossiping just now."

Samantha couldn’t help but laugh. "Yeah, but we didn’t realize it was you."

"Oh, okay. Where’s the other girl?" Mr. Ben turned slightly and made eye contact with Isabel, then gave a faint smile. Isabel looked surprised and quickly stood up, deciding to follow them to where they were sitting.

"Hi, Sir," Isabel greeted.

"Hi, Ms. Isabel. Mind joining me here?" Mr. Ben invited.

Isabel sat down next to Samantha. They kept reading, though Isabel kept stealing glances at Mr. Ben. She found his looks, the way he spoke, and even his smile quite captivating. Suddenly, Mr. Ben looked at the book Samantha was reading. The title was *Quiet Longing*. He smiled and said, “Quiet Longing.”

Samantha looked at him and laughed softly. "Have you ever read that?"

"Yeah," Mr. Ben responded.

Samantha teased, “Oh, their love was pretty passionate, huh?”

Mr. Ben nodded. "Yeah, it was."

Meanwhile, Samantha kept talking to Mr. Ben, while Isabel stayed quiet, focused on her own book. After about twenty minutes, Samantha suddenly dozed off at the table.

Mr. Ben looked at Isabel, who was busy reading her book, and said, "hey…Are you guys taking the bus home?"

Isabel nodded. "Yeah."

Mr. Ben stood up. "Alright. Wake your friend up, pack your stuff, and I’ll meet you outside. I’ll take you home." He grabbed his bag and his book.

Isabel gently woke Samantha, saying, "Hey, Sam, wake up. Let’s head home."

Samantha stirred, groggy, stretching. "What?! Is it that late already?"

As Isabel helped her gather her things, Mr. Ben waited outside. When they came out, he said, “One of you sit in front, and the other at the back. There are bags at the back seats ,only one can fit……”

Before Mr. Ben finished speaking, Samantha was still half-asleep, her eyes heavy with sleepiness. She stumbled into the backseat and quickly dozed off. Mr. Ben couldn’t help but smile to himself and muttered, “She must be tired,” as he opened the front door for Isabel. She got inside, sat down, and then closed the door behind her. When Mr. Ben entered the car, he noticed Isabel struggling to fasten her seatbelt, which seemed to be stuck.

“Oh, sorry about that,” he said kindly. “This seatbelt has been acting up lately. Let me help you out.” Isabel just shook her head slightly. Mr. Ben moved closer and gently tugged at the stubborn seatbelt. As he did that, Isabel’s heartbeat suddenly started racing — her chest pounding loudly in her ears. She struggled not to meet Mr. Ben’s gaze but couldn’t quite look directly at him without him noticing.Slowly, she lifted her eyes and looked into his innocent brown eyes, then her gaze drifted down to his lips, then his neck. Her mind was everywhere, her thoughts racing, her heart pounding even harder. Her arms had stiffened, and she didn’t stop looking at him,until Mr. Ben managed to fix the seatbelt.

Once it clicked into place, Mr. Ben sat back confidently and said, “All set now,” as he settled into the seat and turned the key to start the engine. Isabel turned toward him, her voice barely above a whisper, “Yeah, thanks.” They then navigated the quiet road in a comfortable silence that seemed almost electric with unspoken tension.

After some time, Isabel broke the silence, clearing her throat softly, “Mr. Ben, um…” Her voice faltered slightly. “About that day… I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,I didn’t know that you’re the teacher.” Mr. Ben shot her a thoughtful glance, contemplating her words, then replied, “Oh, right. Don’t worry about it. Really, it’s fine.” Isabel simply nodded, then hesitated before adding, “just drop us off here. We can walk the rest of the way.”

Mr. Ben hesitated slightly, parking the car. “Are you sure?” he asked. She nodded. “Yeah, it’s really fine here,” she said, gently waking Samantha up from her nap. After they got out of the car, Mr. Ben drove off, and Isabel and Samantha each headed toward their homes.

When Isabel arrived home, she saw Nolan had already returned and was busy playing video games in his room. She decided to leave him and went straight to her own room. She closed the door, threw herself onto the bed, and looked up at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts. Her mind drifted back to Mr. Ben, remembering his handsome face and that easy smile when he talked. A smile spread across her face as she thought about him. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered shut, and she drifted into sleep, her mind finally at peace.

On a Sunday morning, Isabel and her twin brother Nolan paid a visit to Nolan’s doctor. The doctor reassured them that Nolan was safe and advised him to isolate himself from any dangerous games that could worsen his condition, especially the wound from his recent surgery. It was a relief for both of them. Afterwards, they returned home.

No sooner had they stepped inside than they heard their father’s voice coming from the dining area. "Oh, my children! Come and join me," he beckoned. Isabel and Nolan followed his voice and approached him.

"Hi, Dad," Isabel greeted, offering a warm smile.

"Hello, princess," Mr. Stewart replied, kissing her on the forehead. Nolan simply muttered, "Hey…" as he pulled out a chair and sat down. Mr. Stewart looked at Nolan directly. "Hello, don’t you miss me ?" he asked, a gentle smile on his face.

Nolan responded, “You’re back. Not that you’ll last more than a couple of days… (pauses) I’ve already gotten used to it.” Isabel looked at Nolan with concern but then suggested, “Let’s eat.” Mr. Stewart studied Nolan quietly for a moment before agreeing, “Okay, let’s eat.”

They started eating. After the meal, Nolan excused himself and went to his bedroom. Mr. Stewart headed to the balcony to catch the fresh breeze. Isabel followed her dad, reaching out and placing her hand on his shoulder.

He looked at her with a gentle smile. She approached, asking, “How’s work?”

“It’s fine; there’s a lot to handle,” he replied.

Isabel shook her head lightly. Mr. Stewart then turned to her and asked softly, “Don’t you hold it against me, do you?”

She smiled and reassured him, “Why would I? You do all this for us, don’t you?”

He looked at her thoughtfully. “At least, you understand me. But your brother… he doesn’t seem to. Sometimes I call him, and he doesn’t even answer… (pause) How do I make that clear to him?”

Isabel answered calmly, “You don’t have to. He understands… he’s just a troublemaker.” Mr. Stewart looked at her and smiled, then said . “Come, I’ll talk to you both ,” he said as they headed toward Nolan’s room.

Inside, Nolan was sitting on his bed, busy with his phone. “What’s going on?” Nolan asked as they entered. Mr. Stewart gestured for them to sit on the bed. They did, listening attentively.

Mr. Stewart took a seat and began to speak, his voice serious but tender. "Your mother passed away shortly after giving birth to you two. Her mother was the only family she had and She died a year before you were born. I had no relatives or parents to turn to. So I had no choice ,I had to take all responsibilities,I was still young but I didn’t want to leave you both vulnerable—so I quit my job for five years. It was tough, but it wasn’t an issue because I was still earning from the government. I did everything—waking up at night, taking you to the clinic, caring for you—everything except nursing.”

He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “I didn’t accept any help, except from Mrs. Joe and her husband. They treated me like family—like I was their little brother. Nothing is more important to me than you both. I’ve never gotten tired of caring for you. I hate that you're apart from me but I just want you to live freely and peacefully. Stay away from the media and paparazzi,they are always after the government leaders with their family.but here in Pinebrook ,it’s peaceful that’s why i choose this place for you.Please understand—I love you both dearly. You are the reason I push myself and keep going.”

He looked at Nolan earnestly. Nolan simply nodded, a silent acknowledgment. Isabel reached out and embraced her father tightly, her heart full of unspoken gratitude.

It was a school day ,and Isabel, Nolan, and Samantha arrived at school all at once after Mr Stewart dropped them off for the first time since they started their high school . Right at that moment, Mr. Ben was getting out of his car, holding his bag. Samantha saw him and called out excitedly, “Mr. Ben!” waving her hand as she hurried over.

Mr. Ben looked up, smiled warmly, and responded, “Hey! How are you guys?” Samantha replied cheerfully, “We’re good, sir. How about you?”

“I’m great,” he said, glancing at Isabel and Nolan. “Are you guys siblings?”

Nolan, joking around, said, “Well, we kind of look alike, huh?” and added with a laugh, “Eww, gross,” making everyone laugh.

Isabel gently nudged him and said, “Shut up, Nolan,” then turned to Mr. Ben and explained, “He’s my twin brother.”

As they were walking towards the classrooms with Mr. Ben.

“Oh, I thought you’d have names that sound similar, somehow,” Mr Ben said.

“Yeah, my other name is Isidore,” Nolan added, “but I don’t like it.” He then entered his classroom. Mr. Ben just smiled and told Samantha and Isabel, “You guys go to class, I have a class with you this morning , right?”

Isabel nodded and said, “Yes,” and they headed towards their classroom.

When they arrived, everyone was still restless, walking around and talking. Isabel saw Alden sitting in her usual spot. Samantha walked past and sat in her seat, looking at Alden.

Isabel, who was adjusting her bag on her shoulder and placing it on her desk, looking at Alden, who was staring at her. Samantha said “hey move…go back to your seat.idiot!”

Alden finally broke the silence, saying, “I came to say hi to my pretty ex-girlfriend.”

Samantha scoffed, and Isabel told Alden, “Get off my chair, go collect the phones ,Mr Ben is about to come .”

Alden looked at her for a moment, then said, “Are you going to ignore me forever? Let’s just be friends at least—I mean, you didn’t forget me,right?”

Isabel just looked at him silently and said, “Okay, fine, now move .”

Alden smiled and said, “Alright, fine. Don’t ignore me anymore.”

When Alden was acting cool towards Isabel,Samantha pushed Alden away and said, “You fool, go and do your duty, asshole.”

Just then, Mr. Ben entered the classroom.Alden hurried and started collecting the phones from the students after he saw the teacher in. Mr. Ben looked on quietly, with his hands behind his back.

When Alden reached Isabel and Samantha’s seats, he gently held Isabel’s nose with his finger—cheekily. Isabel just looked at him without reacting. Mr. Ben saw this and smiled knowingly.

After collecting the phones and starting the lesson, Mr. Ben became serious and focused.

Isabel, for the first part of the lesson, listened carefully, but soon her eyes kept wandering toward Mr. Ben. She kept looking at how serious he was, noting his handsome face, his calm demeanor.

His attractiveness was undeniable. Every time she tried to focus, her mind kept drifting to him—his seriousness, his handsome features, his composed attitude.

His charm was too much for her to ignore. Isabel couldn’t help but stare at him, even while trying to listen. She was confused by her own reactions.

So for months it became Isabel’s habit,She found herself more captivated by Mr. Ben with each passing day, especially when her thoughts drifted to him. Every time she thought of Mr. Ben, her heart would race, and her pulses would quicken. Her eyes would seek him out whenever the opportunity arose, and she would gaze at him without ever growing tired. Whether in class or anywhere else, her heart would flutter at the mere sight of him, and a quiet happiness would swell within her.

Yet, all of these feelings—these fluttering emotions and joyful pulses—remained hidden beneath her outward composure. She never let her inner excitement show through her expression. Her eyes wouldn't betray her inner bliss, and her smile was reserved, distant even; an enigma that only she understood. When she looked at Mr. Ben, her face remained serious, her expression unreadable, as if hiding a thousand unspoken feelings.

Whenever Mr Ben spoke to her, she maintained an air of seriousness, rarely smiling, and even when she walked away, she wouldn't look back. Her actions seemed distant, guarded—because she was hiding something deep within her heart.

There was a moment when Mr. Ben wondered if Isabel didn’t like him as their teacher or maybe she has some other reason that makes her feel uncomfortable around him . Occasionally, she would seem restless in his presence, engaging with him earnestly, and at other times, she appeared aloof and composed—completely unbothered. It was as if her emotions were a secret she guarded fiercely, revealing only fragments that made her seem unpredictable. Yet, beneath her reserved exterior, one could sense that an inner world of admiration and affection was quietly blooming—though she chose to reveal only its shadows.

In class k2 , a group of students was whispering about Mr. Ben, the teacher. They were talking about many things, including his appearance, which many found quite handsome. Suddenly, one of the students said, "I've also seen Mr. Ben walking around everywhere, taking pictures."

Another student chimed in, "I've seen him too into the teachers' office and take pictures while everyone was having lunch." The chatter spread among them—some said he was a spy, others claimed he was a secret agent, and the rumors kept flying.

Unbeknownst to the students, Isabel and Samantha had overheard everything. Samantha turned to Isabel and whispered, "That teacher is really handsome. Honestly, he looks like he could be a Hollywood actor."

Isabel just smiled quietly, not saying anything. Samantha continued, "If he really were a Hollywood star, girls would be saying, 'Oh my God, Ben, fuck me!'” Her voice was playful yet amused. Both girls burst into laughter at the thought.

Just then, Mr. Ben entered the classroom. The students immediately quieted down, ready for their lesson. Mr. Ben noticed their laughter and looked at Isabel for a moment, then simply smiled.

After a brief pause, he started his lesson, and the class carried on as usual so after some time as he was teaching Samantha startled Isabel with a playful smile and exclaimed, “Hey, I got a new boyfriend!”

Isabel turned towards her, raising an eyebrow and replying, “Okay.”

Samantha looked her over, then leaned in slightly, smirking mischievously. “That’s so rude, come on ,” she said softly, pretending to be innocent.

Isabel shifted her gaze and whispered “Sam, there’s a teacher in the class.”

Samantha said softly “Even if there is, why not just ask me his name?”

She then glanced to the side, pretending to sulk and muttering, “That’s too rude, really.”

Isabel looked at her knowingly and asked, “Alright then, tell me—what’s his name?”

Quick as a flash, Samantha turned with a broad smile. “His name is Harrison—oh my gosh, he’s so handsome—I’ve fallen for him!”

Isabel smiled knowingly. “Really? Can’t wait to meet him,” she said softly.

Before she could continue, they heard Mr. Ben’s voice. “Ms. Samantha, Ms. Isabel, please keep your voices down,” he called out ,they all sat straight as he continued teaching.

One day, Isabel was alone in her room, sketching as usual. Suddenly, her mind drifted—she found herself thinking about Mr. Ben. His charming smile, the way he walked, his kindness, his handsome features, and how neat he always looked. As she thought about him, a smile appeared on her face. But after a moment, that smile faded, and a contemplative look took over.

**Could I really be falling for him?** she wondered silently. She paused for a moment and whispered to herself, “Maybe I’m in love...” Then she shook her head, feeling confused. *Or are these just temporary feelings?*

She took a deep breath, trying to sort out her thoughts. Every time Mr. Ben entered her classroom—always with that warm smile—her heart would race. The more she watched him, the deeper her feelings seemed to grow.

Some day , Mr. Ben was sitting at his desk in his office, lost in thought. His fingers tapped gently on his chin, thumb pressing against his lips, as he absentmindedly played with his nails. The door softly opened, and Isabel stepped inside.

“Come in,” he said calmly.

She approached his desk and stood before him, a hint of nervousness in her eyes.

“I’ve come to pick up the phones,” she said, looking right into his eyes.

He carefully regarded her, meeting her gaze—making her feel as if the moment hung frozen in time. She couldn’t help but look away.

He smiled gently and asked, “Are you afraid of me?”

Her eyes widened, meeting his again. Then she hesitated, nodding slightly.

He stood up and walked over, took the bag which had the student’s phones. Then he walked with it where Isabel was,gave her the bag.He then clasped his hands behind his back, continuing to gaze intently at Isabel.

“Do I make you uncomfortable?” he inquired softly, a gentle smile on his face.

She quickly shook her head. “No, you don’t,” she replied quietly.

“Good,” he said warmly. “Feel free to talk to me about anything—don’t be nervous.”

She nodded silently.

“You can go now,” he added. “And remember, midterms are coming. Don’t fail me.”

She nodded again, then turned to leave. As she opened the door, Mr. Ben watched her go, a faint smile still on his face. After she left, he retrieved his phone from his desk and texted his cousin Sean.

The message read:

_"Hey, buddy. Why don’t you come and chill at my place for a few days during your holiday? I’m bored."_

He sank back into his chair, returning to work.

Later, in class, Isabel handed out the phones to her classmates then went back to her seat. Samantha turned to her and said , “Hey, I won’t be studying with you tonight. Harrison and I are going out for a walk and dinner. Why don’t we go hang out together ? So you can get to know him.”

Isabel shook her head. “You know I won’t come. Why not just wait for the weekend? Just go and have some fun with him alone ,and I’ll meet him during the weekend .”

Samantha chuckled. “Alright… I know —you’re probably scared that your dad will kick your ass if you fail your exams.”

“Shut up,” Isabel snapped. “You know how strict he is about school. I don’t want to cause trouble.”

Samantha smirked. “Well,as if Nolan studies as hard as you.”

Isabel rolled her eyes, laughing softly. “That idiot studies a lot,he’s just fooling around.”

“Family of geniuses,” Samantha teased with a grin.

Isabel smiled quietly, content. Just then, Alden approached and greeted them with a cheerful, “Hi, Sam,” then turned to Isabel and greeted her as well.

“Hi, Isabel,” Alden said.

Both Isabel and Samantha responded together, “Hey.”

Alden looked at Isabel and asked, “Are you staying to study tonight?”

“Yep, what’s up?” Isabel replied softly.

“Just curious what time do you plan to leave?”

“I’ll probably leave around 7:30 or 8,” she said.

Alden nodded. “Alright. I’ll come study with you guys.”

Samantha interrupted. “Just her. I won’t be here.”

Alden looked at Samantha then teased her. “Glad you won’t be around, at least I won’t have any trouble ”Samantha gave him a funny face and said nothing .

Isabel regarded him silently, saying nothing.

He gave a small, accommodating smile. “I’ll take you home on my bike afterward, okay?”

She simply nodded, a faint smile on her face.

Later that evening, only a few students remained—Alden and Isabel among them. They cracked open their books and studied quietly. After some time Alden closed his books , he looked at Isabel and asked, “So?”

“I’m hungry,” he admitted. “Let’s take a quick break and grab something to eat.”

Isabel nodded. “I’m not hungry, if you are , you should go I’m okay .”

He pleased then gently lifted her with a teasing grin, “Let’s go grab some burgers.”

As they headed out of the school gate, chatting about everything and nothing, Mr. Ben watched them from his office’s window. Standing there, he took a sip of water, eyes quietly following their figures as they disappeared beyond the gate. After a moment, he cleared his throat, shook his head softly, and returned to his work.

Before Isabel and Alden arrived at the restaurant, Isabel turned to Alden and asked, "Why did you move to Pinebrook?"

Alden looked at her and replied, "Ah... after dad passed away..." Isabel suddenly stood up and turned to face Alden silently. Alden smiled and said, "Oh, I wanted to tell you—just that... I had forgotten."

Isabel gazed at him for a moment, then said softly, "I'm... I'm sorry. I—" she paused, then added quietly, "I didn't know... wait, I really didn't know. I'm sorry about that." Her voice was gentle, filled with concern.

Alden reached out to comfort her and said, "Oh, don't worry. It's already been three years, so it's okay."

They remained silent for a while before Isabel finally asked, "So... what happened? Was he ill or...?"

Alden responded quietly, "It's just that one day, he started complaining about severe headaches. We thought it might be due to overworking himself. He took a day off... but when I returned from school that day, he was already gone... just like that."

Isabel nodded and said, "Ah, so that's why you moved here to Pinebrook."

Alden shook his head slightly and explained, "No... not at all. Two years after dad died, mom started seeing a boyfriend. I guess she couldn’t handle being alone... so she started bringing a stepfather into the picture. I let her do what she wanted, and we moved into a new house—here, actually, it’s my stepfather’s house ."

Isabel asked cautiously, "Do you get along with him?"

Alden smiled reassuringly. "Yes, he's not a bad guy. We're good —by the way I’m sorry for what happened to Nolan ,he told me about it ."

Isabel smiled then said “aah it’s okay he got he’s surgery done so thankfully he’s fine now.”

After they had something to eat as they were heading back ,They shared a light laugh and continued chatting .Mr. Ben, who had returned standing by the window, watched them for a while. He observed as Isabel and Alden laughed and teased each other until they disappeared inside the building.

Later, they returned to study. As night fell and more students left, Mr. Ben also started to leave. He grabbed his bag, closed his office, and stepped out of . Passing by Room K2, he saw Isabel and Alden busy studying. He watched them for a moment before speaking out loud, "Hey! Don't stay out too late ,you should go home,okay?"

Isabel looked at him silently, without responding. Alden replied , "We’ll be leaving soon sir."

Mr. Ben nodded, saying, "Okay, take care," and then began walking away. After a little while, Alden took Isabel home. When Isabel dismounted from his motorcycle, she said, "Thanks."

Alden nodded in acknowledgment. Suddenly, they saw Nolan step out of a taxi, looking surprised to see Alden and Isabel together. Approaching them, Nolan asked, "What’s going on here?"

Isabel looked at him and said, "Where have you been? You haven’t even changed your clothes."

Nolan glared playfully and said, "After school, I went to the library... where were you guys ?"

Alden responded casually, "We stayed at school to study."

Nolan eyed Alden skeptically, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" he asked, placing his hand on Isabel’s shoulder.

Alden remained silent, gazing at Isabel without saying a word. Isabel reached out and moved Nolan’s hand on her shoulder before turning to Alden. “You need to go back home,it’s already late... time’s run out,” she said softly.

Alden responded, igniting his motorcycle. “Alright then. See you at school,” he replied casually. Isabel nodded, shaking her head with a gentle smile. “See you,” she said, turning to type in a passcode at the gate.

Meanwhile, Nolan subtly turned to Alden, giving him a “see ,I’m watching you” gesture from across the distance. Alden made a funny face in reply. Nolan then quickly left the scene, departing on his own.

A few days later, Ben’s cousin, Sean arrived at Pinebrook by midday flight. Ben hurried over to the airport to meet him. From afar, he spotted Sean, who was wearing dark sunglasses, chewing gum, with headphones hanging around his neck, and his phone in one hand. He dragged a small bag with his other hand, walking with that characteristic swagger—clear signs of mischief.

Ben observed him carefully, then called out, “Hey, Sean. Over here.”

Sean turned around and, in a casual tone, greeted him with a wide smile. “Heyyy, it’s been a long time,” he said, pulling Ben into a hug. Ben matched the hug and replied, “How long? It’s been four months.”

“Yeah, long enough. Missed you,” Sean responded, sounding almost on the verge of tears and adopting a look of heartfelt longing. Ben looked at him and said, “You’re still too dramatic —I thought you’ve grown up ” They started heading toward the parking .

Sean, eyeing Ben’s new ride, exclaimed excitedly, “Woah... a new car, huh?” He circled around it twice, clearly admiring the sleekness. Ben just smiled, but before he could get in, Sean stepped up close and, with a playful smirk, clutched Ben’s shoulder and declared, “I’ll drive today.” Then, with a mischievous grin, he opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat, fanning himself with a mirror he pulled from the sun visor.

Ben was standing there, watching him with a smirk, and finally said, “You don’t even know the route, do you?” Still amused, he nodded toward the car.

Sean, pretending to be serious, added, “You’ll just have to guide me, won’t you?” He pulled a pleading look, making Ben laugh softly.

Ben finally sat down on the passenger side, leaning back. “Slow down—I don’t want us to get into trouble,” he said with a chuckle.

“Alright, let’s go,” Sean replied, starting the engine.

As they pulled out onto the road, Sean asked, “wait,Did you buy this yourself ?”

Ben shook his head. “If I’d bought it myself, I wouldn’t have bought a car this expensive,” he said. Sean scoffed, then responded mockingly, “your dad… he’s such a psycho.”

Ben chuckled. “I’ve gotten used to it. I don’t know but i thought I should do what he’s been dreaming of,” he said with a shrug.

Sean eventually spoke up, “Bro, don’t go rushing into anything just ‘cause you wanna get this over with. Running a school ain’t a walk in the park, man—you still so young to be stressing about all that.”

Ben looked over at Sean, who was driving, and said, “Yeah, I get it’s tough, but I’m gonna try. Though Kristine really wants this….”

Sean took a deep breath and asked, “So, dad talked to you before that meeting, right?”

“Yeah, he did. he spoke to me about it a month earlier, gave me some time to think it over… just that,” Ben replied.

Sean gave him a curious look. “So, you really thought it through, huh?”

Ben paused for a bit, then sighed and said, “I don’t know… I honestly don’t know if I can do it. But I’ll do my best—at least so Dad can be proud of me.”

Sean smiled warmly and said, “Man, he’s always proud of you. He praises you every day, along with your big bro Billy. But when it comes to Kristine, well… your dad’s only got one thing to brag about — his little girl ,that she’s the only girl among his kids.”

Ben scoffed and then asked, “How’s Billy doing?”

Sean grinned, “Yo! That guy’s a beast at work. Things get messy at the company, then it’s all over me— Billy’s serious about his job. Totally no-nonsense.”

Ben chuckled. “He hasn’t changed much?”

Sean burst out laughing. “Yeah , he’s still the same ol’ Billy. No surprises there.”

They both burst into laughter, joking around as they continued their chat. Before long, they pulled up to Ben’s house — a huge, fancy place.

“Wow, man! You’ve got some serious digs, little bro,” Sean said, eyeing the mansion from outside.

Ben just smiled, proud as ever.

Many years ago, Sean was brought into Ben’s family under unusual circumstances. He was only ten years old when he was introduced into their home by a guard who resembled a household worker—someone helping out with chores because Sean had no parents or relatives to care for him. The guard was busy trying to find work for Sean to earn some money, as the boy was entirely on his own at that time. Meanwhile, Ben was just six years old, and Billy was twelve.

The three grew close quickly—they played together often and spent much of their time bonding as if they were brothers. The family was generous, giving Sean clothes and plenty of gifts, and sometimes they helped him with outside work. They also taught him about many things that he wasn’t aware of and other entertainments, creating a warm environment despite his challenging background.

Eventually, Billy and Ben ask something from their father, Mr. Morgan. They respectfully asked their father to take Sean’s responsibilities as his father and as their brother. Mr. Morgan was quite receptive and, after observing Sean’s good behavior and kind heart, he agreed to take fully responsibility for him as his son. Sean received a proper education and shared many fond childhood memories with the family.

Meanwhile, Kristine, a child born out of wedlock, came to live with them after her mother fell ill and passed away. Mrs. Morgan accepted Kristine into the family as if she were her own daughter, acknowledging her as part of the household.

Despite this bond, kristine grew to dislike her step-siblings and often argued with them without clear reason. She had a stubborn, bitter soul, filled with resentment and a selfish greed for money. Her attitude was often unkind and unfriendly, which led her is brothers to distance themselves from her since they didn’t want to bother with her attitude.

All three—Billy, Ben, and Sean—tended to their studies at Bristlestone High School. After graduating, Billy and Ben attended college and immediately joined their father’s company, Azurepeak Industries, a firm specializing in real estate development. Today, Billy holds the position of president while Sean is the company director, both working diligently. Each of them seems to be a product of their own choices—standing tall within their respective paths.

As for Ben, after finishing high school, he chose not to join the family business immediately. Instead, he pursued his passion for music, which he loved dearly. However, his father saw his potential and urged him to take ownership of a new school—a project he was to lead and manage.

His father wanted the school to be fully under his control, with the company’s influence guiding its foundation. Ben was reluctant at first, not eager to step into the business role, but eventually, he agreed to oversee the school’s management, with his father remaining as a benefactor.

That night, as Ben and Sean reflected on everything, they shared stories and discussed plans, their conversation a blend of family conversations, ambitions, and many other stuffs.

Later at the same night , at Isabel's house, Isabel was seated at the dining table, munching on snacks and lost deep in thought. Meanwhile, Mrs. Joe was finishing up preparing the meal. She noticed that Isabel seemed absent-minded and distracted, and she looked over at her with concern.

Mrs. Joe approached gently and asked, "Should I set your plate now?"

Isabel looked up and responded, "No, I'll eat later. Maybe you should ask Nolan if he's going to eat."

Mrs. Joe nodded, then sat down beside Isabel and said, "He won't be eating now, either."

Isabel nodded in acknowledgment, a little subdued. "Oh, okay."

Mrs. Joe watched her for a moment before probing softly, "What's on your mind? Is something bothering you?"

Isabel hesitated, then glanced away. After a pause, she finally spoke, almost in a whisper: "Well… it's just that… you know…"

Mrs. Joe smiled knowingly.

"Go on, tell me," she gently encouraged.

Isabel looked at her, searching for words, then asked, "How do you know when you’re in love with someone?"

Mrs. Joe took a deep breath, her expression softening, and sat quietly for a moment before responding.

"It's difficult to explain fully... but love—real love—is more than just admiration or infatuation. When you're in love with someone, your heart races every time you see them or even think about them. It's as if your senses are heightened; their presence makes everything better, brighter. You find yourself wanting to be close to them, to be their priority—nothing else compares. You think about them constantly, and your mind is consumed with their image.

When you love someone, you see only their good qualities—forgetting any flaws, focusing on their positives. Your heart longs for moments with them, and everything about being near them feels special. It’s an innate desire to make them happy, to do anything to please and be close to them."

Isabel sat quietly, digesting Mrs. Joe’s words. Then she hesitated and said, "And…"

Before she could finish, Mrs. Joe gently interrupted, "Love and desire—they often go hand in hand. But understanding if you truly love someone isn’t simple. Usually, you first desire them—you’re attracted to their character, their presence. Over time, that desire can deepen into love—a true, genuine caring for who they are, beyond just physical attraction."

Isabel remained silent for a moment, then looked at Mrs. Joe, who was smiling kindly.

"Just be careful," Mrs. Joe advised softly. "Because we don’t always fall in love with the right people. Sometimes, what starts as desire can lead to genuine love, but other times, it’s just a fleeting feeling. You need to be certain about your feelings before you make any decisions."

Isabel nodded, a small smile forming on her face. "Okay, Mrs. Joe."

She then stood up and headed towards her bedroom, her mind filled with thoughts about what she had just learned.

As she stepped onto the staircase, she nearly collided with Nolan, who was standing there silently. It turned out he had been listening in all along—hidden there while Mrs. Joe and Isabel's conversation played out. Nolan's gaze lingered on her as Isabel passed by, heading toward her room. Without a word, Nolan followed her into the chamber.

Isabel was seated in her chair, her sketchpad ready, poised to start drawing. Nolan approached her silently. He stood there, watching her intently. Without saying a word, Isabel looked up and called out softly , “Eavesdropping.”

Nolan nodded and replied, “Yes. I heard what you and Mrs. Joe were talking about. Do you like someone?” His tone was probing.

Isabel met his gaze, eyebrows raised in unreadable defiance. “Do you always tell me about your stuff ?” she shot back, then turned her attention to her drawing.

Nolan persisted, “So it’s true—you like someone? Tell me who.” His eyes searched her face for answers.

She looked away, dismissive. “Get out,” she said coldly.

Nolan shrugged, a faint smile curling at his lips. “Alright, I get it. But I’ll find out soon enough. Just give me a little time.” With that, he turned and left, stepping out of the room.

Isabel watched him go and then made a funny face at him—a silent tease. Nolan responded with a goofy grin of his own. She quickly shut the door behind him.

The days passed, filled with exams. When the results arrived, Isabel was disappointed; her grades in the subjects taught by Mr. Ben were worse than usual. Despite this, she still led her class well and maintained her position at the top.

Mr. Ben didn’t comment on her performance, but a few days later, Isabel decided to stop by his office to deliver the essay papers. As she entered, she found him standing by the window, hands clasped behind his back, gazing out at the school grounds. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on his face.

“Mr. Ben,” she called softly.

He turned slowly, his gaze settling on her without a word. She approached hesitantly. “I brought the essay you asked us to write,” she said.

“Alright,” he replied quietly. “Come here.”

She stepped closer. Mr. Ben reached out and quickly flipped through her papers. As he reviewed them, The bright sunlight filtered through, illuminating his features. Isabel found herself staring, her eyes fixed on him. The sunlight made his expression softer, almost gentle.

For a moment, she observed his eyes and then his lips, feeling a strange flutter in her chest,she then smiled softly looking down . “I’ll review these and let you know tomorrow,” Mr Ben said casually, setting the papers aside.

Once the papers were down, Isabel shook her head slightly and muttered, “Okay.”

Mr. Ben now had his hands behind his back then turned to look at her as She was about to turn and leave . Then he asked softly, “Your grades dropped in these exams. Are you facing any challenges? Or are you don’t understand when I’m teaching ?”

Isabel nodded gently. “Maybe I wasn’t serious enough during the test, but I understand you quite well,” she replied quietly, avoiding eye contact.

Mr. Ben smiled to himself, looking at her with gentle amusement. He then slowly raised his right hand and gently brushed her hair —an almost tender gesture. As he did so, her skin prickled with cold, and her heart pounded faster. She lifted her eyes to meet his, noticing his soft smile as he lowered his hand.

He stepped back, hands resting behind him, returning to his usual composed expression. “Don’t worry,” he said gently. “If you felt like you weren’t serious last time, try to be more focused on the upcoming exams.”

Isabel nodded again, indicating she understood. Mr. Ben returned his gaze outside the window, a calm yet thoughtful expression on his face. After a moment, he looked at her once more and said, “You can go now.”

She hesitated briefly, then nodded and slowly walked out of his office, leaving behind a swirl of emotions and unanswered questions.

As the days went by, Isabel found herself unable to contain her feelings for Mr. Ben. She started searching for reasons to see him every day. Time and again, she would visit his office under the pretense of having questions about her studies, often staying late in the evening to study, simply to catch a glimpse of Mr. Ben and have a few words with him—even if it was just a greeting.

Sometimes in the evening, when Mr. Ben would go to the supermarket outside the school to buy coffee or a soft drink, Isabel took it as an opportunity to meet him. She made sure to be there, and those moments became a source of happiness for her—spending time with Mr. Ben. Many events unfolded that helped bring Isabel and Mr. Ben closer together, gradually strengthening their connection.

However, executing these plans was not easy, as Mr. Ben was unaware of her true intentions and didn’t suspect her motives. Isabel maintained a casual demeanor; she didn’t openly show interest in Mr. Ben. She appeared just as any other student.

One day, the teachers convened for a meeting, and all of them had gone to the conference room, except for Mr. Ben. Meanwhile, the students sat quietly in the classrooms, with only a few of them outside on the basketball court, engaged in a lively game for merriment. Among them were Alden, Isabel, and Samantha, who were deeply engrossed in their basketball match, their focus entirely on the game at hand.

Mr. Ben wandered around, strolling absentmindedly near the court, unaware of the students' whereabouts. As he approached the scene, he glanced at the players and muttered softly, almost to himself, “Ah, these children really ought to be in class.” His eyes then inadvertently fell upon Isabel, yet he refrained from looking directly at her for a moment, simply holding his gaze without intentionality. After a pause, a gentle smile crept across his face as he continued to watch them play.

While the game continued uninterrupted, Isabel suddenly stumbled, losing her footing and injuring her leg. She sank to the ground, wincing as she clutched her limb in pain. Mr. Ben immediately responded, swiftly making his way toward her. Alden and Samantha hurried over, concern etched across their faces, to check on their friend.

Alden, voice tinged with slight worry, asked, “Isabel, are you okay? How are you feeling?” Samantha nodded sympathetically, adding, “Are you alright?” Isabel, gazing cautiously at her leg, softly replied, “I'm fine, just a little twist,” trying to downplay her pain.

As Mr. Ben approached, he spoke firmly yet kindly. “You all are doing the wrong thing, at the wrong time. Come on—head back to your classes,” he urged. With that, the students gradually made their way back to the classroom, except for Samantha, Alden, and Isabel. Mr. Ben then turned to Isabel and asked, “Are you okay?”

She nodded slowly and responded, “Yeah, I just tripped.” Moved with concern, Mr. Ben stretched out his hand, offering it to Isabel to help her stand. “Let’s go to the dispensary,” he suggested.

Alden, however, looked at Isabel thoughtfully and asked, “Hey, can you walk?” Isabel hesitated for a moment before replying, “I’ll try.” Without delay, Alden crouched down to lift Isabel onto his back, her small frame fitting comfortably in his arms.

“Climb on,” Alden encouraged gently. Isabel looked at Mr. Ben for a moment, then gingerly mounted Alden’s back. Mr. Ben took a step back and watched them quietly, his gaze lingering on the scene. Finally, he turned to Samantha and said, “Ms. Sam, take the basketballs to the store, then come join us at the dispensary to help carry your friend.”

Samantha nodded and retrieved the basketballs, heading toward the store. Meanwhile, Mr. Ben trailed slowly behind Alden, who was carefully carrying Isabel on his back, his steps measured and deliberate, a gesture of concern and protection.

As they arrived at the Dispensary, the person in charge was nowhere to be found. Alden, taking initiative, gently placed Isabel on one of the dispensary beds. He then excused himself briefly to find the school nurse. Mr. Ben remained standing outside the dispensary for a moment before deciding to enter. As he stepped inside, he gently shook the room, creating a quiet stir amidst the quiet ambiance.

Isabel sat on the bed, her legs dangling down, her gaze distant. Mr. Ben took a deep breath, then spoke softly, “There’s no one here. I’ll help you with some first aid.” He moved a small chair closer, resting Isabel’s legs on it, then knelt down carefully. With gentle care, he peeled off her socks from her right foot, saying softly, “I’m going to apply some ointment, and then you’ll see the doctor if the pain persists.”

Isabel, watching her foot intently, was lost in her own thoughts, her mind drifting far away. Yet, Mr. Ben’s touch captured her attention—his hands warm and steady. When he gently took her toes in his hands, the subtle warmth ignited butterflies in her stomach, causing her body to stiffen ever so slightly. She looked up, her eyes meeting his—his gaze glued on her as he prepared to apply the medicine, his focus unwavering.

The faint flicker of his movements, the way he carefully examined her lips, made her swallow her saliva nervously. She pressed her knees softly, her voice barely above a whisper, “It hurts.”

Mr. Ben lifted his eyes, locking onto hers, then said softly, “Ah...”—He glanced aside briefly—“I won’t cause you any discomfort. I’ll just apply the ointment gently, so you can relax.”

A small, reassuring smile touched his lips as he continued, and Isabel’s eyes lingered on him, scrutinizing every gentle motion. It was then she found herself asking, almost impulsively, “Would you do this for any student?”

Mr. Ben hesitated, pausing his work. He lifted his gaze to meet hers, eyes steady and candid. After a brief moment, he responded softly, “It’s my duty as a teacher, so yes—any student in need.”

He resumed applying the ointment, his movements precise and caring. Isabel continued to watch him, her gaze filled with intrigue. When he finished, he hesitated to put her socks and shoes back on, standing there for a moment before saying, “You can put them on yourself.”

She dressed herself, then looked up at Mr. Ben, who was standing near the door, observing her . Before she could speak, he said softly “Sorry if my actions made you uncomfortable—I was just trying to help.” Isabel, smiling faintly at his words, looked down at her foot, then back up at him, her mood softened,then she whispered, “Not at all. I’m happy—because it’s you.”

Mr. Ben was taken aback, staring at her for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang sharply. He looked at the caller ID, then over at Isabel before saying, “Samantha’s coming. She can assist if you need anything,” and stepped outside to take the call, closing the door slightly behind him.

Once Mr. Ben left, Isabel exhaled slowly, trembling as she clutched her chest. Her heartbeat raced wildly, and she wondered how she found the courage to speak those words to Mr. Ben. Her mind swirled with confusion and fluttering butterflies.

At that moment, Samantha entered, accompanied by Nolan. They hurried into Isabel’s room. Concern etched across Nolan’s face, he asked, “What happened?”

“I’m fine,” Isabel reassured him quickly. “Just a little stumble—nothing serious.”

Nolan looked visibly worried. “This shit head really freaked me out,” he muttered, shooting Samantha a sideways glance. The two of them began bickering like children, their voices rising in playful frustration until Nolan finally stormed off.

Samantha turned to Isabel with a worried expression. “There’s no nurse here. What are you going to do now?”

Isabel nodded, explaining, “Mr. Ben helped me apply the ointment, so I’m alright.”

Samantha’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Wait—Mr. Ben actually did that? He ointment your foot?”

Isabel nodded again, giving a small, affirming tilt of her head. “Yes ”

Samantha’s face contorted slightly, teasing. “If it were me, I’d have told him exactly where to go—what to do, right here and here,” she said, raising her hands to demonstrate on her thighs and legs with a playful smirk.

The teasing made Isabel laugh, her face brightening with amusement. “Stop it” she giggled. They all shared a lighthearted moment, laughter bubbling between them.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ben was returning to the room, just as Samantha was remarking, “But about Alden—”

Isabel turned swiftly to her, eyes narrowing inquisitively. “What about him?”

Samantha moved to sit beside her, lowering her voice. “I think he’s got feelings for you. The way he cares, the attention, the time he spends—it's all very telling.”

Isabel fell silent for a moment, processing her thoughts. “I also think he does,” she admitted quietly.

Samantha inhaled deeply, then said, “So… what do you think? He’s a good guy, and you’ve known him forever. Maybe you two should start dating?”

Isabel simply looked at her in silence, contemplating. “I don’t know… but I’ll think about it.”

At that moment, Mr. Ben overheard everything, hesitating briefly to open the door. Just then, Alden arrived, appearing in the hallway.

“Mr. Ben! Has the nurse come yet?” Alden asked, concern evident in his voice.

Mr. Ben looked at Alden with a gentle smile. “Not yet, but I’ve managed. The ointment isn’t too bad, so just take it easy.” Then Mr Ben left ,as Alden stepped inside .

Later at night, Mr. Ben was just stepping out of his workplace in his car. As he arrived home, he parked his vehicle and then sat quietly inside for a moment. He took a deep breath, then leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes and holding his back straight. He remained seated for over ten minutes, but throughout that entire time, Sean was standing by the window, watching him intently.Seeing this, Sean decided to approach. He gently tapped on the car window to get Ben’s attention and then entered the vehicle.

“What’s up? I could tell you were asleep,” Ben said.

Sean examined him closely and remarked, “You’re confused, man. Why should I sleep now? It’s seven o’clock.”

Ben just looked at him without saying a word. Sean continued, “Tell me, who is it?”

Ben responded with a question of his own, “What are you talking about?”

Sean looked at him with a playful smirk and said, “Just looking at you, I can see you’re not mentally present. Plus, love’s probably weighing on you.”

Sean spoke dramatically, clearly teasing Ben. Ben shot back, “Stop talking like you’re an expert in dating issues. You’ve only ever dated two people.”

Sean countered, “But you’ve dated just one person.”

Ben turned to face Sean and asked, “So?”

Sean replied, “Exactly. I’m on a higher level.”

Ben told him to shut up. “It’s no different, really. We’re all on the same level.”

Sean conceded, “Fine, fine.”

Ben leaned his head back against the car seat, eyes shut. Sean watched him for a moment before saying, “The other day, I went to your study room and found this in your drawer.” He reached over and placed something in Ben’s hand.

Ben opened his eyes to see what it was. It was a blue sea-themed bracelet. He examined it closely, then looked at Sean and asked, “Ah, this is…”

Before Ben could finish, Sean interrupted him. “It’s a woman’s piece, isn’t it? Or Riah’s? Don’t tell me you still like her—no way!”

Ben quickly denied it. “Why would I have anything of Riah’s? We broke up already.”

Sean pressed. “So tell me, who does it belong to?”

Ben explained, “It’s someone who left it at my office. It could be a student or a teacher. I just happened to come across it by chance—nothing more.”

Sean nodded, “So that’s it?”

Ben confirmed, “Yes. Now, get out of the car. I’ll do the same.”

Sean stepped out. “Alright.”

Ben turned off the engine, took a long look at the bracelet, then remembered the first time he met Isabel—how they bumped into each other in the corridor. On that day, Isabel had dropped her bracelet. Ben had seen her leave, but before she departed, she had dropped it, and Ben had picked it up. Now, as he looked at the bracelet again, he took a deep breath and slipped it into his pocket before heading inside.

Later, around eleven at night at Isabel’s house, Isabel couldn’t sleep. Restless, she kept recalling how she had behaved around Mr. Ben earlier—what was wrong with her ? She kept pacing back and forth, pondering.

She wondered what Mr. Ben might be thinking about her. Why had she behaved that way? Regret washed over her , and she felt confused, confused enough to question herself aloud, saying, “What’s wrong with me? What could Mr. Ben be thinking? Why did I act like that?”

She was overwhelmed with regret, unable to understand how things had gotten so tangled up, and she kept asking herself these questions in silent remorse, uncertain about what the future held.

The next morning, completely before school hours, Mr. Ben arrived. He stepped out of his car with his bag in hand, slowly making his way towards his office. When he reached the outside of his office door, he noticed it was open, so he entered, opening the door and walking inside. Suddenly, he looked up and found Isabel had brought his assignment and had placed it neatly on his desk,as Isabel turned their eyes met, but Isabel quickly lowered her gaze and looked down. Mr. Ben looked at her for a moment, then shifted his gaze to her legs and asked, “How’s your leg?”

Isabel shook her head and replied softly, “I’m okay, thanks to you.” Mr. Ben placed his bag on his desk and examined the assignments, then asked quietly, “Have you collected all the assignments?”

“Yes, sir,” Isabel responded.

Mr. Ben, sitting in his chair, said, “You can go now, Ms. Isabel. I have work to do.” With a soft voice, Isabel responded, “Okay, sir,” and started to leave. As she was walking away, Mr. Ben watched her until she closed the door. Then, he remembered how Isabel had looked at him the previous day. He took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead with his hand.

From that day onward, Mr. Ben started avoiding Isabel entirely. He even avoided looking at her. Isabel was used to him calling her instead of Alden, but Mr. Ben had completely stopped calling her . This change hurt her deeply—the pain in her heart was almost unbearable. Sometimes, she would cry alone in her room, blaming herself for the words she had spoken that day, which apparently caused Mr. Ben to start avoiding her.

Mr. Ben avoided her because he had discovered her feelings for him. He realized that his awareness of her emotions was hurting her—and it was also hurting him to see how much she cared. He knew it was wrong to ignore her feelings, but he saw no way to act differently except to keep his distance. Sometimes, he longed to talk to her, but he found it too difficult to do so.

One evening, as darkness descended completely, Isabel remained deliberately behind at school, fully aware that Mr. Ben had not yet left for home. She was alone in the classroom, immersed in her studies. Suddenly, at exactly 8:00 PM, Isabel rose from her seat and made her way to the office door. She paused outside without knocking, then gently opened it and stepped inside. There, she found Mr. Ben hunched over, a mound of papers scattered across the floor. He looked taken aback at her presence.

He rose to his feet cautiously and addressed her: “What are you doing here at such an hour? You should be home by now.”

Isabel regarded him steadily, then bent down to gather the papers. As she stooped, she began to sort and align them carefully. Mr. Ben, observing her silent diligence, was bewildered.

After she finished collecting the papers, Isabel stood up while holding them out to Mr. Ben. She extended her hand, offering the sorted papers for him to take. Mr. Ben, meanwhile, grasped his head, appearing exhausted, and softly muttered, “I didn’t want you to pick those up because I had already arranged them myself.”

Isabel remained silent for a moment, then said definitively, “Oh, I thought you were picking them up .”

He responded quietly, “But they were well arranged.” Then, with a subtle tone, he added, “I’ve mixed up your test papers with others from different classes. And I don’t know their names—I’ve been doing this job for an hour. Now I have to resume organizing again.”

“I apologize,” Isabel offered earnestly, “but I will help you organize. I know their names ”

Mr. Ben appreciated her offer but shook his head. “It’s too late for you here. Go home,” he said as he returned to his chair, beginning to sort his papers once more. Isabel watched him for a while before pulling a second chair next to his, close to his, and sat down herself. Mr. Ben, surprised by her persistence.

Isabel announced, “I’m heading home now; my family knows I’m still at school, and I’ll return late…”

Mr. Ben looked at her silently.

“So I will assist you—I understand you need my help,” she added.

He remained silent for a moment, then quietly agreed: “Alright, thank you.”

Together, they resumed arranging the papers briefly. After some time, Isabel was completing her sorting. Mr. Ben, increasingly curious, turned slowly toward her. He watched her intently as she busily focused on her task.

Suddenly, a message flashed on his phone. He stood up and moved to the window to read it. It was Sean, asking, “What time will you be home?” Ben replied shortly afterward. Before he could take his eyes off the screen, Isabel called softly, “Mr. Ben!”

He turned to find her standing beside him, gazing at the moon. he looked at her thoughtfully and echoed, “Mmh.”

Isabel gazed at the moon and, in a steady voice, began to speak. "I know," she said softly, "that you’ve probably figured out my feelings for you. You know...…." She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "Ignoring me won’t change anything; it only hurts me more… it makes me feel pathetic. The truth is, my heart… my heart and my body crave you so badly, but my mind won’t allow it. I’ve tried to ignore these feelings and forget… but you see, the heart wants what it wants. So I want to try giving it what it desires, even if it’s impossible because of our differences. But I’ll keep trying… unless I die."

There was a pause—silence filled the air. Then, she finally continued, “after all , love isn’t a crime,she paused then added “i love you “As she spoke, she turned slightly toward Mr. Ben, who had been quietly watching her surprisingly.

Without warning, Isabel took a slow step closer to Mr. Ben. He had nothing to say; he was watching her, captivated by her words and presence. As Isabel moved nearer, she suddenly reached out, her fingers finding their way to the hem of Mr. Ben’s shirt then stood on her toes . Mr Ben knew what she was about to do but he kept staring then said in his heart *if I let her do this ,I must have lost my mind.* but still he couldn’t move a single finger, he watched her close her eyes gently as she leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Their heartbeat sounds echoed loudly in their ears, a rhythmic symphony of unspoken longing.

After a moment, Isabel pulled back slightly, her gaze locked onto his eyes. For a brief second, she looked deeply into him before she stepped back a little. But Mr. Ben’s hand reached out instinctively grasping her wrist,gently guiding her closer again. Isabel only watched him, her eyes filled with emotion.

As he did that he said in his mind *i must have really lost it “he took her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss. Isabel closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment, her hands clutching the fabric of Mr. Ben’s shirt. His hands softly rested on her cheeks, holding her gently.

The moment was filled with silence—a hush so profound that only the little clicks of their lips could be heard, punctuated by the gentle wind that seeped through the open windows. The night seemed to pause around them, bearing witness to their quiet, tender connection.

They shared a kiss, and Mr. Ben took a step back, glancing at Isabel. He then lowered his hands, giving her a subtle look. Isabel, hesitant, avoided looking directly at Mr. Ben from a distance, instead pretending to look around, trying to compose herself and make herself appear calm. Mr. Ben watched Isabel for a moment, speechless — as if he couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. Then he took a deep breath, looked out the window, and silence filled the space.

After a pause, Isabel finally broke the quiet: "I... I’m going home." Mr. Ben didn’t respond. Slowly, Isabel walked toward the door, but before she could step out, Mr. Ben turned and said, "I’ll take you home." Isabel looked at him and nodded slightly in acknowledgment. They then walked together to the parking lot. Mr. Ben opened the car door for Isabel, and as she entered, he closed it behind her. He then got in too, starting the journey. As he drove away, a security guard from the school, standing afar, observed the vehicle disappear into the distance. He paused for a moment before returning to his booth.

Near Isabel’s home, as they approached, Isabel said to Mr. Ben, "Sir, I think I can walk from here." Mr. Ben stopped the car, glancing at Isabel, who looked at him and then stepped out of the vehicle. He kept watching her silently. Isabel walked for about two minutes when she suddenly felt like someone was following her from behind. She turned around and saw Mr. Ben, a little behind, walking slowly, looking down with his hands behind his back. When he saw her, he stopped and simply looked at her without saying a word. Isabel, knowing well that Mr. Ben was just escorting her, didn’t speak either. She continued walking until she reached outside her gate. She then turned slowly toward Mr. Ben, who was still standing a short distance away, observing her.

Once Mr. Ben saw she had arrived home, he turned and began to walk away. Isabel watched him go for a moment, then smiled to herself and went inside. She reached her room, placed her bag on her bed, and quickly ran to take a shower. While washing, her mind kept replaying what had happened with Mr. Ben. Meanwhile, at his own home, Mr. Ben found Sean sitting in the living room, waiting for him. He asked, "What is it?" Sean looked at him and responded, "Have you forgotten? We were supposed to go to a movie." Mr. Ben held his head and took a deep breath. He then said, "Alright, let me get ready so we can head out." Sean, sounding a bit irritated, exclaimed, "Ah, you’re a total piece of shit… the movie might have already ended, you idiot." He got up, went to the fridge, grabbed a drink, and said, "You forgot about me because of your stupid school."

That day was Sean’s birthday, and Ben had promised they’d go out for fun together and watch a movie. Ben replied, "It's not like that, man. I was caught up with a lot of work, but…," he paused for a moment, lost in thought, then added, "I’m not going to school tomorrow — we’re going out of town to have fun." Sean turned toward him sharply. "But tomorrow is a school day, isn’t it?" Ben contemplated this, then finally said, "Yeah, but I won’t be going."